Ahlström Collective Impact supports children's education
We, as part of Ahlström Collective Impact support every child’s right for quality education with Ahlström Collective Impact's support, UNICEF can: improve the quality of education, prevent student drop-out, promote equity and inclusion, offer alternative learning opportunities for those out of school, with an emphasis on girls, promote digital learning and active citizenship and employment. Read more about the importance of education here below or here
All children have the right to go to school and learn. UNICEF is committed to ensuring that every child gets access to quality education.
SUPPORTING EDUCATION
- Education plays a key role in reducing inequality, cutting poverty rates, and strengthening societal stability
- Education contributes to a better society and sustainable development
- Without skills for a lifelong learning and active citizenship, children face greater barriers for earning potential and employment in later life
EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO LEARN
UNICEF works around the world to support quality learning for every girl and boy. Our aim is to ensure that every child and adolescent has access to school and quality learning.
EDUCATION IS A POWERFUL INVESTMENT
- For each additional year of studies, the GDP per capita could increase by 20%.
- Each additional year of schooling could boost personal income by 10%. For girls, as much as 20%.
GOOD NEWS
Globally, education for children has taken huge steps forward during the last 50 years. As many as 90% of children around the world start school every year.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE CHALLENGES
- Schooling does not always lead to Many students fail to learn even the basic skills at school.
- The situation is the weakest for children living in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The challenges of learning are strongly linked to e.g. poverty, long distances between home and school, low appreciation of education, gender inequality, and child marriage
- A worrying number of children – especially girls – drop out of The longer children stay out of school, the less likely they are to return.
AN ESTIMATED 1.6 BILLION LEARNERS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
- In 2020, one out of 3 schoolchildren did not have access to any form of distance learning
- These disruptions further highlighted inequalities between children. The most vulnerable were at a particular risk of falling behind. In low- and middle- income countries, learning losses due to school closures have left up to 70% of 10-year-olds unable to read or understand a simple text, up from 53% pre-pandemic.
- Child marriages are estimated to grow by 10 million by 2030. As many as 9 million children risk facing child labour by the end of 2022
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN
- Improve the quality of education and learning results by training teachers and producing learning materials
- Collaborate with families and communities to help them support children’s learning and prevent student dropout
- Continue our ongoing advocacy work, urging governments to prioritize and invest more in children's education
- Promote equity and inclusion, with focus on the most marginalized children, including children with special needs
- Support science and technology learning and digital skills for girls
- Promote digital and remote learning and connect every school in the world to the internet
- Offer alternative learning opportunities for those out of school, with an emphasis on girls
- Enhance the quality of early education and improve access to pre-primary education
- Promote active citizenship, employment and internship opportunities for young people
- Collaborate with partners to develop educational systems with innovative solutions that help boost the learning for every child
Through Ahlström Collective Impact we want to give everyone in the Ahlström Network a chance to contribute towards the realization of the The Sustainable Development Goals
Maria Ahlström-Bondestam, Co-founder and Chair of the Board at the Eva Ahlström Foundation presenting at the Ahlström Network Day 2022.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) might sound intangible and uncomprehending – but in order for us to reach the goal of a sustainable world by 2030, we need to figure out ways to make these global goals local and find opportunities for everyone to contribute. Ahlström Collective Impact is our vehicle that makes it possible for everyone in the Ahlström Network, together with UNICEF Finland, to contribute towards the realization of the SDG’s. The uniqueness of Ahlström Collective Impact lies in the power, to bringing all entities together under one umbrella, and from letting purpose and values be the guiding principles that unites the Ahlström Network. Our common values have united us in helping to reach the SDG goals 4. Quality Education and 5. Gender Equality. Through our partnership with UNICEF, the UN organization for child rights
Ahlström Collective Impact celebrates World Children's Day together with UNICEF Finland
United Nations' World Children's Day is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote children's rights and welfare. Ahlström Collective Impact joins forces with UNICEF Finland to raise awareness about the wellbeing of the new generations as part of the World Children's Day celebrations.
This year Ahlström Collective Impact wants to draw attention especially to quality education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to an education. To remind everyone about this right and children's rights in general, the members of Ahlström Collective Impact spread the message about World Children's Day among their employees and external stakeholders. This includes different internal and external communication campaigns and activities taking place during November 15-20.
Read more about World Children's Day: https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-childrens-day
Read more about Ahlström Collective Impacts investment into UNICEF's Global Education Program here.
Ahlström Collective Impact makes a significant investment into UNICEF’s Global Education Program
Ahlström Collective Impact is a joint responsibility initiative by the Ahlström Network companies and foundations. As of June 2021, this unique collaboration forum has been further strengthened as Suominen and Enics along with the Walter Ahlström Foundation have joined Ahlström Collective Impact. For 2021, Ahlström Collective Impact has succeeded in more than doubling the investment it makes and donates 600,000 euros into UNICEF’s Global Education Program.
Initiated by the Eva Ahlström Foundation in 2020, Ahlström Collective Impact is a unique co-operation model that joins together the Ahlström Network companies and foundations. Ahlström Collective Impact consists of Ahlström Capital, Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Destia, Enics, Glaston, Suominen, Antti Ahlström Perilliset, Eva Ahlström Foundation and Walter Ahlström Foundation and it acts in partnership with UNICEF Finland.
Ahlström Collective Impact is designed for targeted strategic investments that support the realization of selected United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to support the goal for quality education (SDG number 4), Ahlström Collective Impact has decided to direct its investment of 600,000 euros to UNICEF’s Global Education Program.
In 2020, Ahlström Collective Impact focused on supporting the COVID-19 crisis aid to children. In 2021, Ahlström Collective Impact will focus on the learning crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address the learning crisis, UNICEF strives to ensure every student gains a solid foundation in basic reading and mathematics – skills that are the foundation for all learning throughout childhood and beyond. Focusing on the most marginalized children in low- and middle-income countries, is critical for meaningful progress on all targets under SDG number 4.
“The private sector has a huge role in the realization of the SDGs and for finding new ways to collaborate. To further demonstrate our belief that prosperous businesses and stable societies are interdependent, shareholders from the Ahlström Family decided to match the companies’ investment for the year 2021”, comments Maria Ahlström-Bondestam, Co-founder and Chair of the Board at the Eva Ahlström Foundation.
Summary of Ahlström Collective Impact's and UNICEF's 2020 COVID-19 response published
These young girls are practicing safe handwashing in Odisha, India as part of UNICEF’s work against COVID-19. Last year Ahlström Collective Impact focused on supporting children’s wellbeing and health during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the investment of 240 000 euro, UNICEF could, for example,
- provide 50 healthcare facilities with supplies of water and sanitation equipment in Nepal, and
- provide 125 000 school children with access to remote learning programs when schools were disrupted in Guinea-Bissau, and
- reach 1 million people with urgent health and hygiene messaging through social media in Costa Rica.
Disruptions to society caused by the pandemic have had a heavy impact on children: on their safety, their well-being, and their future. As these services were compromised, UNICEF took action to prevent this health crisis turning into a child rights crisis.
Read the summary here.
The UNICEF response to COVID-19
In 2020, Ahlström Collective Impact focuses on supporting the COVID-19 crisis aid to children, the hidden victims of the pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has both short- and long-term impacts on the health, well-being and the development of children, and UNICEF is tackling these challenges by supporting governments worldwide in their efforts to secure basic healthcare and education for every child. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of children and their families as health systems buckle, borders close, and schools and businesses shutter.