THE SOMALY MAM FOUNDATION AND AFESIP PARTNER WITH THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES
TO LAUNCH THE SOMALY MAM BEAUTY SALON IN CAMBODIA
NEW YORK, NY – October 11, 2013 - The Somaly Mam Foundation announced on The International Day of the Girl, the opening of the Somaly Mam Beauty Salon, a social enterprise developed in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies.
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.