25. 4. 2018

Proving once again that good deeds do count

12 min. read

Novo mesto, Slovenia, 16 April 2018 – During Krka’s Week of Charity and Volunteering, organised for the seventh year in a row, Krka employees joined forces to help the people in need, strengthening the company’s values of volunteering, charity and care in many places across Slovenia and other countries as well. Every year we are pleased to see an increasing number of colleagues from Krka’s companies and representative offices abroad join our efforts. From 9 to 14 April, 1,100 Krka employees came together under the slogan Charity is also a part of us. Krka employees donated blood, clothes, toys, footwear, food, books and other necessities for adults and children, as well as pet food at various locations across Slovenia. We donated 120 litres of blood, collected nearly 4 tons of various necessities and 350 kg of pet food. We socialised with the elderly at 31 retirement homes and the wards and pupils of 10 occupational activity centres, special education schools and other institutes and institutions all over Slovenia. At the Ljubljana Zoo we engaged in landscaping tasks. On Saturday, 14 April, we opened our doors to the visitors from the University of the Third Age and the employees of various humanitarian organisations and retirement homes with which we collaborate in our campaign. Krka’s central production site in Ločna, Novo mesto was visited by 2,000 people. It was a week filled with genuine smiles and warm handshakes during which gratitude and happiness seemed to radiate from everyone’s eyes. We all felt inspired by what we experienced, knowing full well that what we do for others is what counts the most.

Ever since its foundation 64 years ago, Krka has been supporting volunteering efforts that have now become an integral part of our organisational culture. Since 2012, we have been organising a charity campaign – Krka’s Week of Charity and Volunteering. Over the past seven years more than 7,000 Krka volunteers have participated in the campaign. As in previous years, we once again helped numerous people that find themselves in difficult life situations or battle with loneliness. Using the slogan Charity is also a part of us we managed to spread positive messages and experience among our employees as well. This year 1,100 Krka employees participated in various activities, representing 20% of the entire workforce in Slovenia and Terme Krka. In 2018, 10% of those who joined the campaign were first-time volunteers. We were especially happy to see our colleagues from Krka’s companies and representative offices in the Russian Federation, Poland, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, Germany, Serbia, Turkmenistan, Spain, Romania, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mongolia and Croatia join the campaign for a day, with Kosovo and Finland as the new additions in 2018. The number thus rose to 20 countries in which Krka operates that followed suit and joined our humanitarian campaign in 2018.

During our charity week we collected clothes, books, school and other necessities for adults and children, helped the Red Cross and Karitas organisations, donated blood, socialised with the elderly at 31 retirement homes, spent time with the wards of 10 occupational activity centres and other associations and institutions, collected pet food for sheltered animals and helped with maintenance tasks in an animal shelter and a zoo. Our colleagues outside Slovenia joined our efforts by collecting various necessities that were later handed over to charity organisations, also donating blood and doing various chores in various institutions.

More than 800 litres of donated blood over a span of seven years in Slovenia alone

Krka employees donated more than 800 litres of blood during the seven campaigns of Krka’s Week of Charity and Volunteering. We at Krka regularly engage in acts of charity, since on average more than 1,000 Krka employees donate blood twice a year and every year there are new blood donors joining the club; we have helped saved many a life with our charitable acts. This year 300 volunteers donated blood during the time of our charity campaign in Ljubljana, Novo mesto, Krško and Ljutomer; among them, 10% were first-time blood donors. This year we donated 120 litres of this precious liquid in a week. Donating blood remains an important part of Krka’s campaign.

We collected almost 4 tonnes of consumable commodities and 350 kilograms of animal food

Collection efforts were underway every day of the campaign, and each year more and more Krka employees join in. Over the past seven years we have collected 23 tonnes of clothes and other necessities. At various Krka sites across Slovenia (in Novo mesto, Ljubljana, Krško, Ljutomer, Bršljin, Šentjernej and all Terme Krka business units) we collected 4 tonnes of clothing, toys, footwear, books, food and other necessities for adults and children.

Krka volunteers did not forget about abandoned animals. During the campaign we collected more than 350 kg of pet food that will be donated to animal shelters. Over the past seven years we have collected 3 tonnes of pet food. This year a few volunteers decided to help with landscaping tasks at Ljubljana’s Zoo. We know that animal care reflects the nation’s cultural, developmental and humanitarian level, as all animals deserve proper living conditions.

We helped the Red Cross and Karitas organisations

Some employees decided to contribute by packing food packages and sorting out the donated clothes. These activities were carried out at the Red Cross in Novo mesto and Ljutomer, and the Humanitarian Centre in Ljubljana and Karitas. Krka volunteers helped Karitas and Red Cross organisations prepare 600 food packages, i.e. 4.5 tonnes of consumables, and sorted out 4 tonnes of clothing and other necessities collected by Krka for distribution to socially disadvantaged families and individuals. Over the past seven years we have prepared 5,300 food packages, i.e. 38 tonnes of food. In collaboration with Red Cross, some volunteers helped the elderly tidy up their homes in the Dolenjska region, while others helped an ill Krka colleague by finishing a few tasks around her new house. In collaboration with Karitas, we helped a family in Ljutomer.

