Supporting refugee children in Dadaab

Per Heggenes, Chief Executive Officer of the IKEA Foundation, visits the world’s largest refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya, and shows how a $62 million gift to the United Nations’ refugee agency will help children there survive.

“A refugee camp in Dadaab in Kenya is not what you would normally associate with IKEA,” Per says, “but there are 250,000 children here. Many of those have gone through terrible ordeals to get here, and they’re just trying to survive.

“And that’s what the IKEA Foundation is all about: trying to help children survive and create a better life for themselves in the future.”

More than 500,000 people live in the camp in Dadaab, a complex that was originally built for 90,000 refugees. The camp has seen a huge surge of new arrivals from Somalia this year as a result of conflict and a devastating famine.

In August, the IKEA Foundation agreed to donate $62 million over the next three years to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

It’s the largest private donation that the UN refugee agency has received in its 60 year history, and the first time a private body has chosen to support a major refugee complex directly.

Olivier Pierre Delarue of UNHCR said: “This donation will enable us to house and feed as many as 120,000 refugees who are fleeing the violence and famine in Somalia.

“We really value this donation from the IKEA Foundation. It is desperately needed.”

While IKEA may not be widely known for its support for children’s educational and health initiatives in developing countries, the IKEA Foundation provides more than just money. It brings partners like UNHCR its expertise in a field that IKEA is well known for: innovation.

Per explains: “We’re not just giving money. We are partnering with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to find new and smarter ways of improving the lives of refugees. And that’s all about innovation.

“This is just the beginning. There’s much more to do.”

Partner

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/

Social

Stay up-to-date and follow us for news and info about exciting grants

  • 89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. 

But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 

Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making.

The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 

The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 

🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. 

#IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
  • The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
  • We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. 

But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 

Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making.

The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 

The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 

🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. 

#IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. 

But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 

Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making.

The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 

The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 

🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. 

#IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making. The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. #IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/3
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍 By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth. 🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. *Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA. #IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
2/3
We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics. Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to: ✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises. ✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic. ✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026. By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet. Head to our link in bio to read more. #IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/3