Sales of IKEA light bulbs to provide a brighter life for refugees
The funds raised will provide solar-powered street lights, indoor solar lanterns, and other renewable energy technologies such as fuel-efficient cooking stoves.
GENEVA, February 3 (UNHCR) - The IKEA Foundation on Monday launched a two-month campaign to raise funds to provide solar-powered lighting and other renewable energy technologies in UNHCR-run refugee camps through the sale of light bulbs in IKEA stores around the world.
For every one of the company's LEDARE brand LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs sold from today until March 29, the IKEA Foundation will donate Є1 to the UN refugee agency. The funds raised through the "Brighter Lives for Refugees" campaign will help to provide solar-powered street lights, indoor solar lanterns, and other renewable energy technologies such as fuel-efficient cooking stoves in camps in countries such as Bangladesh, Chad, Ethiopia and Jordan.
Today, there are nearly 10.5 million refugees globally, around half of which are children. Some refugees have no choice but to live in refugee camps, where an absence or lack of light after sunset can have a devastating effect on safety and security. Simple activities such as going to the toilet, collecting water or returning to the shelter can become difficult and dangerous, particularly for women and girls.
The improvements funded by the campaign will make each refugee camp a safer and more suitable home for refugee children and their families. In addition, the campaign will also fund improved primary education.
"In 2013, over 2 million people became refugees - a near 20-year record. With each new humanitarian emergency, the support of the private sector becomes more vital and more urgent. This campaign represents a new, unique chapter in our relationship with the IKEA Foundation, UNHCR's largest private sector partner. Together, we hope to be able to transform the lives of many refugees," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.
IKEA Foundation Chief Executive Officer Per Heggenes, noting that life in a refugee camp can be very hard, particularly for children, said: "The absence of powered light limits everyday activities we take for granted, such as sharing a meal or doing your homework. It impacts safety and security and the ability for families to generate an income."
He added that the Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign "will help bring lights and renewable energy into the streets and homes of refugees camps, so UNHCR can help build a better everyday life for refugee children and families."
The IKEA Foundation and UNHCR believe that every child deserves a safe place to call home. Since 2010, the IKEA Foundation has partnered with UNHCR, helping to provide shelter, care and education to families and children within refugee camps and surrounding communities. The Foundation has to date committed €73 million in support to the refugee agency.
Related news and stories
UNHCR private-sector partners win big at this year's FT/IFC awards
UNHCR launches sustainable energy strategy, strengthens climate action
Jordan's Azraq becomes world's first clean energy refugee camp
Azraq, the world's first refugee camp powered by renewable energy
This IKEA store in Madrid is like no other
Brighter Lives For Refugees: Thank You For Supporting
Your search for « ikea » matched 446 results. Displaying page 7 of 50 pages.
-
Evaluation of UNHCR's Innovation Fund
Nov 2020 ... ... funded by the IKEA Foundation, provided $3 million in innovation funding of which $1.2 million was used to fund 17 Innovation Fund projects across 13 country operations. 1 After the IKEA Foundation ...... Attachments: Management Response, Executive Summary (.zip) -
Evaluation Workplan 2020 (Decentralized)
11 Mar 2020 ... Q2 2020 Baseline evaluation of the Ikea Foundation Livelihoods and Energy Projects among Somali Refugees and Host Communities in Ethiopia (links with IKEA managed retrospective evaluation) Q2 ...... -
Energy and infrastructure
4 Dec 2019 ... Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Deltares FAO Global Plan of Action Global Refugee-led Network GSMA IKEA Foundation International Telecommunications Union Millennium Water Alliance Oxfam SEforAll ...... -
EVO/2022/16 Performance Evaluation Of The Misizi Marshlands Agricultural Project Among Refugees And Host Communities In Gisagara District, Rwanda
23 Jan 2023 ... ... by UNHCR Rwanda with funding support from the IKEA Foundation Evaluation Quality Assurance ... Diversity Score HPG Humanitarian Policy Group IKEA F IKEA Foundation KEQ Key Evaluation Question ...... Attachments: Annexes (.zip) -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2015 Update - Mobilizing the private sector
1 Dec 2014 ... A Somali family sets up their new Refugee Housing Unit home sponsored by IKEA in Hilaweyn camp, Ethiopia. Mobilizing the M obilizing the Private Sector 83 U NHCR Global Appeal 2015 Update U N H C R / ...... -
Refugee Housing Unit - Fact Sheet
12 Dec 2018 ... The Refugee Housing Unit (RHU) is an innovative shelter solution resulting from a collaborative research & development project undertaken by Better Shelter and UNHCR, with the support of the IKEA ...... -
Jobs and livelihoods
16 Dec 2019 ... Asylum Access BRAC Center for Global Development Concern Worldwide FAO Global Refugee-led Network Good Neighbours International HIAS IKEA Foundation International Labour Organization International ...... -
Somali refugees and their Ethiopia hosts come together to turn weeds into energy
12 Dec 2019 ... Prosopis Juliflora trees are designated as weeds due to their invasive nature and abundance. A cooperative supported by the IKEA Foundation is fighting back, turning the weed into charcoal briquettes ...... -
Outcomes of the Global Refugee Forum 2019
26 May 2020 ... to the solar street lights donated by the IKEA Foundation. © UNHCR/Diana Diaz Contents ... International Chamber of Commerce, and the IKEA Foundation, played an important role in Bangladesh. ......