Hotovo life - 28. December 2023
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A Year of Doing Good at Hotovo

Giving back to society is a core mindset here at Hotovo, and as we look back at 2023, we’re proud to see all the ways we’ve been doing so this year. 

One way to give back is by developing products that make a difference to people’s lives, and then committing to continuously improve them. That was the story of Braillee – a desktop editor of braille tables to help those with visual impairments, created not just for Slovakians, but for people all around the world. Thanks to our cooperation with the Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union we managed to bring Braillee to life, and it continues to make a difference in people’s lives every day.

Another way to give back is by simply talking to the younger generations at school, and showing them the different paths and opportunities that are available to them. Specifically, from our perspective, on what can be achieved by creating great software, especially in industries they might not have considered to be linked to IT before.

For the past eight years, we have been part of the Live IT Projects program to support young budding programmers, whereby Hotovo developers mentor young talented IT students during a semester. And in February, another success was added to our collection of awards from the Live IT Projects final event - for the Fellaz app, which we’re continuing to develop further in collaboration with the Liberta Rehabilitation Center.

Plus, while writing these very lines, there is another round of the competition running. And guess what? We are involved again! This time we’re working on a piece of software that should help our town. Wish the team of students luck for the finals in February ’24!

Sport is a key part of the Hotovo world too. Many Hotovians are passionate sportspeople, whether they’re competing in hardcore stuff like triathlons, just doing sports for fun, or using sports as another way to raise money or give back to society – just like our Hotovian Michele Jacobs, who did a charity cycle ride this year, and reflected on both that and how it aligned with Hotovo’s overall values in this blog post.

But sport really is something that seems to perfectly match our overall values and approach to life here at Hotovo. Working hard but having fun… believing in yourself and striving for success… practicing, studying, learning, improving… and trusting – in yourself and in those around you… This is what ultimately leads to success, and this is what leads to fulfillment. Whether in sports or in software… 

So “giving back” in the world of sport is, for us, always a no-brainer, and this year there have been a number of exciting sports-related initiatives. 

We dedicated the first quarter of 2023 to Košice local boy and world skater Rišo Tury, to support him on his journey to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

You had (and still have 🙂) the opportunity to see his life story in 3 short videos that describe his journey, what it has entailed and what it takes to compete in global competitions. It is all thanks to his dedication, hard work and the people he is surrounded by. Have you watched them yet? Everything is driven by his dream of making it to the Olympics, and we can't wait to watch him compete in Paris!

We were also honored to sponsor the Slovakia Women's U17 National Water Polo Team this year! We had the privilege of meeting Cinzia Ragusa, an Italian water-polo player who won gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and who is now the team coach. The girls managed to get to and compete at the European Championship, and we were extremely proud of them! On the other hand, we learned a lot from them too. Watch the videos yourself and see the team spirit and joy they spread 🙂

We’re also big fans of the Olympics; we really do feel they’re something special, which is maybe why we keep finding ourselves with a need to help people get there, whatever version of Olympics it might be 🙂

In September, it was a pleasure to help some young talents in robotics get to the World Robot Olympiad in Denmark and Panama.

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It was an unforgettable experience for these kids from Slovak schools to compete in the finals! They developed new skills, enjoyed working in teams and learned what it means to work hard and succeed.

At Hotovo we also value diversity, as it expands our perspectives, fuels innovation and provides different viewpoints in all aspects of our lives.

So in April, we couldn’t miss celebrating Girls’ Day either – also known as “International Girls in ICT Day” – to show girls from high schools all the opportunities in the world of software development, both in technical and non-technical roles. 

Throughout our long-established continuous collaboration with LUX (a non-profit social center in Kosice), we’ve organized several collections – each with a unique focus and purpose. These collections are not only about sourcing items, but about extending a helping hand to those in need. 

This year, to raise funds for LUX and help them continue with their incredible work, we organized an art-sale exhibition using some beautiful art pieces created during an internal drawing competition at LUX.

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New owners of the paintings 🙂

After enjoying the summer vibes, we then rolled up our sleeves and decided to help our planet. We teamed up with the Trash Heroes organization for a day of environmental action. The story of Trash Heroes is beyond inspiring. It’s not only about garbage collecting, they truly put their hearts into it and motivate others to make a difference. 

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Because as humans we can do incredible things, but we also often need a place to realize all our dreams and put them into action. 

Autumn is usually somehow about switching our mindset to a more colorful thinking – in particular, thinking of others.

This year we collected clothes and various necessities for the social center LUX, to continue our regular support for them in a meaningful way. But for the first time, we also joined their charity initiative “How much love is in a shoebox”. The goal of the collection is to touch the hearts of the many people living in facilities for the elderly as well as seniors living alone at home.

Imagine, if a shoebox packed with nice and useful items can put a smile on their faces, then the mission is accomplished.

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As we wrap up this incredible year of giving, it warms our hearts to share with you that the beautiful handmade gifts from the talented individuals at the Social Center LUX weren't just tokens of creativity – they also became prizes at our Hotovo Christmas party raffle. Every ticket sold not only spread a little joy, but also contributed to a cause close to our hearts: supporting the Kids Hospice Svetielko pomoci.

handmade gifts from LUX Socail centre
Handmade gifts from LUX Social Centre

It's moments like these that remind us of the power of giving and the warmth it brings to both the givers and receivers. Here's to another year of making a difference!

Hotovo CSR team.



about the author

Silvia Ďuková

blog author
As a CMO, I am motivated by my energy to find creative solutions to problems, develop profitable strategies, and promote growth. I am not scared to go against the grain, and am always on the lookout for new opportunities. Outside of the office, I enjoy the outdoors through mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding, which boosts my drive and inspires me at work.
blog author

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Hotovo life - 28. December 2023

A Year of Doing Good at Hotovo

Hotovo's CSR initiatives in 2023. From software development for the visually impaired to sports sponsorships, charity events, and environmental actions.