The Summer of Joy, Autumn of Care Program is implemented by BCause Foundation with financial support from Philip Morris Bulgaria and covers 26 communities in tobacco growing regions in Bulgaria where access to services taken for granted in the big cities is limited. The Program is aimed to open up new opportunities for improving the quality of life of the people living in those areas. The company has always prioritized caring for and improving the social and economic well-being of local communities. Today, when sustainability and ESG have become increasingly important components of every company’s strategy, the Summer of Joy, Autumn of Care Program forms integral part of the social factors and projects of the global company.

The Program activities are aimed at schoolchildren, teachers, elderly people, and entrepreneurs from the five tobacco growing regions in Bulgaria: Blagoevgrad, Kurdjali, Haskovo, Shumen and Silistra.

The Program has been in place for eight years and its results are reported on a yearly basis. We launched the Program in 2015 and expand its scope each year.

Under the Program, students attend five-day adventure academies where they enhance their collaboration and communication skills. Academy for teachers includes preparation of 20 "global topics" in mathematics, Bulgarian language and national studies for grades 1-4 using suggestopedic methodology according to the standards of the Ministry of Education and Culture, training of 50 teachers from grades 1 to 4 in person and 35 online in the application of lessons, STEAM and suggestopedic literacy; training of 20 Bulgarian language teachers in a preschool group in a region. Medical specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, urology, neurology, pulmonology and endocrinology from St. Sofia Medical Center, Higia Medical Center Pazardzhik and Medica Medical Center Ruse conduct free medical examinations in the estate. An Academy for Local Entrepreneurs creates opportunities for growth in remote areas through training and financial support for start-up businesses. Many participants return to small towns after studying abroad to realize their business ideas, supported by the academies' mentoring programs. Every year, nearly 500 children from grades 1 to 7 join the academies; free

With BCause, we've developed the program into a comprehensive initiative in support of local communities through access to specialized medical exams for the elderly people, knowledge for children and teachers, business training and funding for entrepreneurs. The program has grown in number of people and now covers the five tobacco-producing regions in the country - Blagoevgrad, Kardjali, Haskovo, Shumen and Silistra. Over 3,671 children and 129 teachers participated in the 9th year. Nearly 9,800 medical examinations of elderly people were carried out, over 350 teams of young entrepreneurs received training and support for their business ideas. In the last edition of the Academy for Entrepreneurs, BGN 37,000 was distributed among 7 finalists; 350 candidate business ideas; 94 trained teams.