Reliance Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation have launched a multi-year partnership to equip one million girls and young women across India with life skills, digital and financial literacy, and information about education and employment opportunities.
Announced on October 14, 2026, the initiative will initially cover Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, targeting girls and young women aged 14 to 20 in rural and urban communities. The programme is intended to help participants build confidence, make informed decisions and explore pathways to further education, employment and entrepreneurship.
The two-year programme will combine in-person and digital training with capacity-building activities, delivered in collaboration with grassroots implementation partners. Non-profit organisation Girl Effect is helping develop the curriculum and learning resources.
Building Skills for Independent Decisions
The programme will focus on four areas: life skills, digital and financial literacy, personal agency, and access to information about future opportunities.
Life-skills training will address confidence, self-esteem, leadership and decision-making. Digital and financial literacy sessions will help participants use digital tools and financial services safely and effectively.
The initiative will also address the social and cultural influences that can shape girls’ choices around education, mobility, safety and employment. By providing information about educational courses, livelihoods and entrepreneurship, the programme aims to help participants understand the options available to them.
Reliance Foundation Director Isha Ambani said the partnership would seek to equip girls and young women with the confidence and resilience to pursue their aspirations, with benefits extending to their households and communities.
Stéphane de La Faverie, president and chief executive officer of The Estée Lauder Companies and president of its Charitable Foundation, said the initiative would help young women develop skills to participate in and thrive in the modern workforce.
Wider Push for Women’s Participation
The partnership comes amid continuing efforts to expand women’s participation in India’s workforce. Access to education and training can improve employment prospects, but translating these opportunities into greater economic independence also depends on factors such as safe mobility, family and community
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