20 March: UNICEF and IKEA presented results of joint projects
On March 19 the press-conference where UNICEF and IKEA presented results of 4 year cooperation and summed up intermediate outcomes of inclusive education projects, was held in Moscow. IKEA company is a global partner of UNICEF for more than 10 years. In February 2009 IKEA became a largest corporate donor to UNICEF with total commitments of more than $180 million from 2000 to 2015. Cooperation of UNICEF and IKEA started in 2005. Funds collected annually during campaign “1 euro from each sold toy” are transferred to UNICEF. IKEA in Russia has contributed close to $1,5 million since 2005. Each cent collected in our country is used to help Russian children. Around $500 thousand were invested into overcoming of social isolation of disable children and formation of favorable environment for their development and communication with peers. Thus, due to joint efforts of IKEA and UNICEF the facilities of six Moscow schools were redesigned to provide disable kids with the good opportunity to study together with their peers. Moscow became a first city, which supported and introduced the inclusive education methodology. “I would like to wish everybody to be more merciful and more benevolent towards all children, especially to those with disabilities. Our attitude to them will form their adult life and our future city environment”, said Tatyana Neverova, first deputy director of the Department of family and youth policy of Moscow who attended the press conference.
Another joint project of IKEA and UNCED is being implemented in Saint-Petersburg. Center “Green Island” was designed as a space for free gaming and quiet communication of kids and adults. There psychologists together with parents look for new, more efficient methods of upbringing children with limited capacities. And kids for the first time learn the outside world and rules accepted in society. “In current difficult economic conditions it is very important not to impinge on children’s interests as less protected group in society. Strategic and long-term partnership of IKEA and UNICEF allows to efficiently protect children’s rights for happy and safe childhood and to assist most vulnerable groups”, stated Bertrand Bainvel, Representative of UNICEF and Russian Federation. “With help of our costumers and partners from UNICEF we demonstrated one more time that we are able to improve lives of many kids in Russia. I sincerely thank all the participants of the action “Child’s laugh is inestimable”. Because each small step and each kind act of many and many people ultimately make our world more colorful, brighter and lighter”, - said Oxana Belaychuk, director of IKEA Russia public relations service. Popular singer Alexey Vorobiev also took part in the press-conference. “This is great that children can study all together. When I was a football fan in childhood I noticed that when you play with strong rival, you start to play better yourself. Studying in one school helps children with disabilities to progress more quickly, to find real friends who will always help”, said Alexey.
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