Protected online and at school: FANTASTICO and UNICEF join forces again for a common cause

27.11.2025, Sofia For another year, FANTASTICO and UNICEF are joining forces to create a positive school and digital environment for children in Bulgaria. From November 27, 2025, to December 31, 2025, customers of the Bulgarian retail chain will be able to support UNICEF's "Steps Together" programme, which this year focuses not only on preventing violence in schools but also on online safety.

A fundraising campaign will be held in all supermarkets of the chain, during which customers will have the opportunity to make a donation of 1 (one) lev or more. Each donation will be reflected as a separate item on the receipt, without being tied to a purchase. Anyone who wishes to support the cause can do so with an amount of their choice at the FANTASTIKO cash registers, even if they are not shopping at the supermarket. 
 
The funds raised will support the efforts of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Science to develop better digital literacy and children's skills to recognize and protect themselves from risks in the online space. Partners in the programme are the Centers for Support of the Process of Inclusive Education throughout the country and the Parents Association and the National Safer Internet Center managed by them. 

"For children today, the online space is a natural environment. It reveals many opportunities, but also hides risks. The "Steps Together" programme provides children, teachers, and parents with knowledge and skills on how to protect themselves online, developing digital skills, critical thinking, and responsible behavior. It is crucial that the Online Safety School project builds on our efforts in this programme, in which we build positive relationships between children, and in the online environment, so that everyone feels included and protected," said Christina de Bruin, Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund in Bulgaria. 

According to UNICEF data from 2021, one in seven children in Bulgaria has been a victim of online bullying. According to data from the 2022 PISA international study for Bulgaria 12% of students in Bulgaria report that they do not feel safe on their way to school (OECD average: 8%); about 20% of girls and 24% of boys report having been victims of bullying at least several times a month (OECD average: 20% of girls and 21% of boys). Only half of young people in Bulgaria aged 16-29 (52%) have basic or good digital skills, which is significantly below the European Union average of 71%, according to Eurostat data for 2024. 

FANTASTICO and the customers of the Bulgarian retail chain are supporting UNICEF's causes for the sixth consecutive year, with the fundraising campaign in the company's supermarkets being dedicated to the "Steps Together" program for the fourth time. 

"The cause of creating a positive, inclusive and tolerant environment at school is a cause to provide conditions for every child to have the self-confidence and confidence to realize their potential. Therefore, it is natural for us to continue to support for another year the program of UNICEF Bulgaria "Steps Together" for the prevention of any form of violence among students. I thank our clients who support the initiative with their donations, as well as all teachers in the country who put the program into real action together with the students-Peacemakers and in cooperation with parents. It makes sense and I am convinced that with joint efforts we will achieve a significant and long-term result," said Vladimir Nikolov, Operational President and General Manager, FANTASTICO Group

"Many children and young people do not know how to protect themselves online nowadays. There are many ways, for example, to have longer passwords that are different from site to site, because this way they are more secure; not to trust strangers online and not to accept invitations online from people we do not know; not to click on unfamiliar links; and if something worries us, let's share it with an adult, because adults have more experience and can help." - Emil Anatoli Iliev, 16 years old, Specialized High School "Dr. Ivan Panov" Berkovitsa, where the “Steps together” programme has been implemented.

In the next academic year, 2026-2027, the "Steps Together" programme will reach 10,000 students, 2,000 specialists, and 5,000 parents on topics such as developing a positive school environment, improving digital literacy, and teaching children to recognize and protect themselves from risks in the online space. Fifty mentors in the programme will undergo special training. Courses are planned for 800 teachers and school psychologists from different educational levels. Fifty schools will be supported in developing their online safety and digital well-being plans. The activities include training for 500 parents and implementation of the "Cyber Scouts" program through peer support groups in "Steps Together." Training is planned for 100 young cyber scouts aged 11-18. An important element of the program is the development of a Handbook for Professionals, which will cover key topics such as online and offline communication, personal data protection, digital image, harmful content, online harassment, artificial intelligence, and others.

In November 2025, as part of the "Steps Together" programme, UNICEF organized a national competition "School for Online Safety", which invites students from grades 5-7 and 8-12 from all over the country to create their own campaigns for safe behavior on the Internet, and the best ones will be implemented with the support of popular Bulgarian influencers and a special jury. 

See more about the Step Together programme here. 

*UNICEF does not endorse or recommend specific brands, products, or services.