Persil has launched the Learning for Tomorrow Initiative, its first step in committing to help improve the future of children around the world and support them to reach their full potential through access to quality education.
Globally, there are 130 million children in education who will reach year five, but fail to learn the basic reading, maths, writing and social skills they need to achieve their full potential. Furthermore, an additional 58 million children are out of school without access to basic education.
In 2015, the Persil Learning for Tomorrow initiative will partner with Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organization.
Clare Logan, Brand Manager for Persil UK and Ireland, said: “Persil has supported learning experiences where children explore, experiment and exercise their creativity for more than a century. We believe this is the best way for them to develop essential life skills and prepare themselves for a bright future. Even now, there are millions of children around the world, including here in the UK, who don’t receive that opportunity. Working with Unicef on the Learning for Tomorrow Initiative is our first step to ensuring each and every child has access to quality and enjoyable learning experiences – now and for generations to come.”
The initiative is funded with an initial €1.4 million donation from Persil and Unilever Global Partnerships, which will contribute to Unicef’s education programmes, providing access to quality education opportunities for 10 million children in Brazil, India and Vietnam.
Programmes that will be funded by the initiative across Brazil, India and Vietnam include teacher training, literacy activities and awareness campaigns to increase the demand for quality education.
Kate Goldman, Director of Partnerships and Philanthropy for Unicef said: “Whether they live here in the UK or in any other country around the world, every child has the right to go to school and enjoy all the positive things that quality education can bring. Knowledge and secure learning: These experiences must be freely available to all. Our partnership with Persil will help us begin turning that vision into reality – and ensure no child is ever left behind when it comes to their own bright future.”
To introduce the initiative, Persil commissioned BAFTA-nominated director Amanda Blue to create the ‘First Day’ film, a short documentary in which mothers discuss the momentous milestone of their child’s first day at school.