It was the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.†But the reality of the situation is that many children are still being denied their fundamental rights to a proper education. Out of the 650 million children on this Earth who are eligible to attend primary school, an estimated 92 million will never make it to the fourth grade, while an additional 59 million have never been enrolled.
Fortunately, there exist organisations such as UNICEF that have pledged to ensure that no child is left in the lurch. Founded in 1946, this United Nations programme, headquartered in New York City, has dedicated itself to promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child in 190 countries and territories by working in tandem with a select group of partners that shares its vision, one of which is Montblanc.
Renowned for its fine writing instruments and timekeeping creations, the maison is also equally as passionate about offering equal opportunity to future generations by empowering millions of children through education. It was in 2004 when Montblanc first announced its partnership with UNICEF with the ‘Sign Up For the Right to Write’ initiative. This compelling project involved raising funds through the sale of limited edition pens as well as inviting influential celebrities and public figures to participate in a global campaign where they shared their own personal thoughts on the value and importance of writing.
Since establishing this partnership, Montblanc has raised over USD10 million for UNICEF to support national education quality standards that cover pedagogy, reading and writing, the learning environment, community involvement, infrastructure and measuring of learning outcomes. These funds have also been channelled to teacher training programmes to provide the necessary tools and guidance that are desperately needed by these unsung heroes to ensure that they will be adequately prepared to provide a quality education.
To commemorate this longstanding partnership with UNICEF, Montblanc has introduced an exquisite Montblanc for UNICEF collection of timepieces, precious accessories, leather goods and a stunning line-up of wonderful writing instruments, further complemented by special ink in hues of UNICEF blue that are available in a glass bottle, cartridges as well as refills for roller balls and ballpoint pens. To find out more on how you can support this noble endeavour, visit montblanc.com/unicef
From now until 31 March 2018, purchases of select items from the Montblanc for UNICEF collection will aid in raising the amount that will be donated towards providing over five million children with access to a primary education. The new collection is currently available at all Montblanc boutiques worldwide.
Montblanc Meisterstück, Writing is a Gift Skeleton 149 Edition Fountain Pen
If the pen is, indeed, mightier than the sword, then it would only be fitting to equip oneself with this sublime writing instrument. Inspired by the priceless gift of writing, the new Meisterstück, Writing is a Gift Skeleton 149 Edition Fountain Pen by Montblanc is a masterpiece of fine craftsmanship that features a multitude of exquisite details that deserve to be observed up-close. The construction of the skeletonised barrel and cap reveals various letters chosen from six different alphabets that are further enhanced by the resin base that glows in an ethereal shade of blue. These symbols can also be found engraved on the Au750 white and yellow-gold nib, as well as the cap top, which has been constructed using precious mother-of-pearl and onyx, and topped with a dazzling blue sapphire. (Price: MYR41,700)
