When Chiara Buonvino, a co-worker from IKEA Italy, visited UNICEF projects in India in 2018, she witnessed first-hand how families have benefited from our Let’s Play for Change campaign. Talking and playing with children during their preschool activities made our vision real—“to create a better everyday life for the many people,” she says.
In the village of Kumbhephal, she met several mothers. “One of the most surprising things was not only the focus on the child, but also how the programme is contributing to creating long-lasting impact for the families of the children,” she says. It was, she adds, “a life-changing experience that filled me with energy and beauty that I will bring in my daily work. The IWitness experience makes me feel even more proud to be an IKEA co-worker.”
© IKEA Foundation
“One of the most surprising things was not only the focus on the child, but also how the programme is contributing to creating long-lasting impact for the families of the children,” Chiara says.
In 2012, we launched IWitness with IKEA Germany visiting Save the Children projects in Bangladesh. Providing an opportunity to become an advocate for the work of the IKEA Foundation and its partners, the programme has since sent 671 co-workers from 37 IKEA countries to Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kosovo, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.
In 2019, we are inviting IKEA co-workers to participate in our Better World Starts At Home campaign by interacting with some of our renewable-energy partners, including Going to School, DISHA, One Acre Fund, SELCO, UNHCR and the Rainforest Alliance. Once again, IKEA co-workers will have the opportunity to see how the IKEA Foundation supports amazing projects around the world.