DOHA: IKEA Qatar yesterday launched its annual ‘Soft Toys for Education’ campaign to help improve lives of less fortunate children in Qatar and the world.
Beginning November 6 until January 3, for every soft toy sold in the Doha Festival City store, IKEA Foundation will donate QR5 to help support Unicef’s education programmes around the world.
The foundation, based in the Netherlands, works to help improve opportunities for children and young adults in some of the less privileged communities.
John Kersten, Managing Director, IKEA Qatar, UAE, Egypt and Oman, said: “IKEA believes that education is one of the most effective ways to help children escape poverty and shape a better future for themselves. It has a direct impact on wellbeing, from better health to increased opportunities. The campaign is an important initiative.
“IKEA continues to join hands with global partner Unicef to help underprivileged children across the world. And, this year’s campaign marks the second year of collaboration between IKEA Qatar and Qatar Charity to make the campaign locally relevant.
For over 12 years, the foundation has been a key partner and supporter of Unicef’s work to provide quality education for millions of children.
Dr Ibrahim El Ziq, Gulf Area Representative, Unicef, said: “Unicef is proud to continue to be a partner for the campaign. In the past, the campaign has helped improve the lives of millions of children in 46 Unicef-supported countries and I am confident that we will reach new heights.”
To make a difference within the community in Qatar, IKEA has partnered with Qatar Charity to create an added channel for contributions.
Customers will be urged to drop soft toys they buy into a special donation box after checking out. The toys will then be distributed to under-privileged children in Qatar.
Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Mohannadi, Executive Director for Local Development, QC, said: “We are happy to enter a second year of partnership with IKEA for the campaign, which has touched the lives of millions of underprivileged children, including our own.
The campaign has so far benefited over 11 million children. It has supported over 99 projects in 46 countries. The campaign raised €67m over the last 10 years and €10.1m in 2013.
Funds raised will support global efforts, including improving school infrastructure, access to water and sanitation facilities, training teachers, and providing school benches, desks and educational supplies like books, pencils and writing pads for children and teachers. The Peninsula
