“Education should be a right, not a privilege”, said Leon Mervis, Managing Director, Montblanc Australia at the recent Montblanc supports UNICEF event in Melbourne last week. For the past 13 years, Montblanc has supported the UNICEF donating approximately $10 Million USD to help the many children who are still denied access to quality education.
“In first world countries we take education for granted, but it is a serious matter in third world countries where a lot of children do not have the correct resources, teachers or even the correct environment where they can feel safe”, Leon adds. “The collaboration with UNICEF is extremely important to us and is a part of Montblanc’s culture and heritage. Being the masters of writing, it is about giving back to children in need of education in third world countries”.
The Montblanc for UNICEF collection was unveiled at one of Australia’s most innovative and talented artist, David Bromley’s private studio (more like a cave of art) on Chapel Street in Melbourne, featuring writing instruments, timepieces, leather goods and accessories.
From left to right: Leon Mervis, Managing Director, Montblanc Australia, Mary Waite, Corporate Partnership Manager, UNICEF Australia, Megan Quinn, Board Member, UNICEF Australia and Australian Artist, David Bromley
It was 3 hours of pure commitment; a commitment that aims to help improve learning for over 5 million children through quality learning materials and better teaching. The event kicked off with speeches by Leon Mervis and Randall Foote, General Manager, Montblanc who touched on the importance of the association with UNICEF. Megan Quinn, Board Member of UNICEF Australia spoke about the work UNICEF had done globally for the welfare of children followed by David Bromley, who shared his journey as an artist, his inspiration and illustrations. The mood was pretty much set for the evening. Guests were then invited on a journey to their early memories of learning to write, which was then followed by the opportunity to take part in a co-painting session with the legendary David Bromley.
As true watch journalists, we couldn’t stop ourselves from getting our hands on the new Montblanc UNICEF Orbis Terrarum watch, which was released earlier this year. Just looking at the watch time and again, makes you realize its true value.
Montblanc Orbis Terrarum
The highlight of the evening though was the Meisterstück for UNICEF Writing Instrument, featuring a Rosetta motif to celebrate the preciousness of writing as a force for good, and a blue sapphire to celebrate the bond between Montblanc and UNICEF. It also features the first letter from six different alphabets learnt by children around the world and are available three styles, Meisterstück Classic, Doué and Solitaire. The Meisterstück for UNICEF Leather Goods is also based around a similar concept and are now available at Montblanc boutiques Australia-Wide.
This year, each item from the “The gift of writing” Montblanc Collection sold between the 3rd of April to the 31st of March will be donated to help support UNICEF’s education work in China, Djibouti and Brazil to provide training to education professionals, reducing repetition and dropout rates and help children break the cycle of poverty and realise their full potential. So now you can confidently walk away knowing you’ve done well. Really well!
Montblanc UNICEF Fine Stationery Notebook #146 Blue, lined