A very special World Kids Colouring Day 2020: STAEDTLER rounds up its support to the project in Rwanda to 20,000 euros

Temporarily closed schools and kindergartens, limited contacts also in private life - the campaign period for World Kids Colouring Day on 6 May was marked by challenges this year. "With 7,408 submissions, we received more images than we had hoped at the beginning due to the coronavirus crisis," explains Britta Olsen, Head of Brand & Communications at STAEDTLER. "Since we started World Kids Colouring Day in 2008, many kindergarten groups and school classes have been involved. Unfortunately, this was not possible in the usual form this year. However, we still want to support the children in Rwanda in the best possible way." STAEDTLER generally gives one euro for each image received during the campaign. This year, the company is breaking away from this figure and rounding up the support for Plan International Germany to 20,000 euros. "This is based on the submissions from the last two years," says Britta Olsen.

In thousands of pictures, children provided a glimpse of “Galaxy Adventure” for World Kids Colouring Day 2020. In their heads and on paper, new worlds emerged in which aliens play football with tomatoes, a little colourful creature swings on a rainbow and the Milky Way flows out of a milk carton. Some children sent letters explaining the stories behind their colourful pictures.

STAEDTLER is supporting Plan International Germany for the third time. The contribution from World Kids Colouring Day 2020 is intended to ensure sustainable development for girls and boys in the Bugesera and Nyaruguru regions in Rwanda. This includes four objectives defined by the organisation: No poverty, good health and well-being, gender equality and quality education. In order to improve children's opportunities, Plan International Germany creates better learning conditions in primary and secondary schools in the East African country. In addition to supporting kindergartens for early education, the organisation also provides classrooms for older children, as well as teaching materials and school equipment, and offers further education and training for parents and teachers. These courses cover topics such as child health, violence prevention and children's rights. Education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially for girls, should also pave the way for children to live independently.

The measures help a total of 6,900 school children and 5,250 young children. Another core element of Plan International Germany's work in Rwanda is the inclusion of children with disabilities.

"As soon as one World Kids Colouring Day is over, it's time to start preparing the next," smiles Britta Olsen. STAEDTLER is calling on children between the ages of three and twelve to let their imagination run wild again in the coming year.