IKEA Korea Supports Shelter Environment Improvement for Abused Children

IKEA Korea announced on the 4th that it has supported the improvement of child shelters for three consecutive years to provide a safe and comfortable living environment for children who are victims of abuse and those under protection.

Since 2021, IKEA Korea has been working with the international child rights NGO Save the Children to improve the living environment of shelters so that abused children can live safely and comfortably. The shelters and group homes for abused children, which are the support targets, play an important role in integrated care, including safe protection, physical and emotional stability, recovery of daily life, and laying the foundation for independence.

Before (left) and after (right) images of a children's shelter reborn through IKEA Korea's 'Children's Shelter Residential Environment Improvement Project.' (Photo by IKEA Korea)

For this year’s project, IKEA Korea signed a sponsorship agreement with Save the Children to improve the living environment of child shelters and donated 50 million KRW. Through this, from March to June, over four months, the environments of a total of nine facilities selected through a public contest in the local community were improved. Spaces for learning, psychological therapy, and sleep were newly renovated with IKEA’s home furnishing products, and IKEA Korea employees directly participated in home furnishing consulting, assembly, and installation, adding meaningful value.

Isabel Puchi, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Korea, said, “We are very pleased that children facing difficulties can create a warmer and happier home life based on IKEA’s home furnishing solutions,” and added, “IKEA will continue to strive to protect the rights of children, the most important beings in the world, as a good neighbor working with the local community.”

Meanwhile, IKEA Korea has been continuing various social contribution activities, such as conducting community creation projects for the elderly with Korea Habitat, a nonprofit housing welfare organization, to have a positive impact on the local community and residents.