Eyewear brand to support women affected by war

Yalea will contribute to the year-long Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Programme

Yalea, the De Rigo Group’s new all-female house brand, has announced its support for Women for Women International, a humanitarian organisation helping women from conflict-affected countries rebuild their lives.

By collaborating with Women for Women International, Yalea is expressly choosing to help improve the extremely complicated condition of women in countries like Nigeria.

In addition to social and economic inequalities, aggravated by discriminatory practices that restrict access to rights, opportunities and resources, the women of Nigeria – who constitute 60 per cent of the estimated 87 million Nigerians who live in poverty surviving on less than $1.90 a day – are also victims of gender-based superstition, prejudice, abuse and violence, as well as facing explicit barriers to education and training. In northern Nigeria, just four per cent of women have completed secondary school, and more than half of women are married by the age of 16.

Yalea will work alongside Women for Women International on a project supporting Nigerian women, in line with the set of values shared both by the association and by the brand itself in terms of female empowerment.

The brand will contribute to Women for Women International’s year-long Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Programme, which includes:

• Informational training on the value of women’s work, benefits of saving, basic health education, rights and decision making, and group formation
• Skill-building in numeracy, business skills and 40-70 hours training in a chosen vocational skill that matches the local market and women’s interests
• Resources provision, via a monthly stipend, asset transfers for vocational activities, savings channel provision, and health and legal services
• Connections to women and networks, in safe spaces where women learn and support each other

Barbara De Rigo, De Rigo chief marketing officer, commented: “I believe that education and an awareness of one’s values and rights are the first step towards female independence and empowerment. Which is why we invest in and are committed to offering concrete, tangible support for women, in line with the Yalea mission. I am particularly and indeed personally proud to be able to stand by the women of Nigeria with this project.”

Sara Bowcutt, managing director at Women for Women International – UK, commented: “I am so pleased to welcome Yalea – an all-female brand celebrating women’s freedoms and talent – as a partner for Women for Women International. Women in our programmes learn about their health, rights and a marketable job skill – such as tailoring, bread-making or poultry-keeping, as well as business training to turn their skill into a stable income so they can support themselves and their families. By supporting our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme in Nigeria, Yalea is helping women survivors of war build a better future for themselves and create a ripple effect of change that helps to make the world more equal, peaceful and prosperous.”