IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign – Buy a toy and help support children’s education through UNICEF and Save the Children

I think it’s safe to assume that most people know that education is the “key” to helping people improve their lives and to help people become successful.

I am grateful that I can provide a quality education for my children.

I often worry about our son. He struggles in school. He always has. He started school a year too soon. We didn’t realize that it was an issue until he was in first grade. He struggled so much that we asked the school to leave him back a year but they wouldn’t do it. They had their reasons I suppose but the result is that our son tends to take longer to understand things then his peers do. He does “get it” eventually, but usually they are on to something else when he does.

Our son’s first grade teacher was an angel. We love her dearly. When we see her when we’re out and about we always have to say hello to her. She’s always quick to give us hugs too – including me and my husband.

I won’t mention her name (f0r her privacy) but she was amazing. She saw how much our son was struggling. She was always available to provide him with extra help, even if it meant staying after school. She always did it wit a smile on her face, even though her day was over and she had her own family to get home to.

My son in 1st grade

She also knew that our son was very shy and had no friends. She took it upon her self to make him her “assistant” to help her out with things around the classroom. Her simple gesture helped to boost his confidence and self esteem.

The time my son spent with her he actually LOVED going to school and ended up doing better than we had hoped for.

If there was a way for her to follow him throughout his school “career” I think he would love school and do very well in it. Her kindness, compassion and genuine willingness to help out really made a difference in his life. Even to this day – 10 years later – he still talks about her and how much he misses having her as a teacher. Where as other teachers have come and gone from his life this one teach has stood out from the rest. She made that much of an impact on his life.

Even his reading teacher in elementary school was very instrumental to helping him read better (something he also struggled with).

It was a “team effort” but it got our son through elementary and middle school. Now he’s in high school.

It’s still a struggle for our son but we keep impressing upon him how important education is. Without it he won’t be able to reach his dreams. For example, he wants to live and work in New York City (specifically Manhattan). Manhattan is VERY expensive and living there is a small fortune. I order to afford to live there comfortably he’d have to have a decent job. In order to have a decent job he’d have to have an education and a college degree or some kind of certificate program.

I couldn’t imagine not having access to quality education. What kind of a future can someone have without and education. Sadly there are children around the world who don’t have access to education. They don’t even know the basics like reading and writing. How are they expected to succeed in life and make a life for themselves if they can’t do basic things.

Education has a huge impact on your life. It helps increase opportunities to escape poverty. It also gives you the chance at a bright future. Not only that having an education can also improve one’s sense of well-being.

There are organizations that are doing their part to help bring quality education to those who need it the most. One such organization is IKEA.

Most people know IKEA as the place to buy great, affordable furniture. They are also known for their yummy meatballs (LOL). Did you know that IKEA also has a special campaign that helps support education?

The campaign is called IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign.

For every soft toy and children’s books sold at IKEA between November 9, 2014 – January 3, 2015, the IKEA Foundation will donate $1.00 to children’s education. The donation will be split between two charities – Save the Children and UNICEF.

The IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign has been going on for many years. Since 2003 $90.4 million (67 million in Euros) has been donated through the campaign resulting in 11 million children being impacted through 99 projects in 46 countries. That is amazing!

Last year alone the campaign raised $13.6 million (10.1 million Euros). Over $1 million was raised in the US alone (the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign is a world wide campaign).

The IKEA Foundation is the largest corporate donor to UNICEF and Save the Children. I did not know that. That is very impressive.

Donation help train teachers, supply educational materials and improve child protection systems. The funds also go to provide clean water and toilet facilities for the schools which greatly increase attendance.

Here are a few more specific examples of how funds from IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign is going towards changing the lives of others around the globe.

Not only does your purchase help improve the lives of so many around the globe, you also get a wonderful toy and/or book that you can give to your child or grandchild.

With this being the holiday season the soft toys and books from IKEA (the ones that are part of this campaign) would make wonderful gifts and stocking stuffers.

For more information please visit the IKEA Foundation website. You can also check out IKEA Foundation on Facebook.

To see what others have to say about this wonderful program check out the hashtag #IKEASoftToysEdu and #SoftToys4Education.

Have you ever purchased one of the IKEA Soft Toys for Education?

Kimberly

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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