On its 25th anniversary in Romania, Nestlé launches the projects competition "Growing together"

On the occasion of celebrating 25 years of activity in Romania, Nestlé, the largest food and beverage company in the world, launches the projects competition “Growing together”. Through this grants competition, Nestlé wants to discover 10 projects, 10 ideas that can contribute to Romania’s recovery from the pandemic. The contest takes place between September 1^st and November 29^th, 2021.

“Nestlé’s goal is to improve the quality of people’s lives and bring long-term added value to the communities we belong to. In this direction we act as a responsible partner, to lay together the foundations of a sustainable future for next generations. The company’s efforts are focused on developing innovative solutions, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, so as to offer consumers healthy and tasty products, without compromising their taste and quality. As part of our actions to improve the quality of life, we have strengthened the “Nestlé for Healthier Kids” program, expanded the activities of the “Nestlé Needs YOUth” initiative and continue to develop sustainable environmental performance management activities through “Nestlé for a Waste Free World” initiative. One year after the crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are launching an open invitation to the general public, so that together we can contribute to Romania’s economic and social recovery. After a difficult period for all of us, we look forward to ideas and projects that can generate positive change in Romania, and we want to enjoy with all Romanians our 25^th anniversary”, says Leszek Wacirz, Country Manager Nestlé Romania.

The competition is open to startups and non-profit non-governmental organizations with at least 1 year of experience in carrying out social projects, with concrete results and at least 100 beneficiaries, who have demonstrated transparency and are established under Romanian law.

The projects entered in the Competition must respect its theme and areas:

• Balanced nutrition and healthy lifestyle;
• Pet care;
• Respect for the planet, environmental protection and sustainability;
• Support for young people and communities;
• Parenting and harmonious growth in the first years of life.

The competition takes place according to the following periods:

• Project registration period: September 1 – October 29, 2021 (23:59);
• Interim evaluation period: 1 – 12 November 2021;
• Announcing the 25 finalist projects: November 15, 2021;
• Supporting the 25 finalist projects before the jury: November 24-25, 2021;
• Announcement of the winners: November 29, 2021.

Projects that have specific, clearly formulated, measurable, realistic and well-defined objectives over time are eligible; takes place in Romania, between January and December 2022 and have a minimum duration of six consecutive months, requires a grant of up to 2,500 EURO, are sustainable and include measures and indicators to assess the impact on the community.

The projects will be evaluated by a jury composed of the following members with expertise in these areas: Cristina Bazavan – bazavan.ro, Lăcrămioara Botezatu – founder of CSRmedia.ro, Daniel Dragomir – Fondator Tech Hub, Florin Ghindă – founder of Romaniapozitiva.ro; Alina Liciu – The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services, Irina Siminenco – Corporate Affairs Manager Nestlé Romania and Leszek Wacirz – Country Manager Nestlé Romania. The jury will nominate the ten winning projects according to a series of criteria, such as: their impact, coherence, efficiency and sustainability.

The competition is supported by Nestlé together with its brands NESCAFÉ, Nespresso, Maggi, Lion, Nesquik, Joe, KitKat, Purina, NAN, Optifibre, which will each offer one of the 10 prizes, reaching a total amount of 25,000 Euros.