NEW YORK, April 3, 2017 /CNW/ - Montblanc and UNICEF today announced the continuation of their long-standing partnership to help some of the world's most vulnerable children access education.
The partnership, formed in 2004 through a shared vision of empowering children through education, has to-date raised more than US$10 million for UNICEF's work for children. In this next stage of the partnership, Montblanc aims to support UNICEF to improve the learning for over five million children.
"Writing is at the core of the Maison's history. Montblanc is committed to advocating for a world where every child is given the chance to learn how to read and write," said Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzki.
"Through our long-term partnership with UNICEF we have raised an incredible amount which has helped children access the quality education they need to thrive. While there is still much to accomplish on the journey to ending illiteracy, every life changed, and every individual story is testament to the difference we can make by working together," continued Baretzki.
"Education, particularly girls' education, holds the key to a better life for millions of children and adolescents worldwide: a life with less poverty, better health and an increased ability to take their future into their own hands," said Jo Bourne, Associate Director of Education at UNICEF. "Yet 263 million children and youth are out of school – children denied a fair chance to learn and reach their full potential because of reasons such as poverty, location, gender, disability or conflict. UNICEF is grateful to Montblanc for its ongoing support in ensuring more children have access to a quality education."
The partnership with Montblanc demonstrates how the private sector sees investing in early childhood care and education as one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to start children on a lifelong path of learning and to ensure they all have a fair chance to reach their potential.
Montblanc, a champion of the written word, embarked on the partnership with UNICEF in 2006 to help promote literacy across the world. The partnership has so far helped UNICEF's education work with governments and partners in countries across Asia and Africa and helped UNICEF provide training to education professionals, reducing repetition and dropout rates. In addition, the collaboration has helped girls realize their right to education, and has also helped prepare communities for the onset of emergencies including natural disasters. The renewed partnership invests in children's programs in China, Djibouti, and Brazil.
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About Montblanc
Guided by the pioneering spirit since 1906, Montblanc revolutionized the culture of writing with breakthrough innovations. Today, the Maison continues to push boundaries and evolve the expression of fine craftsmanship across each of its product categories: the pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, timepieces, leather goods, accessories, fragrances and eyewear. With every innovation, Montblanc offers new functionalities and groundbreaking designs imbued with the Maison's heritage of sophistication and crafted to the highest standards through the skills of its artisans in each of its manufactures whether Hamburg, Germany for its writing instruments, the Swiss Jura in Le Locle and Villeret for its timepieces or Florence, Italy for its leather goods. Reflecting its ongoing mission to create fine lifetime companions born from the most pioneering ideas, the iconic Montblanc Emblem has become the ultimate seal of performance, innovation, quality and expression of style. With its origins deeply rooted in the culture of handwriting, Montblanc continues to assert its cultural commitment around the world with the creation of wide-ranging initiatives to promote arts and culture in many forms, while honouring the modern day patrons who support the advancement of the arts.
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 more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.
SOURCE UNICEF Canada
For interviews or more information, please contact: Stefanie Carmichael, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8866, [email protected]
UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach...
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