A Thousand Country Roads

These Toys = Fun + Education; a No-Lose Proposition

November 11, 2014 in Education, Foundation

Just how important is an education? Coming from the place I was born, the Philippines, I can speak volumes about that. Unlike here in the US, where I now reside, the funding of the school systems receive much less monetary support from the government. Roughly only 65% of the funds needed are supplied by the government thus requiring a tuition fee for basic elementary school education. In some parts of the country there is a lack of facilities forcing schools to have double shifts which shortens the hours a child spends in acquiring an education. Even that is a trying task. Many classrooms have forty or more students who have to share textbooks, sometime one book per ten children.

My father lived a hardscrabble life in the mountains of Leyte. Born right after the end of WWII, he was able to get an elementary school education and then went on to a vocational school where he learned the profession of drafting. From that point, he pulled himself up by the bootstraps and began his own contracting business. He married and started a family and through his efforts, I and my two brothers and one sister got a quality education. Though we did go to regular elementary school, which had to be paid for, all of us went to private high schools and then on to Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santos City, my hometown. As opposed to so many children in my home country, we were truly blessed and our educations gave us so many more opportunities than we would have otherwise had.

To get a job with any major business in the Philippines, one must have a college education, as opposed to just a high school diploma here in the US. That aided me when I first started working. English is taught in schools in the Philippines which later on allowed me to take a job as a medical transcriptionist, most of which had to be done in English. After the death of my then husband, I became a young widow. And after the transcription company went out of business, I began my career as a blogger to support myself and my young son, for which I also needed English. Through that work, I was able to send my son to a private Montessori school to begin his education, which in turn led to his success in American elementary school after we came here to the US so I could marry my fiancé, an American citizen. My son is now a 6th grader and was just inducted into the National Junior Beta Club. Also, in the last two years he was nominated by some of his teachers to attend some out-of-city and out-of-state educational seminars held exclusively for students showing great potential, which goes to show just how important education is to young people.

One group that works toward helping people and children in countries all over the world through their philanthropic efforts is the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign. They’ve supported many progressive campaigns to help the poor people of the world, and one of those efforts is aimed towards education, a language that is understood by all people, regardless of their nationality. Their Soft Toys for Education campaign donates €1; $1.00 American, for every soft toy sold in participating locations between November 9, 2014 and January 3, 2015 which goes to Save the Children and UNICEF to be spent on children’s educational projects around the world. What better way to help children escape poverty while giving them confidence, leading to a better life and opportunities which they can pass on to future generations of their people.

More than 11 million children have received aid since 2003 through 99 projects in 46 countries. The total amount donated in that time was $90.4 million (67 million euro). And last year alone, the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign raised $13.6 million (10.1 million euro) with over $1 million coming from US associates. This year, they will probably move past $100 million in total contributions since 2003.

One case in point that is close to my heart is the work that’s been done with this money by Save the Children in the Philippines and Indonesia, a neighboring country to the Philippines, roughly only 600 some miles away from my home city. Many disabled children find their basic rights ignored. With support of the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign, Save the Children will move those in power, and others, to help these children enjoy a good existence by increasing the ability of parents to take care of children with disabilities and improve their access to a high-quality education which will follow them through their life.

At this time of year, what better Christmas gift could one give than to support such an effort, helping those who live thousands of miles away from you? So check out the IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign and then open your heart. I’m certain that most everyone has someone special who would love a stuffed toy, be it a child or a sweetheart. And in doing so, you’d be giving an even bigger gift to a deserving child.

To all who heed this charitable act, from my native language, Mabuhay! Translation: May you live!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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About Lynndee

I consider myself a foodie and I love road trips. I currently reside in North Carolina with my husband and son. I hold a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a Major in Management from my Alma Mater, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in my hometown of GenSan, Philippines. I also love listening to music, singing, watching TV, reading and cooking.

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Comments

  7. April Mims says

    Education is so important and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to get a quality education. I see so many students here not realize how lucky they are to be given the chance to get a free education.

    • Lynndee says

      You’re totally right. I am fortunate to have a quality education myself and my son is fortunate to have it as well, and free at that.

  9. Pam says

    I always tell my kids how important education is, and how lucky they are to have access to it. I’m glad that these companies are teaming up to help more people have access to an education.

    • Lynndee says

      It is absolutely a great program. You get to enjoy a toy or make someone happy by giving him/her a toy and you get to help too by giving a kid an education.

  17. Brandy Tanner says

    This is great, I love seeing more helping others. All year round is important. There are so many children that go without food, education, clean water, etc.. thanks for spreading the word about this!

    • Lynndee says

      I always tell my son how fortunate he is to have free education when some kids in other countries (our home country included) can’t even afford to have one.

  22. Miranda Myrabev says

    I love Ikea didnt know they had such a foundation. I know how important education is, its one of the reasons my parents moved us across the world to get better education and here we all are highly educated and employed in skilled jobs.