Let’s talk with refugees, not about them
Over 100 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes, and this number continues to grow every year, as does the discrimination they face in the search for homes, jobs, and stability. We believe that refugees have more to offer to society and economies than the perceived misconceptions of them being a burden. For us, all people deserve respect, dignity, and opportunities. By partnering with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, we hope to change the narrative around refugees.
For years, we've worked with refugees across many aspects of our business – like Skills for Employment and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship. This year, we’re aiming to become a platform from which refugees can be heard across the world and can take back their narrative. So, let’s hear the real narrative from refugees who just want to live in peace, and feel safe at home just like everyone else. Let’s learn the truth about refugees, from refugees.
Let’s change the way we think
A negative filter exists in many minds when it comes to refugees, it exists because of the way refugees are spoken about online and in the media. So, let’s learn the truth, let’s stop giving refugees labels that steal their narrative and instead help take back the narrative.
Three ways to take action
1. Stay in the know
You can help take back the narrative when you stop talking about refugees and start talking with refugees. Take a simple quiz created by the IKEA foundation in collaboration with Gapminder and get your facts right to help dispel the misinformation around refugees.
2. Stay Tuned
You can take meaningful action on a local scale by engaging with organisations and NGOs around you that focus on assisting refugees.
3. Spread Awareness
Always share verified facts from trusted sources to help counter the spread of negativity and misinformation by calling it out.
Social initiatives at IKEA
At IKEA, we’re committed to taking a stand for all refugees. See how we work with refugees across our business below:
Additional ways we support refugees
Donations
The IKEA group of companies has so far donated a total of €45 million to refugee causes, including the UNHCR and through product donations to local refugee charities.
Barnardo’s
In the UK and Ireland, we work closely with our charity partner Barnardo’s to provide strategic funding that enables them to roll out important social support to refugee children and their families. This also includes providing and distributing activity packs, containing toys and art supplies, to refugee children across the country.
Launching our ‘Skills for Employment’ toolkit
Businesses can make meaningful contributions to local neighbourhoods, and to society, by working toward refugee integration and open pathways to decent work for refugees.
Ingka Group have developed this toolkit to share our experience and lessons learned so far. We hope this toolkit inspires other businesses to act too.