How our programmes helped children in 2017

March 20, 2018

It’s time to celebrate all the wonderful things our partners achieved for children in 2017!

Today—the International Day of Happiness—we are launching our bright and cheerful annual review, Brighter Futures, to celebrate some of our partners’ greatest stories from 2017.

Brighter Futures focuses on new grants that we gave in 2017 and some big achievements from previous grants—such as the opening of the world’s first solar farm in a refugee camp, a project funded by the Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign to bring light and power to refugee families.

Our emergency response partners saved lives and protected children in incredibly difficult situations, such as the under-reported conflict in Yemen and the Rohingya refugee crisis, which the United Nations has called the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.

And we had a lot to celebrate about our own work. In particular, we
• gave more in grants than ever before (€144 million)
• worked with more partners than ever before (74 partners)
• sent our 500th IKEA co-worker on an IWitness trip to visit partners’ projects
• gave our second-largest grant ever (€40 million to help fight climate change).

Transforming futures

Per Heggenes, IKEA Foundation CEO, said: “We believe that strategic grant making can help communities transform their own futures. Nothing inspires us more than seeing our partners and the communities they serve using our grants to create remarkable changes.

“Last year was a particularly exciting one for us, as we got to see our partnerships bring new power—literally and figuratively—to communities that have lived without it for so long.

“We would like to thank our partners for their incredible work and our supporters for championing the projects we fund. We look forward to seeing how 2018 continues to change children’s lives.”

