THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
MUMBAI,
OCTOBER 14, 2026
Reliance Foundation
and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation have entered into a
multi-year partnership aimed at empowering one million girls and young women
across India by equipping them with life skills, digital and financial
literacy, and greater access to education and livelihood opportunities.
The initiative will
initially be rolled out in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, targeting girls and
young women aged 14 to 20 years in rural and urban communities, with plans to
expand to other parts of the country.
The programme seeks
to build confidence, leadership capabilities and decision-making skills among
young women, while enabling them to make informed choices about education,
employment, entrepreneurship and other livelihood opportunities.
Speaking on the partnership, Isha Ambani, Director, 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 its Charitable Foundation, said the collaboration would create
opportunities for girls and young women to develop the skills required to
participate and thrive in the modern workforce.
The company, founded
by a woman entrepreneur, has women accounting for more than 80 per cent of its
global workforce, he said, highlighting the transformative impact of providing
women with opportunities to learn, lead and shape their futures.
The programme will
focus on strengthening life skills, self-esteem, leadership and
decision-making, alongside digital and financial literacy to help participants
use technology and financial services safely and effectively.
It will also seek to
enhance girls' agency by helping them navigate social and cultural influences
affecting their safety, mobility, education and employment prospects, while
providing information on educational courses, training programmes, jobs and
entrepreneurship.
The initiative is
being developed jointly by Reliance Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies
Charitable Foundation, with non-profit organisation Girl Effect supporting the
development of the curriculum and learning resources.
The two-year
programme will combine in-person and digital training with capacity-building
initiatives, implemented in collaboration with grassroots partners.
The partnership comes
amid growing recognition of women's participation in the workforce as a key
driver of India's economic growth and inclusive development.
Reliance Foundation,
which has been working to advance opportunities for women and girls since 2010,
supports initiatives spanning education, sports and livelihoods to strengthen
their agency and participation in society.
The collaboration also builds on The Estée Lauder Companies' longstanding philanthropic engagement in India. For more than two decades, the company and its charitable foundation have partnered with non-governmental organisations to support women and girls through initiatives focused on health, education and entrepreneurship.
The two organisations said the partnership reflects their shared commitment to expanding opportunities for women and girls and enabling the next generation to realise its full potential.
