IKEA and UNICEF Lighten Up Children’s Lives In The Developing World

New York, July 21, 2009 — Here’s a real sunshine story! Started June 1, 2009, for every SUNNAN solar-powered lamp sold in IKEA stores worldwide, one lamp will be given to UNICEF to light up the life of a child.

The first shipments are destined for Pakistan, helping children in camps for people who had to flee their homes, and remote villages in Balochistan and the North West Frontier province.

IKEA has made an especially sturdy SUNNAN for the developing world, designed to resist the wear and tear of difficult living situations, including a battery capable of withstanding high temperatures.

"IKEA has presented the public with an opportunity to help UNICEF give children in the developing world a brighter future, including those caught in crises,” said Caryl Stern, President and CEO, U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “IKEA and its Social Initiative exemplify what a committed corporate partner looks like. The Sunnan Lamp is one in a long-line of thoughtful projects that IKEA has taken on in support of UNICEF’s work to save and improve the lives of children worldwide.”

This unit will enable children to play, read, write and study at night, even if their homes have no electricity.

“Millions of children can’t draw, write or read after sunset, limiting their horizons and possibly their futures,” said Marianne Barner, head of IKEA Social Initiative. “We hope our lamps are a small but important contribution to improving the lives of children in developing countries.”

“Especially girls are often required to help out with household chores after school, and their only chance of doing their homework may be at night,” Barner added. “SUNNAN can make a huge difference to them. If they can keep up with the homework, their school attendance will likely increase and their achievements improve.”

Priced at only $19.99, SUNNAN comes in five bright colors and is available in an IKEA store near you. SUNNAN work lamp combines low-energy LED technology with solar panels. Just charge the panel for 9-12 hours in the sun and get four hours of full light!