IKEA is launching its biggest “Soft Toys for Education” CSR campaign in Thailand to reach out and support more children than ever before. 
“We are delighted to launch the third annual IKEA Soft Toys for Education campaign in Thailand this festive season. It will be our biggest campaign so far, with global and local activities, and our first ever soft toy design contest for children,” said Supharoek Wichianchot, Deputy Business Navigator, IKEA Bangna.
He added, “The programme promotes giving, sharing and caring for children in need and we’re looking forward to more great support from customers and co-workers this year.”
Global campaign
Like previous years, the IKEA Foundation will donate €1 (41 baht) for every soft toy sold in participating IKEA stores globally (including IKEA Bangna) from November 9 until January 10, 2015. The money raised will be donated to Save the Children and UNICEF to support their child education programmes around the world.
Since the “Soft Toys for Education” campaign was launched in 2003, the IKEA Foundation has raised nearly €67 million to support 99 projects in 46 countries benefitting more than 11 million children.
For IKEA Bangna, we have helped to raise donation of €230,000 to Save the Children and UNICEF to support their child education programmes around the world since the campaign was launched in 2012.
Thailand activities
IKEA Bangna will run two programmes including the first ever “Soft Toys Drawing Competition” for children aged 12 years and below.
From November 8-23, children will have the chance to create and sketch a new limited edition soft toy at a “Soft Toys Drawing Competition” area near the Småland kid’s zone at IKEA Bangna. All children who enter will receive an IKEA badge and certification.
The submitted entries will be judged by a combination of public votes, and a panel of judges comprising IKEA representatives, a doctor, an art teacher, a magazine editor, and public vote between 29 November – 5 December. Based on votes and reviews by the judges, the children who created the 20 best drawings will receive an IKEA soft toy, and the honour of representing Thailand in an IKEA global contest.
Mr. Supharoek said, “The top 20 drawings from IKEA Thailand will go into the global draw, to be judged in Sweden, where 10 drawings will be selected, produced and sold in every IKEA store around the world. We hope the opportunity to represent Thailand in a global competition will inspire our kids to come up with some amazingly creative designs.”
The winners of the global drawing competition will be announced in early January 2015. The new limited collection will then be launched in 2016 throughout IKEA stores worldwide.
The second Thai initiative is “The power of giving twice-double the effect” campaign that was first launched in 2012.
Throughout November and December, IKEA Bangna customers will be encouraged to purchase a soft toy to donate to local children in need. For every soft toy sold, IKEA will match it with a soft toy donation.
Customers can choose from a new range of IKEA soft toys this Christmas including the KVACK (a frog-prince), PIPHARE (rabbit), HASSELMUS (mouse), SÖTNOS (deer), ANKIG (duck), and more.
When the campaign ends on January 10, 2014, the donated toys will be gathered and given to the Friends International Organization. Friends International will then distribute the toys to underprivileged children living in Bangkok.
Over the past two years, Thai customers and IKEA have donated more than 3,000 soft toys to underprivileged children living in south and north Thailand.
Source: IKEA
