The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, PepsiCo Romania and World Vision Romania, organized a new volunteering initiative at Urziceni Technological High School, in support of the beneficiaries of the “I Want to Go to the 9th Grade” program.
For one day, 28 PepsiCo volunteers, together with high school students, renovated a classroom, painted a gazebo, and participated in the harvesting of potatoes planted in the spring. This is the second consecutive year the volunteering initiative has taken place at Urziceni Technological High School, the main educational institution providing skilled labor for technical, agricultural, and environmental enterprises in Ialomița County. In 2024, the PepsiCo team built a fully equipped 60-square-meter greenhouse, planted 100 trees, and set up an outdoor learning area with benches and tables.
“We are delighted to contribute to the development of young people in vulnerable communities across Romania by offering them access to quality educational opportunities and hands-on activities. The involvement of our teams complements the financial support we provide together with the PepsiCo Foundation. Even though our gesture may seem small, we know it has a significant impact on the future of this high school and on attracting new students eager to pursue a career in agriculture, a sector essential for PepsiCo”, said Silvia Petre – HR Director, PepsiCo East Balkans.
“Volunteering is one of the most valuable forms of learning for young people. It helps them understand that they can contribute in a tangible way to the change around them and gives them the chance to learn through practice, alongside dedicated adults. With the support of our partners at PepsiCo, we are able to provide students with experiences that prepare them for life”, said Mihaela Nabăr – Executive Director, World Vision Romania.
The need for this type of support is also confirmed by the World Vision report “The Wellbeing of Children in Rural Areas”* (2024). The report shows that 41% of middle school students do not wish to continue to high school but prefer to find a job, work in the family household, or enroll in a vocational course. Moreover, 56% of students who drop out after 8th grade do so because their families cannot afford the costs of schooling, while 42% of rural households with children have no salaried income, depending instead on social assistance, pensions, or irregular income sources.
*The report is available on the World Vision website at this link.
Through the “I Want to Go to the 9th Grade” program, the PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo Romania support 90 students from Ialomita and Ilfov counties, offering them scholarships, educational sessions, career guidance, and personal development activities. Since December 2021, financial support provided to World Vision Romania has totaled 560,000 USD.
This collaboration 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.
The “I Want to Go to the 9th Grade” program, run by World Vision Romania, supports over 1,200 rural students annually in continuing their high school education, by providing them with access to a comprehensive educational package, both formal and non-formal, that fosters active engagement, civic responsibility, and experiential learning.
More details about the volunteering activity here.
