H&M launches The Gift That Gives Back, a new global holiday campaign to raise funds for UNICEF's education programs in Myanmar

H&M Conscious Foundation is donating five per cent of gift cards purchased by H&M customers from November 5 to December 24

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, H&M kicks off a new campaign for the holiday season that will support UNICEF's education programs in Myanmar by donating a percentage from all gift cards purchased until December 24.

The campaign is aimed to increase education in Myanmar, where only 64 per cent of children aged five to 17 are attending school, leaving more than one million without education. With the support of the H&M Conscious Foundation, more than 350,000 children between the ages of five and 14 will benefit from increased access to school and an improved quality of education. The program includes reaching children in formal schooling, children living in camps for internally displaced people and children who will be reached through non-formal education initiatives. UNICEF will work on multiple levels to influence changes in policy, in education management and in schools and communities. Children, parents, teachers, head masters and policy makers will be involved in creating better schools for children.

"There is an urgent need to improve the access to and quality of basic education for vulnerable children in Myanmar. H&M Conscious Foundation is happy to support this program that will reach more than 350 000 children with quality primary and lower secondary school education in the Rakhine State," says Charlotte Brunnström, Program Manager for Education at the H&M Conscious Foundation.

The holiday campaign will engage H&M customers globally. When a customer purchases a gift card in an H&M store or online during the holiday season the H&M Conscious Foundation will donate five per cent of the total gift card amount to provide children in Myanmar with quality education through UNICEF.

H&M and UNICEF – a long standing global partnership
H&M has been a global partner of UNICEF since 2004 with funds being invested in girls' education, HIV/AIDS prevention, water and sanitation, and child protection. This support has been for programs in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Madagascar and Uzbekistan. H&M has also contributed to UNICEF's response during emergencies. And, in 2014, they launched the H&M Conscious Foundation, a non-profit to invest in communities, people and innovative ideas. Through the fund's partnership with UNICEF in 2014, it is supporting global early childhood and education programs in nine countries.

About H&M Conscious Foundation

The H&M Conscious Foundation is an independent non-profit global foundation, initiated by H&M. The mission of the Foundation is to create long lasting positive change and improve living conditions by investing in communities, people and innovative ideas. Through partnerships with prominent organizations around the globe, the Foundation drives change within three focus areas, as chosen by H&M employees and customers: Education, Clean Water and Strengthening Women. To further improve living conditions the Foundation supports innovative ideas that contribute to safeguarding the earth's natural resources, and it can also provide emergency relief in countries where H&M operates. Today, the Foundation is funded by the Stefan Persson family, founders and the main owners of H&M. For further information, visit hm.com/consciousfoundation

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

For further information about H&M's holiday campaign, please contact: H&M Canada, Emily Scarlett, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; UNICEF Canada: Tiffany Baggetta, Tel: [phone] ext. 8892, E-mail: [email protected]