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IKEA, Save the Children and UNICEF joint campaign 'A smile is worth so much'

15 Nov 2006 10:00:00 GMT
Source: International Save the Children Alliance

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Rajbati, India. Kanika Gayen, , 17, shares a joke with other rescued child domestic workers. Rajbati, India. Kanika Gayen, (L), 17, shares a joke with other rescued child domestic workers in a drop-in center in Rajbati. Over 50,000 children are employed as domestic help in Calcutta households, and many are deprived access to schooling, pay and social activities. (Copyright: Christie Johnston)
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IKEA soft toys sales warms the heart while benefiting Save the Children and UNICEF projects

IKEA, UNICEF and Save the Children will join forces for children worldwide again this year, following a successful 2005 effort that raised over 2 million euro for life-saving programs through its “€1 is a fortune. . . A child’s smile is worth so much” campaign.

The 2006 campaign will kick off 18 November and go to 23 December 2006.

Every time an IKEA customer purchases one of the soft toys, whether a tiny finger puppet, a green dragon or a 1.60 metre elephant, in an IKEA store, €1 will be donated to:

Save the Children child protection and education programmes in Asia and Europe;

UNICEF child protection, health and education programmes in Asia, Africa and Europee

Quote from Marianne Barner, IKEA Communications Manager and Children’s Ombudsman:
“Our first campaign last year was a great success, however we are hoping for even bigger success this year. Through the support of our partners, Save the Children and UNICEF, we hope to raise even more funds to help improve the opportunities for children in many countries.”

UNICEF also expressed hope:
“From Belarus to Guinea, Pakistan to Ukraine, this partnership delivered something really positive for children,” said Phillip O’Brien, chief of UNICEF Geneva Regional office and the Programme Funding Office. “IKEA’s partnership has meant more girl-friendly schools, cleaner water, and healthier children.”

Burkhard Gnarig, CEO of the International Save the Children Alliance, agrees and adds:
"We are extremely proud of our successful 12 year partnership with IKEA, which has enabled us to deliver real and lasting changes to children. This year's second global soft toy campaign will strengthen awareness of childrens´ rights and help to get more disabled children into school and continue our work protecting children from abuse, exploitation and trafficking.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Wed Nov 15 10:04:40 2006