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World Kids Colouring Day Children colour for children; proceeds from the artwork go to support education programmes in countries affected by conflict. 

Children are natural-born artists – and colouring is of great importance to their development. STAEDTLER, the manufacturer of writing instruments, is calling out for support of the first World Kids Colouring Day, to be held on 6 May 2008.   

STAEDTLER is uniting globally to support the international development agency, Save the Children, through this special promotional day. In this colouring campaign, children in Australia and around the world are invited to colour and sell their most beautiful works, to help other children in need.

As the world’s largest independent child rights organisation, Save the Children works in over 100 countries, including Australia. With the collected donations from the World Kids Colouring Day, STAEDTLER will support Save the Children’s “Rewrite the Future” programme which focuses on securing quality education for the millions of children out of school due to war and armed conflict. STAEDTLER will support Save the Children to develop learning programmes for out of school children, train teachers as well as provide adequate teaching and learning materials.  

The universal language of pictures is understood the world over and unites children on all continents. Colouring is an important form of expression, especially for small children still discovering their world. Ideas revolving around the theme of ‘colouring’ are almost unlimited and can be realised just about anywhere. Whether a street colouring festival, a school contest or an auction, World Kids Colouring Day needs the support of adults to help coordinate the fundraising events, and to help children understand how their contribution can change the world of another, less fortunate child. 

We invite you to visit www.world-kids-colouring-day.com.au for general information, ideas and details on how to create your own fundraising events and make your contributions. STAEDTLER will recognise those who have organised the most creative campaign, those with the highest donation and those with donations totalling more than $500 (‘Donation Champions’). 

Christopher Laforest, Managing Director of STAEDTLER (Pacific) Pty Ltd, is proud to make a significant commitment to Save the Children. “With World Kids Colouring Day, we want to emphasise how important colouring is for child development. We want to give security and stability to those children who need it most – those who do not have the chance for an adequate education to equip them for the future.” 

Margaret Douglas, CEO of Save the Children Australia, explains: “Education is the key. So far, 3.4 million children in more than 20 countries affected by conflict have benefited from Rewrite the Future. More than 590,000 accessed primary education with our support. We are working to give more children the chance to go to school, to make children’s schools safer, better places to learn, with better trained teachers. Our target is to provide better education for at least 8 million children by 2010. We would like to thank STAEDTLER for assisting us in this endeavour."