I am gearing up for an ultra special UNICEF and Save the Children charity trip to this Friday (8^th October). During the week long venture I will visit key cities, towns and villages in Vietnam seeing at first-hand how monies raised through IKEA’s annual soft toy campaign has helped improve the lives of vulnerable children and their families through UNICEF and Save the Children education programmes.

Since 2003 IKEA’s Soft Toy campaign globally has raised over 23.8 million euros helping to change the lives of over 8 million children in , and Central and . In support focuses on social and education initiatives including ethnicity minority and bilingual education projects. has an ethnically diverse society made up of 54 different groups and as the official language of primary schools is Vietnamese, children from minority groups immediately face a language barrier.

“We’ll be visiting kindergarten and primary schools and local community groups in villages and townships in Lao Cai and Quang Ninh provinces, meeting pupils, teachers and parents and witnessing projects for under-privileged children, child domestic workers, multi-lingual education for minority groups and a sea beach working children project.”

Locally and as part of his environmental role with IKEA Belfast, I has chalked up over 150 school visits since IKEA opened. “It’s a privilege to see the fabulous work in sustainability and the environment carried by schools throughout . As an integral part of the curriculum it really is high up on their agendas and the enthusiasm and knowledge of both pupils and teachers is extremely impressive.  When I return from I’ll have even more film, photographs and stories to illustrate IKEA’s sustainable programmes in far flung parts of the world.”    

During my trip I will also be measuring every step I take with a pedometer to help raise further cash as part of Save the Children in ’s Take a Step Challenge so please help my steps count and sponsor me.

 

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