MHP's military and veterans support program, MHP Poruch, has received the highest honor of the UN Global Compact in Ukraine in the Peace (Warriors of Light) category at the annual international competition Partnership for Sustainability Award 2024. The award recognizes the program's efforts to help Ukraine's defenders.
On the importance of supporting the military and veterans
More than 1.2 million veterans are already registered in Ukraine. The Ministry of Veterans of Ukraine predicts that their number may reach 5-6 million people together with their families. A study by the Rating Group in March 2024 showed that the challenges faced by veterans include restoring their physical and mental health, as well as finding employment. As MHP alone has more than 2,600 employees who are currently serving in the military, and the veteran community includes more than 600 people, the company launched the MHP Poruch (MHP Next Door) program for reintegrating military and veterans in spring 2023.
In the fall of 2023, the MHP Next Door program established a Center for Interaction with the Military and Veterans, whose coordinators and experts provide individualized support and comprehensive assistance: from humanitarian aid to military units, medical, psychological and legal assistance to social reintegration and professional adaptation. For the convenience and efficiency of assistance, a round-the-clock hotline for appeals and consultations and the “Power of Veterans” telegram channel were also launched.
“We have managed to create a powerful support ecosystem for the military, veterans and their families in 13 regions of Ukraine where MHP's production facilities are located. The focus of the MHP Next door program is now on supporting veteran entrepreneurship, developing veteran spaces and adaptive sports. This year, we supported 21 veterans' spaces in different communities across the country. Together with our partners, we are also opening 15 adaptive clubs in different communities as part of the Time to Act, Unstoppable social initiative competition. Our program creates conditions and provides opportunities for the reintegration and readaptation of our defenders during their service and on the way back to civilian life,” says Yuriy Melnyk, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Sustainable Development at MHP.
The company, together with its strategic partner, the MHP for Communities Charitable Foundation, won a silver award in the Economic Development category for a project to restore five museums. This project aims to preserve and restore the cultural heritage of Ukraine.
The international Partnership for Sustainability Award 2024 aims to recognize projects that support Ukraine during the war and work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Initiatives from 13 countries took part in this year's competition, including Ukraine, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Turkey, France, and others.
This year, the awards were held in five categories:
- Peace (Warriors of Light) - assistance to the military, civilian victims, protection of human rights.
- Planet - minimizing the environmental consequences of war, green innovations.
- Economic development - rebuilding infrastructure, fighting corruption.
- Society - inclusiveness, education, culture.
- Digitalization - implementation of innovative digital solutions.
HelpHelp
“MHP Next Door is a program of individualized support and comprehensive assistance to military personnel, veterans and their families. The program supports military personnel, veterans and their families during their service and after returning from the war: humanitarian aid to military units; medical examination, treatment and rehabilitation; legal and psychological support; social reintegration; professional adaptation and inclusive sports activities.