Education Transforms Lives with IKEA Soft Toys for Education
Education, education, education. It’s the thread that ties generations of my family together. My great-grandmother stressed the importance of education to her children and that commitment has been passed down 4 generations to my children. My great-grandmother was only able to achieve an 8th grade education. Through much sacrifice on her part, she made sure that all 7 of her children graduated from high school. That was quite an achievement for a farm family during the Depression. That commitment to education and learning continues to burn brightly in my oldest daughter who is away at her first year of college this year. As each generation of my family was able to achieve higher educational goals than the previous, each generation benefited in so many ways. My family truly believes that education transforms lives.
Since 2003, IKEA has been supporting children’s education through the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign. The campaign has contributed donations totaling over $90.4 million (10.1 million euro) and has impacted more than 11 million children through 99 projects in 46 countries.
Between November 9, 2014 and January 3, 2015, for every soft toy and children’s book sold, the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign will donate $1 (one Euro) to children’s education through UNICEF and Save the Children.
The IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign believes, as my family does, that education truly transforms lives. Education is the most impactful way to help children escape poverty. Education has a direct impact on well-being, from better health to increased opportunities. Education provides children with knowledge, skills and the confidence they need to create a better future for themselves.
The IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign supports children’s educational programs in 46 countries. In Ethiopia, the funding from the Soft Toys for Education Campaign has helped increase the enrollment rate of children into First Grade to 92%. In just one year, enrollment went from one in 20 children to one in 5 children enrolled in pre-primary school. That’s making quite an impact.
With the purchase of any soft toy at IKEA (including online purchases) from November 9 2014 until January 3 2015, The IKEA Foundation will donate $1 (one Euro), to Save the Children and UNICEF. This year there are 5 new heroes soft toys that can be purchased at IKEA.
The IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign is proud to be the largest corporate donor to Save the Children and UNICEF, funding projects that include helping to improve children’s education. My family knows the immense positive difference education has made in 5 generations of my family, and we know the difference it can make in other’s lives, too.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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