The IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign Changes Lives

 

Last year my daughter was having some difficulties with school and was not at grade level for reading.  I had heard from other moms and teachers that every child is different but I was unsure if there might be other issues at hand.  As I told her first grade teacher, she is just too smart to not be doing as well as I would have thought!  Yes, you can say I am biased!  But as my husband had to overcome his own reading issues as a child due to being diagnosed with Dyslexia, I was about one step away from getting her tested.  I figured if she needed to be taught differently because of the way she processes information – then I wanted to know that!  About that time, we had a family crisis come up so by the time I got around to looking to get her tested – her reading skills had shot straight up!  We owe a lot of that to her wonderful first grade reading teacher who felt we just needed to give her more time.  It is amazing what a great teacher can do for our kids!  Kate went from testing at the lower levels to her most improved student.  I am so thankful this wonderful teacher took the extra time with Kate and pushed her to get her to where she needed to be.

 

 

Having  access to an education is such a vital part of a child’s development and sets the stage for opportunities that open up to them due to education.   Education has the ability to transform lives.  It is the most powerful way to help children escape poverty;  this change to their lives is immense. Because education has a direct impact on well-being, from better health to increased opportunities. It gives children knowledge skills and confidence they need to shape a better future for themselves. When a child begins – and stays in school, he or she not only changes the course of their own life, but that of future generations.

 

 

The IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign Changes Lives:

That is why I was so happy to hear about the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign where every soft toy and children’s book sold between November 9, 2014 and January 3, 2015, the IKEA Foundation will donate $1.00 to children’s education through UNICEF and Save the Children. The $1.00 is split and donated to UNICEF and Save the Children. Since 2003, more than 11 million children have been impacted through 99 projects in 46 countries. Total amount donated $90.4 million (67 million euro). Last year, the IKEA Foundation raised $13.6 million (10.1 million euro) and over $1 million was raised in the US. This year, they will probably go over $100 million in total contributions since 2003.

 

Some of their successes include:

Ethiopia:
In Ethiopia, the funding from the Soft Toys for Education campaign has helped increase the enrollment rate of children into grade 1 of primary education, which has now reached 92%. The gross enrolment rate for pre-primary schools achieved a significant increase of 15.9 percentage points. Over one year, it went from one in 20 children to one in 5 children getting enrolled in pre-primary school. A very encouraging trend!

 

The IKEA Foundation:

The IKEA Foundation is the largest global corporate donor to Save the Children and UNICEF, funding projects that include helping to improve children’s education. The donations will help UNICEF and Save the Children train teachers in child-friendly teaching methods, improve child protection systems, supply educational materials in the schools, help rebuild schools, provide better water and toilet facilities, and increase school attendance rates.

So on your next trip to IKEA (they have great inexpensive holiday décor) make sure to check out their soft toys!  For every soft toy purchased, one dollar goes back to helping children receive the education they deserve. And I heard there are five new heroes soft toys this year! And  children can enter their contest and create their own soft toy.  You can find out more on their Facebook Page here.

 

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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