UNICEF's corporate partnerships

Japan - AEON

© AEON

Children enjoy improved educational opportunities thanks to a US$5.5 million contribution from ÆON, a leading Japanese retailing company.

The Japan Committee for UNICEF and Japanese retailing company ÆON work together to improve access to quality education for disadvantaged children. This corporate alliance raises funds to construct schools and provide new water wells, latrines, school furniture, playground equipment and essential educational materials so that children can go to school, learn, and thrive.  Funds also support in-service training of teachers and school directors, as well as training for school support committees and the provision of school uniforms.

Funds are raised through ÆON employees and customers and matched by the ‘ÆON 1% Club’ to which AEON companies donate one per cent of their pre-tax income. The Japan Committee for UNICEF then matches the ÆON contribution with other donations from the public.

The corporate alliance with ÆON began in 2001 with the 'Building the Future of Cambodia' project.  Intended to help the Ministry of Education restore Cambodia's education infrastructure over a three-year period, this project combined contributions totaling US$5.5 million and supported the construction of 139 primary-school buildings. Blackboards, student desks, playground materials, and basic school supplies and learning materials like note books, maps, and globes were also provided to create a quality learning experience for Cambodian children.

The Japan Committee for UNICEF/ÆON alliance has evolved into similar projects in other parts of the world. For the period 2006-2008, approximately US$ 1,800,000 has already supported the construction of 30 schools in Laos.  In 2004-2005, a two-year school construction project in Nepal raised more than US$3,500,000 to support a total of 57 schools.

ÆON also supports UNICEF in the face of emergencies. In 2004-2005 ÆON raised funds to support UNICEF relief efforts for the Indian Ocean emergency. ÆON also raised funds to support UNICEF efforts in response to the Afghanistan earthquake emergency in 2001.  For more information about ÆON visit http://www.aeon.info/en/aboutaeon/.

Back to National partnership examples.