Think Human, Act Kind: A Look at Softjourn’s Winter of Giving

This winter, our teams across several countries continued a long-standing Softjourn tradition: turning empathy into action. What follows is a collective effort shaped by local insight, team involvement, and a shared sense of responsibility.

In Brazil, we made a charitable donation to Amigos de São Francisco, an animal shelter supported by Hyppet. The shelter rescues dogs and cats, provides medical care, and helps them gain visibility and a real chance at adoption. For our Brazilian colleagues, this was an opportunity to support a cause close to home.

At the same time, our U.S. team supported several organizations: the Girl Scouts, the Ukrainian charity Sunflower Seeds, and the House Rabbit Society. To amplify the impact, Softjourn US provided a 2× match for all employee contributions, reinforcing a simple idea: when individual initiative is supported by the company, the result is greater than the sum of its parts.

In Ukraine, alongside our ongoing support for the armed forces and Softjourners who have made the courageous decision to serve, we started the year by supporting the St. Nicholas Foundation. Our contribution covered a full month of operating costs for its Center for Social Rehabilitation and Diagnostics for Children and Youth with Disabilities. This center provides care, therapy, and rehabilitation for children and young people who rely on consistent, long-term support.

On the eve of the Christmas holidays, we also partnered with the “I’m Mariupol” Support Center to prepare gifts for 171 children from families forced to leave Mariupol because of the war. For 102 boys and 69 girls, we selected a variety of board games, hoping to fill their winter holidays with shared laughter, family time, and moments of normalcy.

This initiative was strengthened by the Tekhnok, a local Ivano-Frankivsk manufacturer, whose involvement allowed us to reach even more children. It was a powerful example of how local businesses standing together can multiply impact.

Earlier in the season, we also supported the Varvaruk family from Ivano-Frankivsk. Two of their triplets had recently undergone complex neuromodulator surgeries abroad. While the procedures were successful, the road ahead involves long-term rehabilitation and continued treatment. In moments like these, support is not only about scale; it is about reminding people that they are not facing hardship alone.

Our winter charity series continued in Albania, where we donated to SOS Children’s Villages Albania, an organization providing long-term care and protection for children and young people who cannot live with their biological families. This cause was recommended by our Albanian colleagues, whose local knowledge helped us direct support where it could make the most difference.

The foundation shared with us:

We truly appreciate the goodwill and thoughtfulness shown by Softjourn, especially during this festive season. Your support will indeed help bring joy, warm memories, and a sense of security to the children and families we care for.

In Poland, we supported Mali Bracia Ubogich, an organization dedicated to caring for elderly people and reducing loneliness. Together, we helped arrange transport, gifts, photographs, and a festive Christmas Eve meal for seniors, turning the holiday into a shared, dignified celebration.

These initiatives span countries, cultures, and causes, but they share the same foundation. At Softjourn, social responsibility was never a one-off campaign. It is a reflection of who our people are and the environment we strive to build: one where empathy is encouraged, local voices are trusted, and collective effort leads to tangible impact.

We are grateful to every Softjourner who contributes time, ideas, donations, and care. This is what it looks like when a global team chooses to show up, not only for work, but for the world around it.