Beiersdorf executives turning over their PhP1,000,000.00 donation to Watsons Philippines and Punlaan School on International Day of the Girl. The donation will benefit Punlaan School’s pharmacist scholars.
Girls are driving change throughout the world by shattering glass ceilings in a variety of industries and professions and upending preconceived notions about what is achievable for them.
In response, Plan International Pilipinas, Watsons, and Beiersdorf Philippines joined forces to develop a series of initiatives that will enable young women to reach their full potential free from the prejudice and obstacles that have long held girls and women back.
The International Day of the Girl (IDG) is observed through the implementation of several programs. IDG, which takes place every year on October 11, is a potent opportunity to draw attention to the lives and reality of girls and young women.
The “BraveHER, BoldHER, & StrongHER: Redefining Girls’ Power to Take Charge, Break Barriers, and Thrive” event, held to commemorate IDG, is a collaboration of the three organizations. With a focus on equitable and high-quality health care and professional development to boost their economic resilience, this event provides a forum for debates regarding girls’ rights and gender equality.
Bringing together Nimisha Jain Country Manager Beiersdorf Philippines, Cathy Seco of Executive Director Plan International Pilipinas, and Sharon Decapia, AVP for Marketing, PR & Sustainability of Watsons in one panel became an opportunity to open a genuine dialogue and prompt first-hand discussions about the importance of advancing girls’ rights, including their right to equal opportunities, celebrating their achievements, and raising awareness about the challenges they face.
From L-R: Twyla David, Portfolio Manager, Gender & Inclusion and Child & Youth Engagement, Plan International Piliipinas, Nimisha Jain, Country Manager of Beiersdorf Philippines, Stephanie Barraud, Senior Vice President of Beiersdorf ASEAN, Kim Reyes, Director, Trading Beauty & Commercial Services of Watsons Philippines, Sharon Decapia, AVP for Marketing, PR & Sustainability of Watsons, Ana Maria Locsin, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas, Philippe Magentie, Global Sales Director of Beiersdorf Global, and Cathy Seco, Program Director of Plan International Pilipinas sign Beiersdorf, Watsons, and Plan International Pilipinas’ commitment of support to empowering young Filipinas.
“We care beyond skin for an inclusive society and aim to foster social cohesion. From the get-go, our efforts are grounded in our goal of providing inclusive education, promoting protective environments, and fostering skills development in girls. Every initiative is a reflection of our commitment. And the progress of these young girls showcases the impact of our collective effort,” says Nimisha Jain.
The invaluable participation of Punlaan scholars and youth advocates from Plan International Pilipinas also provided valuable insights into what it’s like to be a girl in today’s world and their shared hopes for a gender-equal society, where they are treated as experts in their own experiences, as agents of change, and as equal partners.
But more than joining hearts and minds for a conversation, the event also provided a chance for all partners to express their commitment towards supporting girls and young women in the country.
In partnership with Watsons and Plan Pilipinas International, Beiersdorf (makers of NIVEA) participated in “Girls Takeover”, a one-day program that gave 10 chosen young Filipinas the opportunity to learn, acquire essential work skills, and experience corporate world from Beiersdorf and Watsons leaders.
Beiersdorf is setting their sights high with an ambitious target: to make a positive impact on the lives of 300,000 people in total by 2023 through the Empowering Girls projects. To achieve this Beiersdorf has set up programs that offer quality, inclusive education, promote protective environment and strenghten health services, an ideal environment for girls and young women to thrive. To demonstrate this commitment, Beiersdorf Philippines’ formal declaration of support for Filipina girls, aligns seamlessly with Beiersdorf’s global commitment, which kickstarted in 2020 and is set to continue until 2025.
Additionally, the company is turning over donating PhP1M to Punlaan School’s Pharmacist Scholars, providing young women and girls with a better chance to realize their dreams of becoming pharmacists. To generate the funds, Beiersdorf dedicated a portion of all NIVEA sales made at Watsons stores from July 15 to August 31, 2023.
Plan International, a development, humanitarian, child and youth-girl-centered organization working in the Philippines since 1961, adopts a lifecycle and gender-transformative approach to economic empowerment.
Girls Takeover was held on September 30 and is an activity by Watsons, Beiersdorf and Plan International Pilipinas. It aims to empower young girls to learn, lead, decide, and thrive through a one-day workshop and work experience activity.
“Girls and young women make up the majority of the world’s 628 million unemployed young people. They don’t have access to education or job training, preventing them from getting the skills they need to access decent work and break out of poverty,” said Ana Maria Locsin.
“This is why this event serves as a unique opportunity for us to come together and ensure that every girl can pursue the career and life she wants,” Locsin added.
The organization is currently implementing projects that provide support to girls and young women from a young age and throughout each stage of life, enabling them to make economic decisions while challenging the gender norms and societal stigmas imposed upon them.
Watsons, as the leading health, wellness and beauty retailer brand, also recognizes their influence to change lives and uplift communities. As part of Watsons’ Sustainable programs under the “People” pillar,
Watsons’ has chosen Punlaan School, a renowned institution that caters to young women from underserved communities by providing essential training and education, to be the center for the Watsons Apprenticeship Program. Through this special 6-month program, young women are eqipped with the skills needed for a successful career path with Watsons.
“This Apprenticeship Program with Punlaan school reflects our commitment to support and create job opportunities for young women,” shares Josefina Arriola, People Innovations Project Director of Watsons. “Our goal is to be able to educate and equip them with the skills to be job-ready and empowered members of the community.”
It is also worth noting that this is more than just a one-day event for these organizations. BraveHER, BoldHER, & StrongHER comes in the tails of two other activities: the recent “Girls Takeover” hosted in five Watsons stores and the “Girls on the Rise” Career Workshop.
A signature IDG event of Plan International, the Girls Takeover aims to encourage girls to occupy spaces where they are rarely seen or heard, engaging in conversations that empower them to learn, lead, decide, and thrive. On September 30, Watsons and Beiersdorf welcomed 10 girl advocates who had the opportunity to take over the positions of Beauty Ambassadors, Cashiers, and Store Managers for a day.
As a follow-through activity to the Girls Takeover, the career workshop focused on developing the girl advocates’ intrapersonal skills, which are essential for success in the job market. During this workshop, Beiersdorf and Watsons staff actively engaged with the girl advocates by conducting modules focused on personal development and personal and professional values. These modules provided valuable insights and skills that empowered the advocates and boosted their readiness for future employment opportunities.
“We believe that girls can be bigger than any barrier, bolder than any bias, and stronger than their struggles. Our collective goal is to provide them with opportunities to overcome obstacles and thrive in all aspects of their lives,” said Locsin.
Visit https://www.beiersdorf.com to discover more about NIVEA Philippines’ ongoing efforts and activities to support the community’s young women.
Visit https://plan-international.org/philippines/ to learn more about Plan International Pilipinas’ efforts to advance girls’ equality and children’s rights in the Philippines.
To know more about Watsons Philippines sustainability initiatives and efforts to support communities, visit https://www.watsons.com.ph/sustainabilityand www.watsons.com.ph.
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