International Women’s Day Edition - L’OCCITANE Cares About Women

Every year, to mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, L’OCCITANE pays tribute
to the women of Burkina Faso.

It was in Burkina Faso, in the early 1980s, that Olivier Baussan first discovered shea
butter – an exceptionally talented ingredient that both nourishes and protects. Since then, over 30 years of shared history have built a bond between L’OCCITANE and the women of Burkina Faso. 

To keep this bond strong, the L’OCCITANE Foundation has chosen to focus its actions
on their economic emancipation by supporting, in particular, literacy, training and microcredit programmes in Burkina Faso.

A FUND-RAISING BALM (RM15, 20g)
TO SUPPORT WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN BURKINA FASO

With the support of the L’OCCITANE Foundation, 100% of profits* from the sale of this
balm will be donated to organizations that promote women’s entrepreneurship.

The Ultra Soft Balm is an apricot-scented, multi-purpose moisturizer made with 96% shea butter – the multi-talented beauty ingredient. Ultra-nourishing and protective, it can be used on the lips, body and hair, and slips easily into your handbag, so you can keep it with you wherever you go.

In 2009, the L’OCCITANE Foundation began working in partnership with the French NGO Entrepreneurs du Monde on a multi-year project. Developed with the microfinance institution AsIEnA, it aims to promote economic self-sufficiency and an entrepreneurial spirit among Burkinabé women.

The project focuses on two main themes:

•Providing financial support for women, so that they can develop income-generating activities,
•Assisting these women by providing socio-economic training, to build up their
entrepreneurial skills.

To date, almost 900 women have learned to read and write in the 31 literacy centres opened by the L’OCCITANE Foundation, while over 6,000 women have benefited from microcredits.

Barkissa, Selling coconuts and ginger juice said: “I took out a microcredit loan so that I could build up a stock of coconuts and ginger juice to sell on

the market. This enables me to complementthe income I already make from shea butter so

that I can be financially autonomous all year long.”

For more information about L’OCCITANE Foundation, go to http://fondation.loccitane.com