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Persil ‘Learning for Tomorrow’ initiative in partnership with Unicef to help more children access new learning experiences.

Persil recently launched the Learning for Tomorrow Initiative, its first step in committing to help improve the future of children around the world and support them in reaching their full potential through access to quality education and new learning experiences. 

Globally, there are 130 million children in education who will reach year 5, but fail to learn the basic reading, math, 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. 

As one of Unilever’s sustainable living brands, Persil plays an important part in Unilever’s vision of a more sustainable future.  Unilever is putting sustainable living at the centre of everything it does - working to create a better future through its brands.

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 Learning for Tomorrow Initiative, Persil has 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. The film is available to watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d_H_NVlPx4  and will be supported by a social media campaign encouraging parents in the UK to share their experiences of their children’s first day of school.

To find out more about the Learning for Tomorrow Initiative or read about Persil’s partnership with UNICEF, visit www.persil.co.uk/learning-for-tomorrow. 

Notes for editors:

For further information please contact the Unicef UK Press Office on +44 (0)20 7375 6030 or media@unicef.org.uk

Persil is supporting all of Unicef’s education programmes in Brazil, India and Vietnam, which includes:

Brazil

• National Out-of-school Children Initiative and Campaign: Social mobilisation and communication campaigns around the children’s right to education based on research evidence.

• Learning Achievements and Quality Education: Promote quality education, from preschoolers to adolescents through a range of activities, including curriculum implementation, literacy promotion, mobilisation of municipalities etc.

• Education Plan in Amazonian Region (Educamazonia): Consolidated regional programme to promote the right to lean, involving state and local leaders, social organisations, and universities. 

India

• Right to Education and Child Friendly Schools: Public awareness campaign to increase the demand for quality education.

• Early Childhood Education:  Government and partners have the capacity to provide equitable access to quality Early Childhood Education.

• Teacher Education and Support System:  Pre-service and in-service training, improve retention and quality of learning in certain areas (e.g. remote areas).

• Quality Education with Equity: Support for inclusive education planning, including marginalised children, out of school, and prompting all duty bearers (civil society, coalitions) to demand quality education for vulnerable children.

• Adolescents and Gender Equality: Adolescents, especially girls, fully participate and are empowered to be involved in decision making that affects their lives.

Vietnam

• Inclusive Education and Child Friendly Schools: Disadvantaged children benefit from an education system that provides quality and relevant inclusive education through evidence based policy.

• Education in Emergencies: Education managers undertake child-focused national education planning, monitoring and evaluation, and are prepared to respond to emergencies and climate change.

• Province-wide Programming: Disadvantaged children in eight provinces benefit from relevant and quality preschool and basic education supported by the Provincial Education Sector Plans.

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. It has 172,000 employees and generated sales of €48.4 billion in 2014. Over half (57%) of the company’s footprint is in developing and emerging markets. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Persil, Dove, Knorr, Domestos, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Wall’s, PG Tips, Ben & Jerry’s, Marmite, Magnum and Lynx. 

Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) commits to: 

• Decoupling growth from environmental impact.

• Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being.

• Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.

Unilever was ranked number one in its sector in the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In the FTSE4Good Index, it achieved the highest environmental score of 5. It led the list of Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders in the 2015 GlobeScan/Sustainability annual survey for the fifth year running, and in 2015 was ranked the most sustainable food and beverage company in Oxfam’s Behind the Brands Scorecard.

Unilever has been named in LinkedIn’s Top 3 most sought-after employers across all sectors. 

For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit www.unilever.com. For more information on the USLP: www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/ 

About Persil

Persil small & mighty comes in 4 sizes: 15, 25, 40 and 60 wash packs, and is made from packaging that can be recycled (where facilities exist).

• 525ml - £4.69 RRP

• 875ml - £6.79 RRP

• 1400ml - £9.99 RRP

• 2100ml - £13.00 RRP

About Unicef

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.  

Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children.  As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk