The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) announced on The International
Day of the Girl, the opening of the Somaly Mam Beauty Salon, a social
enterprise developed in partnership with the anti-trafficking
organization, The Somaly Mam Foundation.
The full service beauty salon, located in Siem Reap, Cambodia, will
cater to tourists and locals alike, while providing survivors of sexual
slavery and human trafficking with the education and vocational training
needed to achieve socioeconomic independence. Leveraging top beauty
experts and products from The Estée Lauder Companies’ prestige brands,
such as Bobbi Brown, Bumble and bumble, and Clinique, the Somaly Mam
Beauty Salon will offer a world-class education in high-touch beauty
services in hair care, makeup application and nail treatments.
“For many years the salon has been my dream and now it is becoming a
reality,” said Somaly Mam, Cambodian survivor and co-founder of the
Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF). “As a survivor of sexual slavery, I
understand how important education and skills training are for these
young women. This salon provides a platform for victims to become
survivors and helps the survivors to become a part of the solution to
end modern slavery. The salon will not only offer training and economic
opportunity, it will serve as a place for visitors to receive
services—and ultimately to learn more about trafficking and what we can
all do to combat it. We are so proud of what this salon can do to change
individual lives and communities, and we are so grateful to The Estée
Lauder Companies for their support.”
SMF will collaborate with their on-the-ground partner AFESIP Cambodia
(French for “Acting for Women in Distressing Situations”) to implement
the suite of education and training courses for salon employees.
Since 1996, AFESIP Cambodia has combated sexual slavery in Southeast
Asia by rescuing victims of human trafficking and providing recovery and
skills training to help foster the economic empowerment of its
survivors. AFESIP’s Center for Recovery and Skills Training in Siem Reap
offers a beauty-training program and small business management program
to equip survivors with the education and tools that can boost their
position in the community, remove stigmas and encourage gender equality.
Based on AFESIP’s model, the Somaly Mam Beauty Salon will provide
training in hair styling, makeup application and nail care. Additional
coaching in life skills and small business management will help prepare
trainees to run their own salons in the future. This basic education and
vocational training will enable survivors to generate income to help
support themselves and their families, and avoid the vulnerabilities
that allow for exploitation and abuse in the sex trade.
All products are being provided by Bobbi Brown, Bumble and bumble, and
Clinique. Products are carefully selected to suit the climate and
clientele of Southeast Asia. The Estée Lauder Companies will fund the
setup and first three years of the salon’s operations. The salon’s goal
is to be financially self-sustaining by 2016. The salon project is aimed
at establishing a successful model that will be replicated in other
geographical areas with high incidences of sexual slavery and programs
to aid the victims of exploitation and abuse.
Bumble and bumble, a renowned salon and hair care line, lent its
expertise in design, salon operations, client relations and advanced
training by top salon educators. The Bumble and bumble team collaborated
with survivors to design a relaxing oasis that combines Bumble and
bumble’s design aesthetic with the women’s love of bright colors and
flowers.
Bumble and bumble’s salon management team developed management protocols
to ensure that the Somaly Mam Beauty Salon operates with a high standard
of hygiene protocol and client care. Hair care and styling products will
be exclusively provided by Bumble and bumble. T3, a professional hair
tool brand frequently used by Bumble and bumble’s backstage team,
provided the salon with combs, brushes and heat styling tools. Visiting
Bumble and bumble stylists will provide specialized training sessions
twice a year.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, an exclusive makeup line developed by celebrated
makeup artist Bobbi Brown, is providing both basic and advanced makeup
application training twice yearly to develop the girls’ artistry skills
and build their confidence. Additionally, the brand is outfitting the
salon with makeup stations, a full range of products and brushes through
its Singapore-based team. In line with Bobbi Brown’s global “Pretty
Powerful” initiative, the brand is committed to supporting organizations
that help empower women and girls with the confidence and resources to
be their best.
To round out the education offerings, Clinique, the global expert in
Dermatologist Developed, Allergy Tested, Fragrance Free skin care is
providing some of its top-selling products. Additionally, the brand is
educating the women on skin physiology, how to treat common skin care
concerns as well as service and selling standards.
About the Somaly Mam Foundation: The Somaly Mam Foundation is a
nonprofit organization committed to ending modern slavery and empowering
its survivors as part of the solution. Co-founded by sex slavery
survivor Somaly Mam, the Foundation works to eradicate sex slavery,
liberate its victims and empower survivors to create and sustain lives
of dignity and as agents of next-generation change. The Foundation
supports rescue operations, shelter services, and rehabilitation
programs in Southeast Asia, where the trafficking of women and young
girls is widespread.
About Agir pour les Femmes en Situaciones Precaires (AFESIP): Since
1996, AFESIP, a Cambodia-based non-governmental organization, has
combated sexual slavery in Southeast Asia by rescuing victims of human
trafficking and providing recovery and skills training to help foster
the economic empowerment of its survivors. AFESIP’s multilateral
approach to recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration has helped
survivors build independent lives as well as strengthen impoverished
communities that are vulnerable to sex trafficking.
About The Estée Lauder Companies: The Estée Lauder Companies
Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of
quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The
Company's products are sold in over 150 countries and territories under
the following brand names: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique,
Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, M•A•C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger,
Kiton, La Mer,Donna Karan, Aveda, Jo Malone, Bumble and
bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, American Beauty, Flirt!, GoodSkin
Labs, Grassroots Research Labs, Tom Ford, Coach, Ojon,
Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, Aerin Beauty and Osiao.
Copyright Business Wire 2013