Background
The winter morning of the 24 February 2022 was the start of a day that changed the lives of every single employee of MHP. Russia’s unprovoked invasion shook Ukraine, and MHP, a leading Ukrainian agroholding and the sixth-largest global poultry exporter, had to swiftly adapt its plans and shift its operations to provide maximum assistance to the war effort and take care of the defenders and ordinary people affected by the conflict.
Since then more than half a million Ukrainians have stepped up and joined the country’s armed forces and more than 2,000 of MHP’s employees have been mobilised. As fighting continues across Ukraine MHP recognised the physical and mental toll that modern combat takes on those who serve and has made it its mission to design comprehensive, person-centred programmes to aid in the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of veterans into civilian life.
Approach
MHP tripled its allocated budget for social and charity projects, quadrupled the number of partnerships and expanded the scope of its projects so that they reached seven times more people than they did in 2021. With a dedicated team of over 60 specialists from its corporate social responsibility department, corporate psychologists, HR business partners, personal development experts and occupational safety and health specialists, along with its strategic charity partner, the MHP-Gromadi Charity Foundation, MHP provided extensive support to mobilised soldiers.
Collaborating with government institutions, veteran organisations and healthcare providers, it developed a comprehensive project, covering aspects such as monthly financial assistance equal to salary, a one-off bereavement support payment followed by up to 10 years payments equal to salary, provision of essential equipment such as bulletproof vests, healthcare support and aid for families navigating household issues while their loved ones were away, including taking care of children and elderly parents and assisting families in their search for missing persons. The company also established regular communication channels to offer mental health advice and guidance.
Once veterans return from the front they can join MHP Standing Together, focused on medical, psychological and financial support to assist recovery and enable them to successfully reintegrate back to civilian life. The programme is based on world’s best practices and MHP’s standalone research and around principles such as understanding that the consequences of the war will last for decades, and typically veterans experience a loss of self-esteem and competitiveness in civilian life.
Outcome
MHP’s unwavering commitment to these initiatives yielded remarkable results. Through direct financial assistance, it provided support to the families of 77 deceased or missing servicemen and 34 deceased family members as well as disabled individuals. It donated 10,000 tons of MHP products to soldiers, helping nourish and sustain them during their time on the frontlines. Demonstrating its dedication to rebuilding and empowering communities, MHP launched the Do Your Business initiative through the MHP-Gromadi Charity Foundation, supporting 154 micro-businesses and enabling veterans and relatives of the fallen to start and develop their own businesses.
The Sow Seeds with MHP campaign distributed high-quality seeds to local communities across Ukraine, empowering them to grow crops and enhance food security. Over 114,800 packets of garden crop seeds have been distributed, resulting in 310 hectares being sown and 11,000 tons of crops harvested.
MHP’s commitment to reintegrating demobilised workers and veterans back into civilian life is evident through pro bono legal support, medical treatment and assistance. It also established dedicated communication channels, such as the corporate Telegram channels The Power of Veterans and Together We Are a Force, which have gathered over 13,000 subscribers, including 100% of demobilised workers and veterans. In collaboration with the Ukrainian government, business community and NGOs, MHP actively shared and exchanged best practices in supporting veterans’ mental health.
The exemplary efforts of MHP extend beyond material support. It has fostered a culture of inclusivity within the company, creating special positions that consider physical and mental characteristics, reskilling employees, and implementing training for managers on interacting with demobilised staff. Each step taken by MHP is geared towards recognising the uniqueness of each veteran, their changing values and the leadership experience gained during their time on the frontlines.
By providing comprehensive care, financial assistance, entrepreneurship opportunities and a commitment to inclusive corporate culture, MHP has not only rebuilt lives but also helped rebuild the future of Ukraine. The company has not set a definitive end date but instead has targeted the completion of the project five years after the war ends, though the length may also vary depending on the individual strengths and needs of each person.