IKEA Canada donated $500,000 to Save The Children and UNICEF

IKEA is the world-renowned pioneer in furniture manufacturing which has numerous stores in almost every country today. The Canada unit of furniture giant organised a campaign between November 2, 2015, and December 26, 2015, under the name Soft Toys for Education Campaign. As per this campaign, the IKEA Foundation donated €1 to UNICEF and Save the Children, for every children book and soft toy purchased from the store. Save the Children and UNICEF will utilise the donation amount of more than $500,000, to provide quality education to children living in poverty in developing countries.

The president of IKEA Canada, Stefan Sjöstrand mentioned that IKEA recognize that every child has the right to an education and through the Soft Toys for Education Campaign IKEA is having a significant impact educating the world’s most vulnerable children. He also highlighted that the success of this campaign is due to the ongoing engagement of both, the customers and co-workers along with the incredible work that both Save the Children and UNICEF do.

IKEA Canada also took this opportunity to give back double and positively affect the society. Toy drives took place across the country with stores making donations to their local charities. To further encourage the act of giving, as part of the annual Share to Donate social media campaign, IKEA Canada was able to donate more than 1000 Soft Toys to CTV Toronto’s Toy Mountain to distribute toys to those less fortunate.

More than 12 million children in more than 46 countries have better schools, teachers and learning materials, thanks to a 13-year partnership between the IKEA Foundation, Save the Children and UNICEF. Since 2003, the IKEA Foundation’s ‘Soft Toys for Education’ campaign has contributed €88 million to Save the Children and UNICEF, helping to increase school attendance for some of the world’s most marginalized and vulnerable children. Funds have also helped train teachers, provide educational materials and improve child‑protection systems in schools and communities.

The President and CEO of Save the Children, Patricia Erb expressed that the organisation is extremely grateful for partnering with the IKEA Foundation and the support it receive from IKEA employees and customers around the globe. Together, they have made an enormous difference for children with disabilities and children from ethnic minority groups, and Save the Children will not rest until all children have the opportunity to learn. Education is a human right and provides children with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive. It also saves lives, protects and builds peace.

The President and CEO of UNICEF, David Morley is grateful for the continued and invaluable support of the IKEA Foundation, IKEA co-workers and customers for the commitment they’ve shown over the past 13 years to help transform children’s lives through education.

Although the Soft Toys for Education campaign has ended its successful run, the IKEA Foundation will continue its commitment to UNICEF and Save the Children through ongoing grants in Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia in the areas of education, early-childhood care and development, child protection, adolescence and humanitarian response.