We Help Organizations That Make a Difference
At Melon, we believe in giving back to the community and being socially responsible. We have been supporting various initiatives through donations and pro-bono software development services as part of our Responsibility Program. For many years, our employees have been proposing the company to fund individuals and non-profit organizations in need, preparing various internal fundraising events, and many more charity initiatives. That’s why in 2018 we established our Responsibility Program with a designated budget, selection criteria, and a process that involves all interested employees.
In 2022, after high internal engagement, our teams selected four organizations that work to improve education, social support of disadvantaged people, reintegration of children and women who have survived violence, and environmental preservation.
We are honored to support these organizations, as their initiatives align with our values of promoting social good and sustainability. As Nikoleta Popkostadinova, our Director of Marketing Communications and Social Responsibility puts it: “It is important for us to help and give as much as we can to the communities and environment of which we are part of. Their development and well-being are an inevitable condition for improving the way of life and work of all of us individually and as a company.”
Which organizations did Melon support in 2022?
Association of Shared Learning “Ела“
For more than 20 years, the Shared Learning Association has been helping vulnerable children and youth overcome difficult situations. They work with schools, parents, and teachers to build children's social and emotional skills. A large part of their activities aim at systemic change: they impose the inclusive environment as a value and shared responsibility in the Bulgarian schools; are looking for alternatives to the confinement of children in orphanages. Additionally, Association "Ела" created a Green Education Center in the village of Sturgel, where they encourage children by implementing their programs. They work with children from vulnerable groups and refugee in Sofia and run children's camps.
Atelier „Прегърни ме“
Since 2005, the atelier has been giving abandoned children a chance to experience a life that was denied to them. It is a beautiful and cozy place in Sofia that children visit with joy. They meet friends and mentors who are painters, artists, writers and journalists. Together, they draw, read books, illustrate fairy tales, play theater, watch movies, and talk. The children learn to believe in themselves, have hope for the future, and develop their talents.
Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF)
BBF is an organization that unites people with different ideas for the protection of the Bulgarian nature. Their mission is the preservation of natural resources, the change of attitude towards protected areas and protected species and the awareness of the opportunities, benefits and responsibilities towards them. Their areas of focus include protected areas and NATURA 2000, endangered species, biosphere parks, Green Belt legislation, educational and PR activities, sustainable tourism, public campaigns, and coalitions.
PULSE Foundation
The foundation provides help and support to people who have experienced violence and works hard to raise public awareness of the problem in order to eliminate forms of violence in human relationships. It works with people and children at risk, victims of various forms of violence and trafficking, as well as people and children with drug addiction and other risk groups, offering both preventive programs and rehabilitation and integration programs.
In close contact
It is not just about writing checks to these organizations, though. Melon organized a general meeting with representatives from each of the organizations in the Sofia office. They presented their long-term and current initiatives and shared inspiring and emotional stories, showing that the efforts they put in, together with the support they receive from companies like ours, lead to meaningful results, although often insufficient in scale.
At Melon we believe that it's not just the responsibility of businesses to give back to the community, it's also the responsibility of each and every one of us. That's why we encourage everyone to contribute by volunteering, donating, or purchasing some of the great products that some of these organizations create and offer.
We remain committed to supporting organizations that make a positive impact on society and the environment. We are happy to have aided these four organizations in 2022, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and others in the years to come. Our commitment to corporate social responsibility is an integral part of who we are as a company. We believe that through these initiatives, we can contribute to a better future for all and we encourage everyone to join us in making a difference.