June 1-4, 2006: IKEA jointly with UNICEF carried out an action that was timed to coincide with the World Children’s Day
What do our children dream about? The unusual project provided children with an opportunity to speak about their aspirations and dream about their future. It also reminded adults of their children’s wishes and dreams. During the first four days of June from 11.00a.m. till 9.00p.m., all the IKEA shops in Moscow were turned into “happy childhood territory” where young visitors were playing exciting games and receiving amusing gifts from IKEA and UNICEF. But the most important thing about all those activities was that the children had a chance to dream about their futures and had pictures taken of their new images. They turned out to be dreaming, as usual, about the costume of a super hero, a magic wand, the winged unicorn, traveling on the Time Machine and flying into space. Along with this, a lot of young children have quite down-to-earth, modern-day dreams, such as to have a big car, a computer and a cellular phone, become a film star or a President. However, the children’s most important dreams were not about money or new toys. Young participants of the joint action of IKEA and UNICEF sincerely want to live in the world where “there is no war going on”, where “everyone is happy” and where “evil is conquered and the good triumphs”. But for all that, unlike adults, children know very well how to be happy. Young children are sure that in order to be happy, they should study well at school, be kind towards other people, go in for sports and “perform good deeds”. If this does not help, one should just “become the World Queen and bring love, friendship and good things to other people”. Children’s naïve and pure wishes are winningly sincere and profound. The joint IKEA/UNICEF action reminded adults that there was nothing more important in life than child dreams! More information about this action is available at www.unicef.ru и www.ikea.ru
1. Children from Moscow, St.Petersburg and Kazan took part in this joint action. «May there never be neglected children. Let all children have their Mom and Dad». «I dream about having a small house in England and a dog, a good job and peace in all universe» «I dream about having small transparent wings» «In order to be happy, one should take a lot of toys to his bed» 2. The children tried to answer in earnest the question «What should you do to be happy?» and told about their dear dreams… «I want my Granny to live to be a hundred» 3. True, some of the questions caught them unawares. «I dream about a handsome and wonderful husband who would love me dearly» 4. …while others preferred to go jumping with joy «I want summer to be the whole year round” 5. And now – having my picture taken as a memento «This is the way I’ll be when I grow up!» «I dream to be a good man»
|
