Rovio becomes the first pilot partner for Staff for UNICEF, an impactful donation model created by UNICEF Finland.
Rovio Entertainment today announces it has teamed up with UNICEF Finland for a joint initiative centred around supporting UNICEF’s global education work.
As part of the initiative, Rovio has signed up to be the first partner in a new donation model created by UNICEF Finland – called Staff for UNICEF. Currently in its pilot phase, Staff for UNICEF is a simple and impactful donation model where Rovio employees can choose to give a set monthly amount towards UNICEF’s education program across the world, with Rovio then adding double the amount of the employee’s donation to the monthly sum. This pilot program with Rovio will provide UNICEF Finland live feedback within a working environment and help them build out the model for wider future deployment.
In addition, Rovio is delighted to be supporting UNICEF’s Salmaïtou Senegal Project. This project aims to give a second chance to the most vulnerable adolescent girls in and out of school, allowing them to master the basics of digital skills including coding as well as app and web development, while learning about innovation and social entrepreneurship. As designated by UNICEF, the project will also potentially involve Rovio employees providing direct educational and mentoring support.
“As a company of over 400 people originating from 40 different countries, we’re deeply interested in inspiring adolescent girls across the world and supporting their technical, digital and life skills education.” says Kati Levoranta, CEO at Rovio Entertainment.
“The tech and gaming sector has some way to go when it comes to gender diversity, particularly when there are still barriers caused by typical gender role misconceptions and attitudes that discourage young women from entering the industry. But especially for adolescents girls in low to middle income countries, the barriers are even greater. Alongside UNICEF Finland we can play a part in addressing the global inequality regarding equal opportunities for girls, while supporting UNICEF’s broader global education work,” Levoranta continues.
“We are thrilled to start this innovative partnership with Rovio,” says Marja-Riitta Ketola, Executive Director of UNICEF Finland. “Through the project supported by Rovio, this partnership thrives to empower adolescent girls to fully engage in society. With the combination of education, digital and life skills, girls are better able to find employment, contribute to family income and help break the cycle of poverty. Investing in adolescents may be the best way to accelerate the fight against poverty, inequity and gender discrimination.”