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Staying committed to change is the IKEA way

At IKEA, we believe everyone has a valuable role to play. We support refugees through targeted programmes and partnerships - continuing our work on social integration, employment and the rebuilding of livelihoods.

Changing the narrative | 3 ways to take action | Our milestones | Our commitment

Together, we can 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 together, let’s support refugees in our communities and help change the narrative for the better, together.

At the end of June 2025, 117.3 million individuals worldwide were forcibly displaced (of which 42.5 million were refugees), many of them facing discrimination 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 together.  

For years, we've worked with refugees across many aspects of our business, through initiatives like Skills for Employment and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship. Our goal is to continue providing refugees with platforms to share their stories and access to viable employment and income opportunities.

Everyone deserves to tell their own story

At IKEA, we're convinced that all people have the right to tell their own stories. We know changing the narrative won't happen overnight, but the stories we share help in bringing the facts forward, changing minds, and capturing hearts.

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From activist to asylum seeker - meet Shadia
Forced to flee Colombia, Shadia left behind her work as a social activist and analyst. Now in France, she is rebuilding her career. 
Shadia is seated on a bed, wearing a dark jacket and black boots, with curly hair and a relaxed posture, smiling gently.
Finding love, losing everything, and starting over - meet Silva and Abdul
Silva and Abdul, a married couple from Syria, built a successful business together before war forced them to flee. 
Silva and Abdul in their blue IKEA work uniforms holding each other.
Finding my place, my voice and my future - meet Yana
Forced to flee Ukraine, Yana Stepaniuk arrived in Hungary with nothing but hope.
Yana at home wearing a green hoodie, she has some tiny braids in her hair.
Power of determination - meet Abdi
Fleeing Somalia as a teenager, Abdi endured a perilous six-month journey to Austria.  
Abdi wearing a high-visibility vest, stands with arms crossed in a corridor, smiling.
Searching for stability in an uncertain world and reclaiming identity - meet Nataliia
Nataliia found herself rebuilding her life and career in the Czech Republic. From lawyer to refugee, she now fights to reclaim her professional identity and future.
Nataliia, smiling brightly, walks along a picturesque path surrounded by lush greenery.
A lesson in rebuilding lives - meet Edgar
Forced to flee Venezuela, Edgar left behind his home and daughter. Finding safety in Belgium, he reclaimed his career as an educator and started rebuilding his life.   
Edgar sits outdoors in his red shirt and smiles at the camera.
Leaving Syria behind - meet Zahra and Tarek
When all is lost, life remains. Meet Zahra and Tarek as they tell their story of leaving the destruction of Syria behind to find a future for their sons.
Zahra and Tarek in their living room, holding each other while smiling at the camera before having a coffe break.
A new beginning in Oslo - meet Hassan
Watch as Hassan opens up about his dreams and learnings as refugee navigating life in Oslo.
Hassan smiles at the camera on his balcony in a red sweater.
Fleeing Ukraine at 19 - meet Yevheniia
Watch the inspiring story of Yevheniia as she reflects on life, feelings and learnings as a young refugee and hear her message to the world.
Yevheniia leans against the doorframe in her living room wearing jeans and a white shirt.
Portrait of Clementine, a Congolese refugee, standing on a field wearing a colorful pattern.

Three ways to take action

  • Stay in the know

    We can help take back the narrative together, when we 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. 

  • Stay Tuned

    You can take meaningful action on a local scale by engaging with organisations and NGOs around you that focus on assisting refugees and helping them integrate into society. 

  • Spread Awareness

    Always share verified facts from trusted sources to help counter the spread of negativity and misinformation by calling it out. 

Our milestones

4,300+ refugees supported​

Ingka Group’s Skills for Employment programme has supported over 4,300 refugees since 2019 in 26 countries, with 600 completing it in FY25. ​

250+ jobs​

Inter IKEA partners with Jordan River Foundation. In FY25, they provided more than 250 Syrian refugees and local women in Jordan with income through hand-stitched textiles. 

300 million EUR invested

IKEA Foundation surpassed its 100 million EUR commitment. They have now invested over 300 million EUR towards enhancing the livelihoods of refugees and their host communities.

Our actions continue

  • Ingka Group has supported 1,635 refugees since 2024 and we are continuing our Skills for Employment initiative with the goal of reaching more refugees across our markets.
  • IKEA Foundation continues to fund work related to those forcibly displaced beyond the 300 million EUR already provided.
  • Inter IKEA partners with the Jordan River Foundation, which provides refugees and local women in Jordan with income through hand-stitched textiles.​
  • IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, alongside the Cisco Foundation and NESsT, has launched an initiative to assist refugees and migrants in Poland and Romania, targeting to create long-term jobs that will positively impact over 5,000 displaced people.