INTERNATIONAL. Women in Travel Retail (WiTR) and its supporters raised close to €19,000 for the Friends-International Beauty Vocational Training and Education Support project during the WiTR networking and fundraising meeting at the TFWA World Exhibition last week.
The above-target sum brought the total raised by WiTR this year on behalf of Friends-International to €24,800.
As reported, the project was chosen by WiTR members as the group’s 2019 charity earlier this year.

The original target of €15,000 was exceeded in part thanks to four-figure contributions – from Shiseido, The Moodie Davitt Report, Gebr. Heinemann, King Power Hong Kong Group Managing Director Travel Retail Sunil Tuli and WiTR networking meetings in Singapore, Hong Kong and at the IAADFS show in Orlando – and to the generosity of companies in providing silent auction items and raffle prizes.
The Friends-International beauty project targets marginalised female youth in Cambodia who face many barriers to employment, including lack of education and the ability to pay for training. The programme includes lessons in beauty and hairdressing and basic language and social skills.
“Thank you from those young people, and from all of us at Friends-International” – Friends-International Executive Director Sébastien Marot.
As WiTR and Friends-International have pointed out, it can be “life-changing”.

“When we all have so much, it’s fantastic to see the industry come together to give young women who face so many challenges the opportunity to train as beauticians and earn a living for themselves and their families” – WiTR Vice Chair Gerry Munday.
Friends-International Founder and Executive Director Sébastien Marot said: “We are extremely grateful that WiTR have exceeded their, and our, expectations in achieving this fantastic amount. We are not only grateful, but very excited; excited that the result of many more young people will now be able to seize opportunities to build better futures for themselves through our programmes.”
He said the support of WiTR members and friends “really does make such a difference, and will change so many young lives for the better”.
“Thank you from those young people, and from all of us at Friends-International.”
WiTR Vice Chair Gerry Munday commented: “When we all have so much, it’s fantastic to see the industry come together to give young women who face so many challenges the opportunity to train as beauticians and earn a living for themselves and their families.”
WiTR Chair Sarah Branquinho added: “This was the biggest meeting ever of Women in Travel Retail with many new faces. There are now over 300 WiTR members, and we’re still growing.”
Branquinho noted that all women in travel retail are invited to join the WiTR group, adding that next year’s charity will again be nominated and decided by WiTR members.
WiTR thanked Follador and QuestExhibits for their support of the Cannes event.
Friends-International was supported by The Moodie Davitt Report’s Duty Calls charity event earlier this year.