The PepsiCo Foundation (the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo), PepsiCo Romania, and Casa Buna Association (The Good House Association), an organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable children in Romania, are continuing their collaboration for the fourth consecutive year. The PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo Romania will donate a total of $150,000 to enable Casa Buna Association to continue providing free educational support, social assistance, and nutritious food to children from marginalized communities in Ferentari, Bucharest, and the rural areas of Nucsoara and Leresti in Arges County. With this new funding, the total donations from the PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo Romania reach $550,000.
The partnership, initiated in December 2021, is part of the company’s efforts to support the strategic approach of PepsiCo Positive (pep+), which aims to have a positive impact on both the planet and people.
With the support of the PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo Romania, Casa Buna Association aims to achieve the following objectives in 2025:
Launch of the Casa Buna Social Kindergarten
This year, Casa Buna will open a new kindergarten in Jilava, Ilfov, where approximately 80 children from Bucharest and Ilfov, who are not currently enrolled in any form of education and are at risk of starting school without the necessary minimum skills, will benefit from a stable and consistent environment for development. The kindergarten program will run six days a week, and through a holistic approach, the children will receive quality education and nutritious meals, essential elements that their families cannot always provide.
The educational program started in Ferentari in 2018 with two hours of study weekly. Year after year, the number of beneficiaries grew, adding more days dedicated to educational activities and emotional support. In 2024, hot meals were introduced, a crucial component for keeping children engaged within the activities.
Beyond classroom education, access to technology has been another important focus. Over the three years of the partnership, the children have benefited from over 18,000 hours of online tutoring.
Building Strong Rural Communities
Casa Buna Association will continue its activities in the communities of Nucsoara and Leresti, offering online lessons and vocational workshops to equip children with the skills needed for future job opportunities. So far, over 100 children have participated in sewing workshops, and just as many have attended technology training sessions.
Additionally, since 2023, an after-school program situated in a transformed old school, and educational camps in a newly built cabin, have been operational in the village of Nucsoara, organized by the Association.
Food security
The food distribution activities conducted over the past two years have been a motivating factor for families in vulnerable communities to enroll their children in educational activities. With the support of the PepsiCo Foundation, more than 96,000 kg of food have been distributed across the three communities, reaching more than 200 families and over 350 children. As food security is crucial for vulnerable groups, this activity will continue this year.
“The PepsiCo Foundation is proud to support vulnerable communities around the world, including those in Romania who we are helping through our partnership with Casa Buna. Strong, collaborative partnerships like these allow us to provide local support for students as we help build pathways to prosperity through access to education”, said Andrea Pont, PepsiCo Foundation Europe Lead.
“Without the help of the PepsiCo Foundation, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish so much. For many of our children, a hot meal, good clothes, or the chance to learn are life-changing things. Their support isn’t about statistics, it’s about children who go to school with fewer worries and more hope. We thank them for standing by our side and for helping us make this world a little bit better”, said Valeriu Nicolae, Founder and President of Casa Buna Association.