Unforgettable experiences and connection with the elderly and special needs individuals

Many volunteers in Ljubljana, Novo mesto and Ljutomer decided to help out the residents in retirement homes across Slovenia. In 31 retirement homes in Slovenia we organised workshops for improving memory and various creative workshops, accompanied residents on walks and helped them with carrying out every-day tasks, or just kept them company, because a kind word and s squeeze of hand make any person happy and less lonely. In certain retirement homes we organised a performance by Krka’s mixed choir and ZASUK ensemble, while in Novo mesto the residents were greeted by therapy dogs and learnt about medicinal plants. In a Ljutomer retirement home we prepared an entertainment programme for the elderly and took a few residents of various homes and wards of an activity occupational centres to an event commemorating World Earth Day that was organised in a Ljutomer kindergarten. Over the past seven campaigns, Krka volunteers have visited 37 retirement homes in Slovenia.

During the charity campaign, Krka volunteers visited 10 occupational activity centres and some other institutes (Novo mesto Occupational Activity Centre – Bršljin Unit; Occupational Activity Centre – Šmihel Unit; Dragotin Kette Novo mesto Primary School, Malči Belič Youth Centre; Janez Levec Special Education Centre; Centre for Education, Work and Care Dolfka Boštjančič Draga, Ig; Centre for Education, Rehabilitation and Training Kamnik; Education Centre Elvira Vatovec Strunjan; Center for Education, Rehabilitation, Inclusion and Counselling for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Ljubljana; Ljutomer Occupational Activity Centre), where we socialised with the residents and assisted them with everyday chores, but primarily tried to improve their day by organising various workshops and just keeping them company. The wards and the pupils took part in various quizzes, creative workshops, designed a pot herb garden and attended dance workshops. Many Krka volunteers shared their talents and hobbies with others, for example bee keeping, making ornaments, etc. Krka fire fighters presented their daily routine to the wards of the Centre for Education, Work and Care Dolfka Boštjančič Draga at Ig. In Novo mesto we took the wards of the Occupational Activity Centre Novo mesto and the Centre for Education, Work and Care Dolfka Boštjančič Draga to see the Equestrian School Sport Centre Češča vas. At the Special Education Centre Elvira Vatovec we organised a Nordic walking class, walked around the Slovenian coastal town Strunjan and made pancakes on the beach. Krka volunteers took the wards of the Malči Belič Youth Centre for a swim at Terme Dolenjske toplice. We organised mini Piko Olympic games along with the Olympic Committee of Slovenia at the Special Education Centre Janez Levec in Ljubljana. In Novo mesto we organised dance classes for the pupils of Dragotin Kette Elementary School in collaboration with the Dolenjska Dance Centre.

We opened our doors to 2,000 visitors from the University of the Third Age and the employees of various humanitarian organisations and retirement homes

On Saturday, 14 April, we opened our doors to 2,000 visitors from the University of the Third Age and the employees of various humanitarian organisations and retirement homes with which we collaborate during Krka’s Week of Charity and Volunteering. On this occasion Krka volunteers presented our company to the visitors, showing them how medicines are developed and produced and taking them on a tour of the state-of-the-art solid dosage form production plant Notol 2. We held informative lessons, gave advice on health issues, and measured blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels.

In the seven Krka Doors Open Days organised so far we hosted almost 15,000 visitors: children from socially disadvantaged families, pupils from schools with a special curriculum, Slovenian mountaineers, Slovenian fire fighters and others.

2018 results

  • The campaign featured 1,100 Krka volunteers, representing 20% of Krka’s workforce in Slovenia and Terme Krka); 10% of them participated for the first time.
  • We collected nearly 4 tonnes of clothing, books, toys, and other necessities. 
  • 120 litres of blood; 10% of employees donated their blood for the first time.
  • We socialised with the elderly at 31 retirement homes, organising workshops and  entertainment programmes for them.
  • At the Red Cross and Karitas organisations we helped prepare 600 food packets (nearly 4.5 tonnes of food) and sorted out 2.7 tonnes of clothing and other necessities.
  • We socialised with the wards and pupils of 10  occupational activity centres and special needs schools, organising various workshops, games and presentations for them.
  • We collected 350 kg of pet food.
  • On Saturday we opened our doors to 2,000 visitors from the University of the Third Age and the employees of various humanitarian organisations and retirement homes with which we collaborate.

2012-2018 results in total

  • Over the past seven years, more than 7,000 Krka volunteers participated in the company’s biggest social responsibility campaign of the year.
  • We collected 23 tonnes of clothes, food, books, toys, personal hygiene and other necessities for the Red Cross and Karitas organisations.
  • We donated 800 litres of blood.
  • We prepared 5,300 food packets, or more than 38 tonnes of food, at Red Cross and Karitas locations.
  • We socialised with the residents of 37 retirement homes, organising various workshops and entertainment programmes for them.
  • We socialised with the wards and pupils of 10 occupational activity centres and special needs schools, organising various workshops and presentations for them.
  • We collected more than 3 tonnes of pet food and helped in animal shelters and a zoo.
  • We hosted more than 15,000 visitors.

Caring for the fellow man is part of Krka’s culture. Many Krka employees act as volunteers throughout the year and not just during the campaign in April. Many participate in Krka sponsorship boards and are active in various associations, retirement homes, schools with a special curriculum, etc. Last December we awarded the most dedicated Krka volunteers for the sixth consecutive year.