INDIA. The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation has partnered with Reliance Foundation on a multi-year programme to educate young women across India’s rural and urban communities in essential skills, equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their futures.
The initiative aims to reach more than 1 million girls and young women aged 14 to 20 across India, starting in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with plans to expand to other parts of the country.
The programme will focus on strengthening participants’ digital and financial literacy while introducing them to future opportunities in education, training and livelihoods, helping them make informed choices about their future pathways.
Reliance Foundation Director Isha Ambani said, “I believe every girl should have the confidence to dream big, the courage to lead, and the opportunity to fulfil her aspirations.
“I am delighted that through this partnership, Reliance Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation are uniting to equip 1 million girls and young women with the resilience they need to realise their full potential – igniting a powerful transformation that extends from the individual to her household and to the entire community.”
The Estée Lauder Companies President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie, who also serves as The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation President, added, “We are proud to partner with Reliance Foundation to create more opportunities for girls and young women in India that will build the skills they need to participate and thrive in the modern workforce.
“The Estée Lauder Companies was founded by an extraordinary woman entrepreneur, and today, women represent more than 80% of our global workforce.
“We know the tremendous impact that women can have when they have the opportunity to learn, lead and build their own futures. We are excited to work together to help more women and girls realise their potential and shape what comes next.”
A shared mission to empower the next generation
Aligned with the partners’ shared goal of advancing opportunities for women and girls, the initiative comes as India seeks to boost women’s workforce participation, recognising its potential to drive economic growth and foster broader social change.
Guided by its belief in the transformative power of empowering women and girls, Reliance Foundation has pursued this commitment since 2010 through initiatives focused on education, sports and livelihoods, while promoting greater agency for women and girls.
The initiative forms part of The Estée Lauder Companies’ broader philanthropic commitment to India, where the company and its Charitable Foundation have partnered with local NGOs for more than 20 years to advance opportunities for women and girls in health, education and entrepreneurship.
The joint programme will focus on four key areas:
- Life skills: building confidence and self-esteem, strengthening decision-making and leadership, and developing skills to deal with everyday challenges.
- Digital and financial literacy: building knowledge and confidence to use digital tools and financial services safely and effectively.
- Choice and agency: helping girls build the confidence and skills to make informed decisions and navigate social and cultural influences affecting their safety, mobility, education and work opportunities.
- Providing information on future pathways, including education, livelihoods, employment and entrepreneurship, so girls have a better understanding of the options available to them.
The programme is being developed in collaboration with nonprofit Girl Effect, which is helping to develop the curriculum and learning resources for girls. Over two years, the initiative will deliver in-person and digital training and capacity-building activities in partnership with grassroots implementation partners. ✈
