ELC’s Charitable Foundation Stands Committed to Girls’ Education

Global communities are facing an unprecedented crisis due to COVID-19 and non-profit organizations around the world are providing critical relief to those impacted by the pandemic. At the same time, these organizations are also facing tremendous financial and programmatic challenges. In response to the impact of COVID-19 on the global non-profit partners of The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation’s (ELCCF), ELCCF has accelerated nearly $9.5 million in grants to provide its current partners with flexible funding needed to continue their vital work.

As the pandemic presents new barriers to in-school learning and particular challenges for girls and young women around the world, ELCCF’s Girls’ Education Initiative continues to provide an unwavering investment in girls’ education. A portion of the accelerated funding was directed to support current Girls’ Education Initiative non-profit partner organizations working tirelessly to ensure that girls have the resources and safe spaces they need to continue learning—from New York, to Brazil, to Vietnam to India.

According to UNESCO, globally 1.52 billion students (87%) and over 60 million teachers are out of school as COVID-19 closures expand. As a consequence, girls are not only taking on more chores and unpaid care work at home, but may also face the risk of dropping out of school, even after the crisis is over – especially girls living in poverty, girls with disabilities or in rural geographies. Girls and young women are also facing exacerbated challenges, specifically around gender-based violence and often limited sexual and reproductive health services¹.

ELCCF’s support has enabled its partner organizations to adapt to the crisis and direct funding where it’s  needed, whether that be paying staff salaries, providing virtual learning opportunities, funding essential technology and resources for their local communities or pivoting programmatic priorities.

Highlighted below are a few of the organizations proudly supported by ELCCF, and their incredible efforts to continue to provide access to learning during the pandemic.

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

IRC is delivering comprehensive, remote educational programming during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide children and youth with uninterrupted and safe learning. In New York, the organization’s Refugee Youth Summer Academy (RYSA) has welcomed over 146 students, including 81 girls, across all school ages in virtual classrooms. Globally, the IRC’s Educational Technical Unit COVID-19 response plan is helping to provide children living in conflict contexts across 20 countries with access to safe, relevant and quality learning opportunities. IRC’s education teams have shown remarkable innovation and adaptability, developing and distributing educational content; educating parents and children on hygiene practices; and creating radio-based socio-emotional learning, reading and math materials.

¹ Source: https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2020/policy-brief-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-women-en.pdf?la=en&vs=1406

Global Fund for Children

Global Fund for Children (GFC) is providing the immediate resources necessary to keep children safe and healthy during COVID-19, as well as building long-term capacity to support children who are most at risk in the face of future pandemics and crises. Taking a holistic approach to girls’ empowerment and responding to the pandemic, through the ELCCF’s support, GFC is supporting ten grassroots organizations serving over 17,000 children and youth in South Africa, Kenya, Mexico and the UK. As well as reinforcing their communities’ response to the pandemic by providing trusted health advice, wellness support and PPE, the organizations are providing distance learning resources in the form of a web series and delivering psychological support to young women and their families via an SMS system.

Student Leadership Network/TYWLS 

For more than 10 years, ELC has supported the Student Leadership Network through grants to The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS), a network of all-girls public secondary schools (grades 6-12) that promotes high-quality student learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. In the midst of the pandemic, ELCCF continues to support the Network’s College Bound Initiative, a comprehensive college access program that provides college counseling and student support services for young women. The program is being adapted and delivered virtually in response to COVID-19, with ELCCF’s support providing access for students at The Young Women Leadership’s School (TYWLS) of East Harlem and the Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) in Los Angeles.

The Asia Foundation
The Asia Foundation, with support from ELCCF, awarded secondary school scholarships to a cohort of 90 Vietnamese girls in 35 schools in the provinces of Can Tho and An Giang Province. To further support these scholars, and in response to school closures in the wake of COVID-19, The Asia Foundation set up a Facebook page to maintain regular communication and ensure girls’ learning wasn’t compromised by the pandemic. Support includes regular English lessons, providing information around skills needed to excel in studies and the job market, and interactive sessions focused on coping with the pandemic and social distancing. Beyond programmatic support, The Asia Foundation’s Education Specialist in Vietnam acts as a mentor to many of the scholars, providing them with counseling and advice on education pathways available after high school graduation. Three young women practice their life skills through Passport to Success Traveler during the project pilot in India.

International Youth Foundation

As part of a global campaign to increase educational and economic opportunities for young women and girls around the world, ELCCF and the International Youth Foundation (IYF) launched an online youth engagement campaign across India to support thousands who rely on IYF’s distance learning resources while face-to-face programming is suspended. Through the program, young women are given access to Passport to Success® Traveler (PTS Traveler), IYF’s game-based mobile course designed to equip learners with vital life skills for success at home, work, and in their communities. This course allows learners to virtually travel the world for free from the safety of home, all while mastering skills proven to improve their ability to secure and retain a job. So far this year, PTS Traveler has served over 5,000 users, including 3,000 young women.During this time of global uncertainty, ELCCF is proud to not only be a supporter of essential non-profits, but serve as a dedicated partner, listening and adapting to best serve their needs. ELCCF remains committed to helping girls worldwide acquire the necessary tools and life skills to thrive – both in and outside the classroom, as well as to effect lasting change for themselves, their families, and their communities.