Open Call for Social Initiatives: SoftServe to Provide Pro Bono IT Solutions for Impactful Projects

International or local non-governmental organizations, charitable foundations, social enterprises, media organizations, and local or state government bodies from six countries – Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Colombia, and Mexico, are eligible for participation in the challenge. Initiatives will be evaluated based on factors including project scale, relevance to current societal needs, overall impact on communities or the environment, and OpenTech’s capacity to provide the required technological expertise.

“We bring IT experts together so they can support their communities and address social challenges, comments Dmytro Ivanov, Chief Technologist in the EMEA region at SoftServe, co-author of the program, and member of the Open Call 2025 jury. “Over the last five years, OpenTech has engaged 1,310 volunteers across six countries to successfully deliver 53 projects. We’re celebrating this anniversary by continuing to do what we do best – create innovative solutions that accelerate positive change in society – and we’re grateful for the chance to expand our reach by adding five more projects to our 2025 queue.”

Initiatives in the following areas are eligible for the Open Call 2025:

• Enhancing education;
• Environmental responsibility;
• Supporting healthcare;
• Innovations and smart city initiatives;
• Empowering communities;
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion;
• Helping people in need;
• Veteran Support Programs (Ukraine)

“With OpenTech, our volunteers have supported communities across different nations by strengthening healthcare systems, transforming education, protecting the environment, and helping those in need through innovative technological solutions,” adds Mariia Kucherenko, Director of Corporate Reputation & CSR at SoftServe. “OpenTech has grown from a local initiative to a global operation through established partnerships across local and international authorities, educational institutions, and community organizations. We’re eager to see what impactful initiatives will be powered by OpenTech next.”

The deadline for applications is Oct. 15, 2024. Applications can be submitted at this link, with the acknowledgement and acceptance of all terms and conditions of the Open Call 2025. The winners will be announced by the end of 2024, and work on the selected projects will begin in 2025.

Among the projects already implemented by OpenTech volunteers are the parenting app "Bebo"(UNICEF Geneva), a webpage for "Znaimo" initiative to support the national nutrition reform at schools in Ukraine (initiated by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska). Other projects in progress include a digital platform for Paso Pacifico Foundation, a Central American organization that works toward preserving biodiversity in the region, and a platform for forest restoration in Ukraine for WWF.