 |
IKEA customers and co-workers raised €9.3 million in the annual IKEA Soft Toys for Education campaign. IKEA Foundation is donating this to help improve children’s education in Africa, Central- and Eastern Europe as well as Asia through UNICEF and Save the Children.
The annual IKEA Soft toys for Education campaign ran from November to December 2012 in all IKEA stores around the world. For each soft toy or children’s book purchased, €1 was donated to UNICEF and Save the Children by the IKEA Foundation. The contribution of donations in Bulgaria this year was 12 706 euro, which is 25% more than previous year.
Since the start of this annual campaign in 2003, the IKEA Foundation has raised nearly €57 million, which has helped improve the educational opportunities of more than 10 million children in 45 countries. The donations help UNICEF and Save the Children train teachers in child-friendly teaching methods, improve child protection systems, supply educational materials, and increase school attendance rates.
Thanks to this year’s donation, the IKEA Foundation will support 18 UNICEF and Save the Children projects in 17 countries: UNICEF’s share will fund the Schools for Africa initiative in eight countries and the Schools in Asia initiative in China. Save the Children’s share will support education for children of the most marginalised groups in Asia and Eastern Europe.