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  • In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
  • This year reminded us that progress on climate action isn’t a straight line and that the way we move forward matters. 🌍 As climate extremes intensified and uncertainty grew, we saw the importance of working together — with trust, openness and shared purpose. For the IKEA Foundation, being on the way in 2025 has meant moving forward together: 🤝 With our partners, who are doing the work — working alongside communities, testing new approaches, learning what works and pushing for change where it’s needed most. Their leadership, commitment and courage are what turn ambition into action. 👥 With our team, learning, adapting and shaping a new strategic direction — focused on enabling impact, strengthening partnerships and keeping people at the heart of climate action. 🌱 With our ambassadors and changemakers, who share trusted knowledge, challenge misinformation and help people make sense of complexity with clarity and hope. As we look ahead — deepening partnerships and scaling impact — we carry our founder’s reminder with us: happiness, and real change, are found in the journey. #IKEAfoundation
  • 🌍 Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time — but doom and gloom won’t move us forward. Focusing on what can be done will. After a challenging year for climate action, @Jessica.Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, sat down with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (@PIK_klima ), to reflect on the choices ahead, the solutions already at hand, and the urgency of scaling what works. Yes, the challenge is immense. But the solutions exist. They are delivering impact — and they are ready to scale, now. 👉 Watch the full conversation across our social channels and on Jessica’s platforms. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateAction
  • 🌟 Celebrating the 2025 UNHCR (@refugees) #NansenAward Winner: Chief Martin Azia Sodea We are honoured to recognise Chief Martin Azia Sodea, whose leadership has helped guide the community of Gado-Badzéré in eastern Cameroon as it welcomes over 36,000 refugees fleeing conflict in the Central African Republic. Through his steady commitment to dialogue, collaboration and shared community life, he has helped create an environment where refugees and local communities can rebuild, work, and thrive together. The IKEA Foundation is proud to support the UNHCR Nansen Awards, celebrating everyday heroes like Chief Sodea, whose dedication strengthens refugee inclusion and inspires others to act. 💙 🔗 Read more, link in bio. #NansenAward #UNHCR
In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
@ikea_foundation
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In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
2 days ago
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This year reminded us that progress on climate action isn’t a straight line and that the way we move forward matters. 🌍 As climate extremes intensified and uncertainty grew, we saw the importance of working together — with trust, openness and shared purpose. For the IKEA Foundation, being on the way in 2025 has meant moving forward together: 🤝 With our partners, who are doing the work — working alongside communities, testing new approaches, learning what works and pushing for change where it’s needed most. Their leadership, commitment and courage are what turn ambition into action. 👥 With our team, learning, adapting and shaping a new strategic direction — focused on enabling impact, strengthening partnerships and keeping people at the heart of climate action. 🌱 With our ambassadors and changemakers, who share trusted knowledge, challenge misinformation and help people make sense of complexity with clarity and hope. As we look ahead — deepening partnerships and scaling impact — we carry our founder’s reminder with us: happiness, and real change, are found in the journey. #IKEAfoundation
@ikea_foundation
@ikea_foundation
•
Follow
This year reminded us that progress on climate action isn’t a straight line and that the way we move forward matters. 🌍 As climate extremes intensified and uncertainty grew, we saw the importance of working together — with trust, openness and shared purpose. For the IKEA Foundation, being on the way in 2025 has meant moving forward together: 🤝 With our partners, who are doing the work — working alongside communities, testing new approaches, learning what works and pushing for change where it’s needed most. Their leadership, commitment and courage are what turn ambition into action. 👥 With our team, learning, adapting and shaping a new strategic direction — focused on enabling impact, strengthening partnerships and keeping people at the heart of climate action. 🌱 With our ambassadors and changemakers, who share trusted knowledge, challenge misinformation and help people make sense of complexity with clarity and hope. As we look ahead — deepening partnerships and scaling impact — we carry our founder’s reminder with us: happiness, and real change, are found in the journey. #IKEAfoundation
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
🌍 Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time — but doom and gloom won’t move us forward. Focusing on what can be done will. After a challenging year for climate action, @Jessica.Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, sat down with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (@PIK_klima ), to reflect on the choices ahead, the solutions already at hand, and the urgency of scaling what works. Yes, the challenge is immense. But the solutions exist. They are delivering impact — and they are ready to scale, now. 👉 Watch the full conversation across our social channels and on Jessica’s platforms. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateAction
🌍 Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time — but doom and gloom won’t move us forward. Focusing on what can be done will. After a challenging year for climate action, @Jessica.Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, sat down with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (@PIK_klima ), to reflect on the choices ahead, the solutions already at hand, and the urgency of scaling what works. Yes, the challenge is immense. But the solutions exist. They are delivering impact — and they are ready to scale, now. 👉 Watch the full conversation across our social channels and on Jessica’s platforms. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateAction
🌍 Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time — but doom and gloom won’t move us forward. Focusing on what can be done will. After a challenging year for climate action, @Jessica.Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, sat down with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (@PIK_klima ), to reflect on the choices ahead, the solutions already at hand, and the urgency of scaling what works. Yes, the challenge is immense. But the solutions exist. They are delivering impact — and they are ready to scale, now. 👉 Watch the full conversation across our social channels and on Jessica’s platforms. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateAction
🌍 Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time — but doom and gloom won’t move us forward. Focusing on what can be done will. After a challenging year for climate action, @Jessica.Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, sat down with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (@PIK_klima ), to reflect on the choices ahead, the solutions already at hand, and the urgency of scaling what works. Yes, the challenge is immense. But the solutions exist. They are delivering impact — and they are ready to scale, now. 👉 Watch the full conversation across our social channels and on Jessica’s platforms. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateAction
@ikea_foundation
@ikea_foundation
•
Follow
🌍 Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time — but doom and gloom won’t move us forward. Focusing on what can be done will. After a challenging year for climate action, @Jessica.Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, sat down with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (@PIK_klima ), to reflect on the choices ahead, the solutions already at hand, and the urgency of scaling what works. Yes, the challenge is immense. But the solutions exist. They are delivering impact — and they are ready to scale, now. 👉 Watch the full conversation across our social channels and on Jessica’s platforms. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateAction
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
🌟 Celebrating the 2025 UNHCR (@refugees) #NansenAward Winner: Chief Martin Azia Sodea We are honoured to recognise Chief Martin Azia Sodea, whose leadership has helped guide the community of Gado-Badzéré in eastern Cameroon as it welcomes over 36,000 refugees fleeing conflict in the Central African Republic. Through his steady commitment to dialogue, collaboration and shared community life, he has helped create an environment where refugees and local communities can rebuild, work, and thrive together. The IKEA Foundation is proud to support the UNHCR Nansen Awards, celebrating everyday heroes like Chief Sodea, whose dedication strengthens refugee inclusion and inspires others to act. 💙 🔗 Read more, link in bio. #NansenAward #UNHCR
@ikea_foundation
@ikea_foundation
•
Follow
🌟 Celebrating the 2025 UNHCR (@refugees) #NansenAward Winner: Chief Martin Azia Sodea We are honoured to recognise Chief Martin Azia Sodea, whose leadership has helped guide the community of Gado-Badzéré in eastern Cameroon as it welcomes over 36,000 refugees fleeing conflict in the Central African Republic. Through his steady commitment to dialogue, collaboration and shared community life, he has helped create an environment where refugees and local communities can rebuild, work, and thrive together. The IKEA Foundation is proud to support the UNHCR Nansen Awards, celebrating everyday heroes like Chief Sodea, whose dedication strengthens refugee inclusion and inspires others to act. 💙 🔗 Read more, link in bio. #NansenAward #UNHCR
1 month ago
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4/4