Siemens Bulgaria supports the Golden Apple Awards for the third consecutive year, believing in the importance of recognizing people and organizations that fight for children’s rights. The company is committed to corporate social responsibility through initiatives that support vulnerable groups and focuses on investment in children as key to the future of society and business. In the interview we conducted with the company, you will learn how the company is actively involved in child welfare initiatives and why supporting socially relevant causes is a key to the sustainable development of society.
Read more in the interview with Siemens Bulgaria!
What motivates you to support the Golden Apple Awards for three consecutive years?
Siemens Bulgaria has an active position and numerous initiatives to support various vulnerable groups. In the face of the National Network for Children, we have found a supporter through whom we can corroborate and promote good examples and practices for improving the lives and well-being of children in our country.
We believe that recognizing the people and organizations that fight for children’s rights is key to building a better society. In this sense, a partnership with us, the National Network for Children represents an opportunity to contribute to positive change in Bulgaria and to promote initiatives that put the well-being of children in the first place.
What are your company’s values based on corporate social responsibility and why is the cause of child welfare a key factor to you?
Siemens understands corporate social responsibility as a voluntary and ongoing commitment to society. The company strives to create shared values based on three core principles: access to technology, access to training, and sustainability of societies.
At Siemens, we know that investment in children is a direct investment in our future. That’s why their well-being is fundamental for both business and society.
Our corporate philosophy is based on the idea that the long-term success of the business is inextricably linked to the well-being of the communities in which we operate. As such, we believe a healthy and supportive environment for children today will lead to more successful and socially responsible adults tomorrow. By supporting initiatives such as the Golden Apple Awards, we reaffirm our commitment to creating a more just and sustainable social environment for current and future generations.
What do you think is the impact of the Awards on society and children in Bulgaria?
In our hectic daily lives, these awards remind us to pay special attention to children and protect their rights. They also help build a community of like-minded people, who share experiences and knowledge and inspire each other even better achievements.
The initiative contributes to raising awareness of the problems faced by children in Bulgaria and motivates people and organizations to get involved in solving them. For the children, the awards are an affirmation that their well-being is important to society and it shows them that more adults are fighting for their rights and interests.
Children’s heroes are among us like parents, teachers, social workers, police officers, firefighters, doctors, companies, or the most ordinary people who set an example. In this sense, the Golden Apple Awards provide a platform to promote good practices and socially responsible organizations, the good people who work for the future of our children.
This year, the awards are dedicated to the “Heroes Don’t Hit, Heroes Love” campaign, which aims to show that slapping is not an effective means of educating children, but on the contrary – it hurts both physically and mentally. Why do you think this topic plays a key role in society and business?
The inherited perception from patriarchal society that physical abuse of children is acceptable, at least occasionally, is a stereotype that has been fought for years. A recent UNICEF study showed that one in three children in our country feel threatened at home, at school, or in the community, and children who have experienced a form of violence (physical, emotional, or sexual) have lower levels of well-being.
It is gratifying that in recent years Bulgarians have become increasingly sensitive to various forms of violence. Although, we probably feel that the cases are not decreasing, giving publicity and intolerance to any in terms of type of personal abuse is a sign of the humanity of our society these days.
The issue is also of key importance for business because children who grow up in violent environments often develop patterns of behavior that later hurt their professional and social skills. That is the main reason why Simens, as a responsible company, supports the creation of a safe environment for children, where they can grow and develop safely. We know that this is an investment not only in their well-being but also in the future of society.
What other initiatives or projects is your company developing to support children and families? How do you think business can contribute to positive change?
At Siemens, we know that example is often contagious. To be as helpful as possible, we focus on social events, volunteering, internal events, and education at all levels.
In addition, regarding cooperation with the National Network for Children, we would like to point out that Siemens Bulgaria has a long-standing partnership with institutions for children such as the St. Vrach Day Care Center for Children with Disabilities and St. Nicholas Orphanage in St. Nicholas village. Novihan. In support of them, we periodically conduct charity campaigns based on the volunteering and personal contributions of our employees.
Businesses can contribute to positive change through various forms of support from financial support for worthy causes to the provision of expertise, technology, and volunteer labor. Through partnerships with NGOs such as the National Network for Children, educational institutions, and the public sector, businesses can contribute to finding sustainable solutions to social challenges and improving the well-being of children and families.
What would you say to other companies considering supporting the Golden Apple Awards or other socially relevant causes?
We would tell them only one thing – don’t hesitate to support a cause close to your heart. Let’s stay empathetic with our needy, our neglected, and our disadvantaged. Because that is the surest sign of a developed and fairer society that we strive for. And business can play a key role in encouraging and promoting the practices, initiatives, and people who carry the torch of change.
For the fifteenth consecutive year, the National Network for Children (NNC) will honor with Golden Apple Awards individuals, organizations, institutions, and companies that have contributed with their work to protecting children’s rights and improving their well-being. Nominations are now open and anyone can nominate their children’s hero on the Awards website https://1june.nmd.bg/.
The Golden Apple Awards aims to highlight the importance of special attention to each child presenting best practices in all areas of children’s lives. The main focus is on the positive examples and promoting policies and actions that create a better environment for children. From 1 to 30 April 2025, anyone can submit a nomination in a total of nine categories and then participate in the online voting for the winners between 2 and 16 May.
The nine categories are Children’s Heroes, Children’s Organizations, the School and Nursery, Journalist, Hospital, Local Authority, Charity, Corporate Partnership-Financial Contribution, and Corporate Partnership-Community Contribution.
All categories are open for both nominations and self-nominations.
Nominate your hero! Submissions are open until April 30 at https://1june.nmd.bg/.
If your organization shares this vision, you can become a partner or donor. Support us to continue to highlight good examples and encourage those who make children’s lives better every day.
