EMPOWERING WOMEN

A STORY OF EMANCIPATION

The story of L'OCCITANE and the women shea butter producers of Burkina Faso began in the 1980s. Since then, we've built up a joint development partnership and a close, supportive relationship. There were about a dozen women at first. Now there are over 10,000! And since 2009, our shea butter supply chain has been 100% Fair Trade (Fair Trade certified according to the Fair for Life standard available at www.fairforlife.org).

The story of L'OCCITANE and the women shea butter producers of Burkina Faso began in the 1980s. Since then, we've built up a joint development partnership and a close, supportive relationship. There were about a dozen women at first. Now there are over 10,000! And since 2009, our shea butter supply chain has been 100% Fair Trade (Fair Trade certified according to the Fair for Life standard available at www.fairforlife.org).

SOME ALARMING FACTS

By 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean.

50% of the plastic the world uses is used just once, then thrown away.

Over the last 10 years, humans  have produced more plastic than during the whole of the last century.

OUR COMMITMENT

BURKINA FASO IS ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. By supporting and empowering Burkinabe women, we can help lift them out of poverty.

OUR MISSION AS A BRAND

OUR AIM:
To support over 33,000 women in their socio-economic development by 2020 in Burkina Faso
 
Two ways to do this: 
1.Trade fairly together
2.Reinforce women’s leadership together

THE RESIST PROGRAMME

SUPPORTING WOMEN IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS

In 2018, L'OCCITANE launched the RESIST programme (Resilience, Ecology, Strengthening, Independence, Structuration, Training). Through it, we help the women of Burkina Faso to:
• protect their shea trees and have access to organic areas to collect the shea nuts,
• consolidate their shea butter supply chain,
• diversify their incomes by finding new customers for their shea butter,
• develop new activities, such as producing bissap.
The aim? To help them become more financially autonomous.
 

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO WOMEN'S LIVES

By earning their own income and developing their activities, the women shea butter producers in Burkina Faso are able to improve their social status. They can contribute more to household expenses and help to pay for their children's education. The whole family benefits!

L'OCCITANE SUPPORTS WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP

In 2017 we are thinking big, partnering with UN Women. Ever since its creation in 2006, the L'OCCITANE Foundation has been committed to projects that promote women’s leadership in Burkina Faso and throughout the world. Photo credit: Photo by RCN Rwanda, Justice & Democratie FGE Grantee Partner

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO UNLEASH THEIR POTENTIAL

We need more women entrepreneurs! That's why the L'OCCITANE Foundation has joined forces with the NGO "Entrepreneurs du Monde" to help women develop economic initiatives and generate additional incomes. Through our "L'OCCITANE pour Elles" competition, we've helped four determined winners to pursue their business dreams.

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