Save the Children and the IKEA Group have been working together since 1994, in particular on issues related to children used in harmful labour. Save the Children supported the development of IKEA’s child labour code of conduct “The IKEA Way on Preventing Child Labour”, which is part of IKEA’s overall code of conduct “The IKEA Way on Purchasing home furnishing products” (IWAY).
Save the Children and the IKEA Foundation (the philanthropic arm of IKEA and registered Dutch charity) work together to actualize children's rights to a healthy and secure childhood with access to quality education. By listening to and learning from children, we develop long-term projects that empower communities to create a better everyday life for the many children.
The IKEA Foundation estimates that 100 million children will benefit from their current programmes commitments with over 10 partners, including Save the Children, by 2015.
A key aspect of our partnership is an annual campaign, where a donation is made to Save the Children and UNICEF for every soft toy sold by IKEA in the two months before Christmas. The Soft Toy Campaign aims to improve the education of the most disadvantaged children while recognizing that education is one of the best investments for them. Since 2003, the Soft Toy Campaign has raised a total of 35.2 million euros to support over 70 projects in nearly 40 countries. The result has increased steadily each year and the 2010 campaign resulted in a donation totaling 11.4 million euros.
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Soft Toy Campaign
Every child has the right to education, yet 69 million children are being denied that right. The IKEA Foundation is funding Save the Children and UNICEF programmes aiming to help ensure that all children are able to receive a quality education across the world. During the holiday season at the end of each year, one euro (approximately $1.40 USD), for every soft toy sold in IKEA stores is donated by the IKEA Foundation, split between Save the Children and UNICEF, in support of educational programmes around the world.
Find out more about the Soft Toy Campaign
Emergency response
Save the Children responds rapidly to emergencies that endanger the survival and well-being of significant numbers of children. Ikea Foundation contributes to some of our emergency relief programmes with in-kind donations during the initial stage of an emergency, followed by support for projects focused on long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation. Together, we focus on children's rights to survival, health, protection and education – even in emergency settings. Examples of Ikea Foundation emergency assistance include donations of sheets, quilts, blankets, mattresses and toys to help children recover in the aftermath of floods in India and Bangladesh, and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.
Find out more about Ikea Foundation's participation with our emergency response
Child Rights in cotton producing states of India and Pakistan
As one of the leading child rights organisations globally, Save the Children fights for children’s rights and deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children’s lives. In South Asia, the collaboration with Ikea Foundation is a ground-breaking example of what can be done if stakeholders collaborating between sectors, join forces.
The IKEA Foundation has identified cotton and cotton-seed farming areas in India and Pakistan as areas where there is a great need to improve the rights and lives of children. This is why the IKEA Foundation supports long-term child rights and education programmes managed by Save the Children and UNICEF in a number of cotton producing states in India and Pakistan.
