Get to know this year’s IWitness global citizens from the U.S.A.!

In a few days, six IKEA co-workers from across the U.S. will depart for Kosovo, and we will be visiting sites that benefit from our Soft Toys for Education campaign through our partnership with Save the Children. Here is a little bit about each of us and how excited we are for our journey. Get to know us and keep an eye out for our travel updates!

How have you contributed to an IKEA good cause campaign? What made you get involved?

I was raised to believe that service to others is the most fulfilling thing you can do with your life. With IKEA, I have been involved with the Soft Toy campaign for years as the Children’s Shopkeeper and later as Local Marketing Specialist. IKEA Draper has completed four years worth of Life Improvement Projects, and I have had the pleasure to be involved from planning to completion each year. I also handle the charitable donations and “good neighbor” initiatives for our store.

What do you do to inspire co-workers to get involved in our good cause campaigns?

Being a part of the Social and Environmental Committee and (especially) going on this journey to Kosovo as an IWitness global citizen should spark interest in being a part of the many good cause campaigns, and by sharing stories and letting co-workers know that “You can do it, too!”

Tell us about how you’ve contributed to an IKEA good cause campaign. What made you get involved?

Prior to joining IKEA, I was a teacher for six years, so education is a personal interest and priority of mine. The Soft Toys for Education campaign is a great effort to support the spread of education around the world. The biggest support I can provide is being a constant ambassador for the campaign. During the entire campaign, I replace my regular uniform with an array of soft toy costumes to inspire customers to ask questions and promote this fantastic project.

What part of the trip are you most looking forward to?

Definitely the children: nothing better than those little smiling faces. I hope to inspire them in some way about getting as much education as they can and have a career that they love.

What part of the trip are you most looking forward to?

It will be amazing to visit with Save the Children and see the challenges they face, but how they are working to overcome them. I’m excited to get to see the difference IKEA makes through the IKEA Foundation, too, and the impact from the campaigns we run!

 

How will you be sharing your IWitness experience (during and/or after)? How can co-workers follow your journey?

I plan to take photos not only of the global citizens, the children and our travels, but of the textures, the colors, the cuisine and anything else that crosses my path… I’d like to write and/or video journal about the people I meet and their stories and how IKEA has helped make a better life for them.