IKEA has launched Let’s Play for Change, a campaign to advocate for children’s rights and fund projects which support children’s development, learning and play in some of the most disadvantaged communities across the world. The IKEA Foundation, IKEA’s philanthropic arm, has partnered with Save the Children, War Child, UNICEF, Handicap International, Special Olympics and Room to Read to create safe and inclusive spaces for vulnerable children to play and develop.
Play is a fundamental right for every child and is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Yet millions of children around the world are not able to reach their potential because they are being denied their right to play by circumstances beyond their control, whether war, conflict, natural disasters or poverty. Not only just a basic need, play is essential for supporting children’s development and learning. However, a shocking 249 million children under five are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential due to many factors of which lack of play is one.
Purposeful, quality play helps children to build critical skills for their development and academic achievement. These skills include team-working, problem solving, empathy, communication, imagination, and confidence.
Hiliary Jenkins People & Communities Leader, IKEA UK & IE commented: ”We know that play provides the building blocks to a child’s wellbeing and development – something every child has a right to. We are supporting children’s rights by integrating the best interests of children in everything we do. By 2020, children’s Rights Business Principles will be fully integrated into our ways of working and support for children’s rights is evident in all our key policies and strategies.”
To demonstrate the positive impact of play, IKEA has launched its Let’s Play for Change campaign by curating a gallery of striking images of children playing around the world.
The new image collection reveals the genuine and moving side of children playing in different situations around the world, including Jordan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Kenya and India.
For every children’s book and toy sold until 24th December 2016, the IKEA Foundation will donate €1 to support children’s right to play and development.
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