Education plays a key role in reducing inequality and poverty and in strengthening societal stability. For the fourth consecutive year, Glaston as a member of Ahlström Collective Impact continues to support UNICEF’s global education work.
Ahlström Collective Impact, a unique cooperation model bringing together the companies and foundations in the Ahlström network, continues to support UNICEF’s education work. The investment of close to 800,000 euros will be directed to UNICEF’s global education program. This program provides support for millions of children who need to continue to learn, grow and develop the skills necessary to thrive in life. By bringing together the companies and foundations in the Ahlström network, the initiative can amplify the impact of individual organizations.
“In order to safeguard children´s future, we must safeguard their education. This investment is strongly reflected in Glaston’s value ‘Together we build the future’. Providing access to education for equal opportunities is an ongoing effort ”, says Päivi Lindqvist, CFO at Glaston Corporation, who leads the Glaston-wide strategic initiative focusing on elevating sustainability and continuous improvement.
Learning in crisis
Currently, almost 90% of the children worldwide are attending school. At the same time, learning is in crisis. More than 600 million children and young people across the world are failing to reach the minimum levels of reading and mathematics, even though two-thirds of them are in school.
“Education is every child’s right. It reduces inequality and poverty and creates more stable societies in which businesses can thrive. At the same time, we are contributing to a future where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” says Marja-Riitta Ketola, Executive Director of UNICEF Finland.
Training on the importance of children’s rights
As an area of corporate social responsibility, human rights and children’s rights are tightly connected to companies’ business activities. As part of the cooperation, UNICEF Finland trains the employees of Ahlström Collective Impact companies and foundations on children’s rights. In addition to general training on child rights and business, UNICEF Finland provides in-depth training on topics such as child rights in supply chains and creating family-friendly workplaces.
Launched in 2020, the Ahlström Collective Impact cooperation model brings together companies and foundations in the Ahlström network to invest in the well-being of children in selected UNICEF projects in accordance with the UN’s principles of sustainable development. Ahlström Collective Impact includes Ahlstrom, A. Ahlström, Ahlström Invest, Avain Yhtiöt, Destia, Detection Technology, Eva Ahlström Foundation, Glaston, M&J Recycling, Suominen and Walter Ahlström Foundation. Ahlström Collective Impact was initiated by the Eva Ahlström Foundation in 2020, with the purpose of inspiring a new type of collaboration within the Ahlström network. Read more: Ahlström Collective Impact.