Financial proceeds from the Manhattan-based function, are to benefit two Rwandan entrepreneurs developing the first professional vocational beauty school to foster job creation.

NEW YORK -- The newly launched Young Professionals Committee (YPC) of the Manhattan-based non-profit, Business Council for Peace (Bpeace), is hosting its first annual benefit, one with a distinctively African theme.

Financial proceeds from the function are to benefit two Rwandan entrepreneurs developing the first professional vocational beauty school to foster job creation.

The event that will take place on Thursday, February 26th, 2009 at Mansion is sponsored by NEPAD compliant Starr African Rum.

It will feature top African restaurants in New York such as Braai, Zereoue, Korohogo 126, The Bubble Lounge, Massawa, and Blue Marble Ice Cream.

Entertainment includes a Rwandan dance performance by Claudine Mukamabano, music by African singer/song writer Francis Jocky, and an African-themed fashion show.

The after-party will be hosted by hip hop icon, DJ Evil Dee. Award-winning photojournalist, Jonathan Torgovnik, will be honored for his efforts to empower Rwandan youth through his work with Foundation Rwanda.

Bpeace mentors female entrepreneurs in both Rwanda and Afghanistan to support job creation in numerous industries, but for their inaugural event, the YPC identified the beauty school initiative as the sole benefactor.

It will be the first beauty vocational center in the country, and is being launched by two female salon owners in Kigali who do not have enough skilled labor to meet their businesses’ demand. They aim to empower unemployed youth by providing access to skilled training.

"Peacebuilding initiatives are more important than ever as stability attempts to take hold in Eastern Africa,” says Bpeace Board Director and Rwanda Team Leader, Kate Buggeln.

The beauty industry is a pillar in African communities, one that is shared with African American communities in the U.S. "Rwandans’ eyes are fixed surely on a peaceful future, but they know it cannot be realized without economic opportunity for its young people,” says Buggeln.

"Vocational training targeted in high-demand service sectors such as beauty is the right step. It changes the life’s potential of each student, but also positively impacts the communities in which they will work, live and serve.”

Bpeace, a UNIFEM partner, is the non-profit international network of business professionals who volunteer to help women entrepreneurs in post-conflict countries expand their businesses, create employment and build a more peaceful future for their communities.

Bpeace believes that more jobs mean less violence. The Bpeace YPC, made up of the newest generation of Manhattan’s up-and-coming business men and women, was founded in 2008 by Bpeace member, Delilah Rothenberg, and focuses on raising awareness and advocating for the Bpeace mission among the leaders of tomorrow.

PRNewswire