International Save the Children Alliance
Over the past 15 years, our relationship with IKEA has blossomed into one of the most significant and groundbreaking global partnerships. Save the Children and IKEA Social Initiative 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.
Background
It all started in the mid-1990s at a time when companies were becoming aware of child labour in South Asia. This was the starting point for IKEA’s fight against child labour in the supply chain. Save the Children was instrumental in formulating IKEA’s code of conduct, "The IKEA Way on Preventing Child Labour," which states that all actions taken shall be in the best interests of the child.
IKEA Social Initiative was formed in 2005 to manage the company’s commitment to investments in social programmes on a global level. What once started as IKEA’s fight against child labour in the supply chain has developed into a broad commitment “to create a better everyday life for the many” children.
Since 2005, Save the Children and IKEA Social Initiative have developed numerous projects addressing various issues concerning children and their rights. The cooperation is unique in its kind. Together we create structural changes in communities around the world, enabling girls and boys to enjoy a safe and healthy childhood, with access to quality education.
In May 2009, Anders Dahlvig, President and CEO of the IKEA Group, was awarded the first annual Oslo Business for Peace Award for IKEA’s work to highlight ethical and social responsible business practices. IKEA was commended for placing sustainability at the heart of its product development and supply strategy, and introducing a Code of Conduct, IWAY, to define what suppliers can expect from IKEA and what IKEA requires from its suppliers in terms of legal requirements, working conditions, the active prevention of child labour, environmental protection and forestry management.
Why do Save the Children and IKEA work together?
Save the Children fights for children’s rights around the world. It is public, government and corporate support that enables us to secure real and lasting change for millions of children. IKEA Social Initiative shares our long-term commitment to children and its international reach and size make it one of our most important partners.
ONE EURO IS A FORTUNE, the annual soft-toy campaign in IKEA stores
One of the most important elements of our relationship is an annual global campaign called “One euro is a fortune”. For every soft toy sold during the two months before Christmas, IKEA donates €1 to Save the Children and UNICEF. Since its inception in 2003, the campaign has raised over €16.7 million for education programmes around the world. A total of 40 Save the Children programmes in more than 20 countries have been set up using the proceeds.
Read more about the campaignEmergency response
Save the Children responds rapidly to emergencies that endanger the survival and well-being of significant numbers of children. IKEA Social Initiative 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 Social Initiative 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.
