Reliance Foundation and Estée Lauder Charitable Foundation Partner to Empower One Million Girls and Young Women in India

~Reliance Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation launch a multi-year partnership to empower one million girls and young women in India through life skills, digital and financial literacy, education, and livelihood opportunities.
Mumbai / New York, Oct 14 (VNI): Reliance Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Estée Lauder Companies, have announced a multi-year partnership aimed at empowering one million girls and young women across India. The initiative will focus on developing life skills, building confidence, and strengthening digital and financial literacy among girls and young women aged 14 to 20 years.
The programme will initially be launched in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, covering both rural and urban communities, with plans to expand to other parts of India in the future. It will equip participants with essential skills and information about educational courses, training programmes, employment, and livelihood opportunities, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future.
Speaking on the partnership, Isha Ambani, Director of Reliance Foundation, 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 one million girls and young women with the resilience they need to realize their full potential — igniting a powerful transformation that extends from the individual to her household and to the entire community.”
Stéphane de La Faverie, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies and President of The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, said the organisation was proud to partner with Reliance Foundation to create more opportunities for girls and young women in India. He emphasised the importance of developing skills that enable them to participate in and thrive in the modern workforce. He also noted that women account for more than 80% of the company’s global workforce and highlighted the transformative impact of providing women with opportunities to learn, lead, and shape their futures.
The partnership brings together two organisations committed to advancing opportunities for women and girls. At a time when India’s economic growth is creating new opportunities, increasing women’s participation in the workforce is emerging as an important driver of social and economic progress.
Reliance Foundation has been working to empower women and girls since 2010 through initiatives focused on education, sports, livelihood opportunities, and greater agency. The Estée Lauder Companies and its Charitable Foundation have also maintained a long-standing philanthropic commitment to India, partnering with non-governmental organisations for more than 20 years to support women and girls through healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
The programme, jointly developed by the two foundations, will focus on four key areas: life skills, digital and financial literacy, choice and agency, and awareness of future opportunities. Life skills training will help participants build confidence and self-esteem, strengthen decision-making and leadership abilities, and develop strategies to address everyday challenges. Digital and financial literacy sessions will help them use digital tools and financial services safely and effectively.
The initiative will also support girls in making informed decisions about their safety, mobility, education, and employment while navigating social and cultural influences. Participants will receive information about educational pathways, livelihoods, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship to help them better understand the options available to them.
The programme is being designed in collaboration with non-profit organisation Girl Effect, which will contribute its expertise to developing the curriculum and learning resources. The two-year initiative will combine in-person and digital training with capacity-building activities, implemented in collaboration with grassroots partner organisations.
Through this multi-year partnership, Reliance Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation aim to accelerate progress and expand opportunities for one million girls and young women, helping them build confidence, develop essential skills, and shape their own futures. VNI NEWS, Reliance Foundation, Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, Is Ambani, Stéphane de La Faverie, women empowerment, girls empowerment, digital literacy, financial literacy, Girl Effect, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,: Reliance Foundation partnership, Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, empower one million girls in India, girls and young women empowerment, digital and financial literacy, VNINews, VNINews.com