Pluxee Bulgaria, together with the international non-profit organization Stop Hunger, founded by Sodexo, is implementing the project "Women Change the World for Women" in Bulgaria within 3 years with the support of BCause Foundation, their entrepreneurial accelerator - Rinker Center, Emprove Foundation and Za dobroto Foundation. Recipients of the program are women from vulnerable groups, survivors of violent situations or refugees. The project has two phases: in the first phase, the foundations provide psychological support to the identified groups. In the second phase: BCause Foundation and Rinker Center implement a program for acquiring business skills and provide opportunity for women to apply with projects aiming to support women from the defined groups and receive financial support.

The target group of the project are women who have been in a situation of domestic violence or refugees. Naturally, due to the crisis in Ukraine, there are many Ukrainian women who are refugees from the war or who want to help others. For the entrepreneurial part of the project, the scope is extended to women from all over the country/ or NGO representatives who have a business idea/project to help women (disabled, with health issues, single mothers, refugees, women from vulnerable groups).

Stop Hunger, identifies that the shortest route to tackling hunger is through empowering women in society. The project in Bulgaria starts as a 3-year program in December 2022. In Year 1 (Dec. 2022-2023), local partners and target groups are recruited and psychosocial support programs are launched. In years 2 (Dec. 2023-2024) and 3 (Dec. 2024-2025) we will provide opportunities for qualification, professional realization to start a new life, dignified and financially independent.

2023 г. Project preparation, auditing оf local partners, financing. Funding: Stop Hunger: 3 years x EUR 25 600, Sodexo/Pluxee Bulgaria: 3 years x EUR 7 750 Contracts with 2 NGOs*: Emprove - women victims of domestic violence; "For the Good" - migrant women from Ukraine and their children; Direct beneficiaries: - 68 women - assessment and psychological support; - 71 women - soft and skills training. 5 mentors and volunteers; Marketing communication: a series of video and podcast interviews (pluxee.bg, YouTube, Spotify) to promote the foundations' activities; Additional fundraising campaigns on Platformata.bg: 5600 BGN; - Sponsored communication (Facebook, LinkedIn); *Continues as processes in the remaining 2 years until the goals were achieved. 2024 г. Conduct a competition for teams led by and/or supporting women from the target groups to fund 3 projects for BGN 23,000. - 52 applications: - 32 projects interviewed; - 11 projects approved to attend the training sessions; Currently 2-week business skills training with qualified mentors is being conducted to train the teams Upcoming: 07.03.2024 - Final; Awards distribution 2025 - Second NGO edition of the contest

With this project we managed to identify a group that really needs support. By bringing in the right partners, we know that women are getting more than psychological support - understanding and help after the hardships they have experienced, care for their children, inclusion in a community of sisters in fate who have experienced the same. Our partners help with information on local legislation, social policy, job opportunities and support on raising and educating their children, medical care. The women receive assistance to move on with their lives, adapting to the new reality, learning languages and developing professionally, covering their expenses, integrating and living independently. Many of the women Survivors become mentors to other women in the program and they form a community.