IKEA is one of the world’s most popular furnishing stores, and their showrooms are visited by thousands and thousands of people every single day. IKEA Slependen, the retailer’s flagship store in Norway, had quite a different showroom, an astonishing one to say the least. They made a replica of a Syrian home—25 square meters of cinder block walls and meager furnishings and displayed it. The home is a replica of an actual residence in Damascus.
The IKEA posters and price tags at the showroom told the story of a typical Syrian family and the struggles they have to face on a daily basis that include lack of food, medicine and clean water. The price tags also served as donation slips, as the idea was the brainchild of the Red Cross and IKEA’s fruitful collaboration.
The installation was seen by over 40,000 visitors, and the campaign already raised some $24.6 million for the Red Cross’ efforts in Syria. Good on you IKEA for shedding some light on Syria, we need more people to step up and do the same.
By Kurt Galala
