Over 120,000 happy children and 250 towns visited – this is what the Happy Kids Foundation has achieved as part of the Happy Bus summer project, implemented since 2010. This holiday season, the foundation is organizing the campaign for the fourteenth time, with Pepco as its strategic partner. The project aims to equalize opportunities for education and fun for children from rural areas and small towns, providing them with attractions not available on a daily basis in locations outside larger urban centers. This summer, a bus full of surprises will reach dozens of towns throughout Poland, stopping in each for a few days, offering rich and free entertainment. This is a unique opportunity for entire families to spend quality time together.
A playground on wheels
Every year, as part of the Happy Bus project, colorful buses turn into mobile playgrounds, offering children, among others, sports competitions, reading fairy tales, inflatables, face painting, braiding and many other attractions. The bravest ones can take part in a tug of war or a water fight. There are many opportunities, also for parents who can try their hand at obstacle courses and sports competitions, as well as take part in first aid lessons. Happy Bus volunteers have prepared not only special activities for children of all ages. English-speaking animators also encourage learning English and getting to know other cultures and traditions through play, because the Happy Kids Foundation brings together volunteers from all over the world, including: from Kenya, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
This year, the foundation's team will also visit children who struggle with physical disabilities and those staying in hospices, organizing special workshops for them with the participation of fairy-tale characters.
– Our Happy Buses have been traveling around Poland since 2010 with an important social mission – to give every child a chance to develop. We are glad that for seven editions we have been supported on these journeys by Pepco, a company that perfectly understands the needs of children and young people. By acting together, we can reach dozens of small towns throughout Poland, giving their residents the opportunity to spend interesting time during the holidays – comments Aneta Snopkiewicz, Operations Director of the project from the Happy Kids Foundation.
Pepco supports children's development
Pepco has been cooperating with the Happy Kids Foundation since 2017, and in 2020, the company financed the purchase, import and modernization of one of the buses – a yellow American School Bus.
– Happy Bus is an extraordinary initiative that equalizes the opportunities of children from all over Poland and gives so many people the opportunity to spend their holidays actively and interestingly. These are the types of projects that Pepco is most likely to engage in. We are extremely proud that we have been a partner of this wonderful campaign for seven years, which reaches more and more places every year. Learning and engaging fun with peers provided by the Happy Kids Foundation is a great opportunity to develop a child and build his curiosity about the world – says Kasia Wilczewska, Head of Corporate Communication at Pepco.
In addition to Happy Bus, Pepco supports children and youth, among others: by promoting educational projects that build awareness of the psychological problems of young people. The company also invests in the development of children's interests through educational scholarships and classes in community centers and day support facilities. It is also involved in projects aimed at children and youth in foster care.
Where and when you can find the Happy Bus
This year, the Happy Bus organizers have planned several dozen stops on three routes – blue, green and yellow. The bus stops at each stop for 2-3 days, and the Happy Bus crew is available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; all animations will be adjusted to the weather.