Investing in young talents, in a more beautiful and better future, is at the very core of the business of the foundation established with the aim of providing support to young people who stand out with their abilities and talents in sports, culture and sustainability. UNIQA SEE Future Foundation will operate in the area of Southeastern Europe: in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro, and the first young sports hope that the foundation will support was presented in a big event for the public - Luna Vujovic, the winner of the European Junior Championship and the winner of Wimbledon for juniors up to 14 years old.
Luna is a dedicated athlete who has been playing tennis since the age of six and who does not hide how important support is to her. "The support of parents and family is the most important, but it is very nice and encouraging to have behind you people and an organization like UNIQA insurance. The experience and perspectives that mentors, who have already gone through numerous challenges in life, can convey to us are invaluable. No one can prepare you for what follows and what will happen, everyone has their own path, but it is encouraging to hear others and I feel responsible because they believe in me". she said at the presentation Luna Vujović.
Providing young people with better conditions in order to maximize their potential and achieve their goals is the guiding thought of the new foundation:With this move, we made a step forward in socially responsible business by actively participating in the creation of a more advanced social environment. The goal of the foundation is to encourage local communities and strengthen involvement through various support programs in accordance with the slogan "We live better together" which encourages solidarity and cooperation for the achievement of common goals. The idea of the Foundation came from mission of UNIQA insurance which is based on improving the lives of clients and their families with innovative offers and services, but also on supporting responsible community development," he emphasized during the presentation of the foundation Adel Bakhtanović, president of the UNIQA SEE region.
In an increasingly complex world full of challenges - from climate change, natural disasters to wars and inflation - trust and security are becoming more and more important for society and the economy, but also for each individual. This is exactly where UNIQA wants to play an important role with its social engagement. The UNIQA SEE Future Foundation will be a catalyst for positive social change because corporate philanthropy is one of the key drivers of social development.
The work of the Foundation will be focused on three areas: sport, culture and sustainability. The first sports talent that the Foundation will support is a tennis player Luna Vujović, Wimbledon junior champion. It is about one of the biggest young hopes of Serbian tennis, who in 2022 won as many as four of the five Tennis Europe finals in which she performed. Luna performed during the presentation of the Foundation in Zagreb exhibition match with Goran Ivanišević, brand ambassador of UNIQA insurance. In the role of mentor, Goran will provide support to many young sports talents.
"I am happy that through this foundation and cooperation with UNIQA insurance I can help young people because I am aware of how important support is. Circumstances have changed a lot compared to the time when I was at the beginning of my career and when I relied on the support of my family. When you're young, in the beginning it's very important to be able to rely on someone with experience, and thanks to everything I've been through in my life, I'm glad that through the foundation I can support young talents, regardless of whether they're involved in sports or something else activities", he said at the presentation of the foundation Goran Ivanisevic.
The Foundation's support for culture will begin with a partnership with Sarajevo Film Festival which UNIQA sponsors for the second year in a row, as well as other projects to support young artists. The UNIQA SEE Future Foundation, among other things, promotes philanthropy, healthy lifestyles, supports initiatives focused on environmental protection and sustainability issues, socially responsible business, art (film, music, photography, painting), contemporary occupations and trends in the digital world and numerous other areas that directly serve to support local communities. This was also confirmed at yesterday's donor dinner on the occasion of the founding of the UNIQA SEE Future Foundation, which was attended by numerous personalities from the world of sports, culture and business. The auction of valuable sports items also raised additional funds to support young talents in the region.
The UNIQA SEE Future Foundation will focus on supporting young talents because they are agents of change and have the potential to transform local communities. Through scholarship and mentorship programs, the foundation will provide young people with resources and opportunities to hone their talents and realize their full potential.
