#Vratsa4CSR: solving social problems through the collaboration with businesses

Vratsa Context

The Municipality of Vratsa is situated in Northwestern part of Bulgaria and covers a territory of 697 sq. km. It covers parts of the Danube plain and the Fore Balkan. According to the number of the population, the Municipality is on the 16th place in the country with 66 510 citizens. The Municipality consists of 23 populated places - the city of Vratsa, which is a municipal and regional center and 22 villages. Vratsa is the administrative center of the municipality of Vratsa and Vratsa district. The city of Vratsa is a crossing point of two of the biggest European corridors - Corridor № 4 Corridor № 7.

Vratsa and CSR

The Municipality of Vratsa identifies CSR and all issues related with its development and promotion among companies as a strategic field. In this regard, the policy challenge is to outline guidelines for solving social problems through collaboration with businesses to implement CSR in an innovative way. Another challenge is to promote the transfer of knowledge and information about CSR.

So far, the Municipality of Vratsa has been working successfully with local companies, as a result of which many playgrounds have been built, including children's facilities for children with physical disabilities. Trees were donated and planted in key urban areas. A number of festivals and events are organized with the financial support of local entrepreneurs.

The most significant facility purchased as a result of CSR is the ice rink, which is enjoyed by the citizens and guests of the city during the winter season.

Vratsa ULG and local activities – Children’s festival “Smile”

At the beginning of July a Children’s festival “Smile” was held in relation to the small scale actions implemented under the CITIES4CSR project. 5 tents were set up, in one of which were presented containers for separate waste collection, promotional materials, such as recycled paper notebooks, children's games such as "Green Peter" and "Don't be angry man", reusable bags and advertising brochures to raise public awareness of separate waste collection and recycling.

Under another tent promotional material created as part of the CITIES4CSR project, such as pencils, book dividers, as well as specially purchased spices with planting material, consisting of pressed coconut soil and mint, basil and parsley seeds, was placed and distributed to the audience. The aim was to demonstrate to the general public the result of composting and its benefits. Seedlings were distributed to more than 600 people out of approximately 2,000 who attended the festival.

There was a special corner for the youngest visitors, where they could taste honey and honey wax gum, as well as follow the "path of honey" and see a real beehive. Children had the opportunity to take pictures with bee costumes, which was extremely fun and interesting for them. Bee products were distributed freely for the purposes of the project and were provided by a local honey producer.

The municipal enterprise BKS provided a garbage collection machine, in which visitors could get in and get acquainted with the process of waste collection and its transportation.

Trolleybus Transport Ltd. provided access to the latest trolleybuses, which serve the citizens of Vratsa Municipality. The company set up a special point for issuing free travel cards for all children who visited the festival, which was realized corporate social responsibility.

Regional Directorate "Fire Safety and Protection of the Population" – Vratsa provided a fire truck that sprayed foam to entertain the children.