Customers of the FANTASTICO chain store donated 277 234 BGN to create a positive safe school environment for every child
With the funds raised, UNICEF, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, will expand the Steps Together programme to 200 schools and over 20,000 students in Bulgaria

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04 January 2024, Sofia: BGN 277,234 was donated by FANTASTICO customers as part of the "Steps Together to a Violence-Free School" campaign, which took place in all of the supermarket chain's stores between 30 November 2023 and 3 January 2024. The funds raised will be used to expand UNICEF's "Steps Together" programme, which uses a comprehensive approach to create a positive and safe school environment. Up to 200 schools and close to 20,000 children will be reached through various activities.
"On behalf of the entire UNICEF team, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the clients and employees of FANTASTICO for supporting the cause to create a positive and safe environment for all! We have seen the positive results of the program in the 5 pilot schools and have heard from the students themselves that the school environment has changed and become more positive and supportive thanks to Steps Together. We are convinced that we can only achieve our goal if we all come together and take the necessary steps together - school community, institutions, business, and society as a whole. Once again, we thank our long-standing partners at FANTASTICO for their recognition and support of UNICEF's causes for children!" said Christina de Bruin, UNICEF Representative in Bulgaria.
FANTASTICO's clients and team are supporting UNICEF's Steps Together program for the second year in a row. A key role in the success of the donation initiative was played by the hundreds of cashiers in the chain's supermarkets who became advocates for the common cause of creating a safe and positive school environment.
"I am confident that the impact of this program effort will be long-lasting. Talking about the issues, showing children that controversy does not have to lead to conflict, that differences are not cause for rejection, is deeply necessary for our society. I would like to thank UNICEF Bulgaria for its thorough work and comprehensive approach, as well as the company's clients and team for appreciating and supporting the cause of a positive school environment," said Vladimir Nikolov, Operations President of FANTASTICO GROUP.
In 2023, with the support of the clients and the FANTASTICO team, Steps Together programme has reached 2261 children and young people from grades 1 to 12 in 5 schools, trained 40 mentors from 22 districts in the country and supported 605 more teachers, psychologists and pedagogical advisors with training. Thanks to the good feedback and results of the Steps Together programme, key activities from the programme have been included in the Ministry of Education's national programme "Support for Personal Development", which is working in 32 new schools across the country to prevent violence.
The Steps Together programme involves a holistic approach involving students, teachers and parents. They all work together as a team, supported by a specially trained mentor. The role of the mentors is to support schools to analyse the situation and to plan and implement activities and training for students, teachers and parents. In the framework of the Steps
Together", pupils develop social-emotional skills and parents are involved more effectively in school life. In this way, the school creates a positive environment in which each child's differences are accepted and in which adults have an understanding of the causes of aggressive behaviour and can more effectively prevent and respond to incidents of bullying.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories. We save children's lives. We stand up for their rights. We help them reach their potential. And we never give up. Because we are UNICEF - for every child!
About FANTASTICO GROUP
FANTASTICO GROUP is a Bulgarian family-owned company founded in 1991. The company owns 45 supermarkets, a shopping mall, restaurants, bowling alleys and an event center.
FANTASTICO GROUP's largest socially responsible initiative - "FANTASTICO TO YOU" supports causes in 6 key areas: education and culture; healthcare; support of vulnerable groups; social entrepreneurship; sports; environment.
Media contact
Diana Dimova - Yordanova
Corporate Communications Director
FANTASTICO GROUP
Tel: (+359) 887 917 407
diana.yordanova@fantastico.bg
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
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About UNICEF:
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. And we never give up. UNICEF, for every child.