FANTASTICO supermarket chain and UNICEF together for school without violence and bullying

December 1, 2022, Sofia - For the third year in a row, FANTASTICO, together with its customers and employees, is partnering with UNICEF to support the children of Bulgaria. This time, the two organizations join forces in a campaign for a safe school environment and prevention of bullying and violence at school.

The initiative starts on December 1, 2022 and will continue until January 4, 2023, covering all 45 FANTASTICO supermarkets. During the campaign, the customers of the chain will have the opportunity to donate in the amount of BGN 1 (one) or more. The amount can be donated to the cash registers in the chain upon payment of the purchased goods. The donation will be reflected with a separate item in the receipt. If a visitor only wants to donate an amount for the cause, s/he can also do so at the checkout without shopping in the store, and for the donated amount s/he will receive a receipt. The collected funds will support the qualitative growth of UNICEF's long-term program "Steps together to a school without violence", which is implemented jointly with the Ministry of Education and Science, with the active participation of the entire school community, building on good practices and existing experience in the country.

According to UNICEFs latest national representative study on violence against children (Coram International - 2021),

over 1/3 of children in Bulgaria reported being subjected to humiliation or insults at school, while 1 in every 6 children reported being subjected to physical violence at school.

To address this major challenge we need coordinated actions between school leaders, teaching and support staff, children, parents, and the local community, which is at the heart of UNICEF's programme "Steps Together Towards a School Without Violence”.

"School bullying and an unsafe school environment are among the reasons of early dropout, reduced school attendance, and deteriorating performance of students, and they have significant social and economic implications. We know that education is of key importance for the subsequent professional realization of each person and the prosperity of societies. I thank FANTASTICO for being a loyal partner and for yet another year supporting the team of the future - the children of Bulgaria!" said Christina de Bruin, UNICEF representative in Bulgaria.

"Children and education have always been a priority for us. Every child should be able to attend a school where they can develop in a safe and supportive environment. We thank UNICEF for making efforts to bring together the efforts of all who are part of school life on this very important topic. Our common goal is for the children to be peaceful and happy at school, so that they can be successful in the educational process." said Svetoslav Gavrilov, CEO of the company, on behalf of FANTASTICO.

So far, within the "Steps Together Towards a School Without Violence” program, nearly 3,000 students from grades 1-12 have taken part in trainings to develop social-emotional skills (managing emotions, solving interpersonal problems, etc.), and some of the students have passed special training for "peacemakers" to help their peers. In addition, over 160 pedagogical specialists were trained to implement restorative approaches in school and were also supported with trainings for the prevention of professional burnout. Additional trainings were aimed at systematic work approach to improve interaction with all parents or work with a parent/s in a crisis situation, with more than 500 parents participating in thematic parent meetings and community events.

About FANTASTICO supermarket chain

The supermarket chain FANTASTICO is a Bulgarian family company founded in 1991. The company operates 45 supermarkets and has over 3,000 employees. Thanks to its modern vision, the quality of goods and services offered, the rich assortment and the impeccable customer service, the chain is among the leading companies for trade of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).The company is strongly involved in various social causes in the field of education, healthcare, culture, vulnerable children and adults.

Media contact 
Diana Dimova - Yordanova 
Public Relations Manager 
Fantastico supermarket chain 
Tel. (+359) 887 917 407 
diana.yordanova@ff-bg.net

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