Reliance Foundation, Estée Lauder charity aim to train 1 million girls in India

Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries, and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation announced on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, a multi-year partnership that aims to reach one million girls and young women across India. The programme is meant for girls aged 14 to 20 in villages and cities, and will focus on life skills and confidence, digital and financial literacy, and information about further courses, training and ways to earn a living. It will begin in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh before moving to other states.

The years between 14 and 20 are when many Indian girls drop out of school, marry early or stay home instead of moving into college or work. Decisions made in this window shape whether a young woman ends up with an income and a say in her household. A programme built around confidence, money skills and information about careers targets exactly the gaps that often hold girls back: not knowing which courses exist, how to use a bank account or a phone for work, or how to argue for their own choices at home.

India's female labour force participation has risen in recent years but remains well below that of men, and much of the work women do is informal and low paid. Digital and financial literacy matter here because more jobs, payments and government benefits now run through phones and bank accounts. A young woman who can manage money online and look for courses on her own is better placed to take up training or start a small business.

According to the partners, Reliance Foundation director Isha Ambani described the aim as building resilience in girls that would spread to their households and communities, while Stéphane de La Faverie, chief executive of The Estée Lauder Companies, stressed giving young women skills that employers need. The partners did not publish a budget or specific outcome measures, so the real test will be how many girls complete the training and what they go on to do.

Partnerships of this kind between Indian foundations and global companies have grown as firms put more corporate social responsibility money into girls' education and skills. Their value depends on reaching girls who would otherwise be missed, especially in rural areas, and on following them beyond a single course.

Short-term: Girls aged 14 to 20 in parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh can expect training sessions through local partner groups as the programme starts.

Long-term: If it reaches its target and is measured well, the programme could help more young women stay in education, move into paid work or start enterprises.

Who is affected: Teenage girls and young women, their families, schools and colleges, local NGOs, and employers looking for trained young workers.

Questions and Answers