Between 2 and 4 July, Ljubljana played host to the international socially responsible event IMEX Challenge 2012.

The idea that care for bees and the natural environment enriches the lives and broadens the knowledge and skills of children and adults with special needs is the conviction of the IMEX international organisation, the host of the socially responsible IMEX Challenge campaign in Ljubljana. IMEX Challenge is a three-day humanitarian event, at which gathers a group of volunteers from across the meeting industry, seeking to have a positive impact on the lives of others – in particular children.

From 2 to 4 July the group of volunteers built an educational beehive for those that attend the CUDV Training, Occupation and Care Centre in Draga, who, with expert help from the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, took part in raising bees and acquiring honey. Learning about beekeeping and care for the natural world will give new advantages to children and adults with special needs: learning new things and making contact with new people from various countries will in itself mean a broadening of their horizons.

Joining the IMEX Challenge 2012 project in Draga was open to foreign volunteers who had themselves or whose firms had made donations of €25,000. “I’m very excited to be part of such an inspirational initiative. I must admit that the idea of building a beehive for people with special needs is a challenge in itself” said Sarah Kavanagh from Ovation Global DMC, one of the 15 volunteers from Ireland, the UK, Spain, Poland, Germany, Finland, Iceland and the US. As well as building an educational beehive and learning trails and renovating a greenhouse, where those attending the centre will grow nectar plants, the funds donated are intended for writing educational materials in Slovene about beekeeping for children with learning impairments.

Taking part in this humanitarian campaign is an honour and privilege for staff in the international meetings and incentives industry, as they can give something back to society in this way. Slovenian project partners expect that the socially responsible campaign will have a positive impact on the children and adults with special needs long after the beehive has been built and the greenhouse renovated.

In these times of the financial and economic crisis, the IMEX Challenge is a case of good practice successfully linking up various fields and the corporate social responsibility of organisations in the international and Slovenian environment with the common goal to improve a small corner of our everyday lives. If you share the values of the IMEX Challenge and would like to be included, click here. The project is also supported by Mayor of the City of Ljubljana Zoran Janković.

The value of the IMEX Challenge Slovenia cannot be measured in simple economic terms, nor even on the basis of the services or time donated by local partners and sponsors. The significance of the project lies in the knowledge and skills acquired by those attending the Draga Care Centre which will enable them to take part in new activities, prepare new products as well as the possibility to generate an income and acquire equal inclusion in society. Therefore the legacy of IMEX Challenge will last well beyond the July event.

Further information about the IMEX Challenge project, including a video presentation and brochure, is available at its website.

Ljubljana Tourism