UPDATE: Project details updated during the EPSA 2025-26 edition.
The SocialXChange Charity Store in Bucharest, 6 District, was launched in early 2015. The store receives donations from citizens or businesses and directs them to disadvantaged people in the 6 District. In exchange for the products received, the beneficiaries provide various community-based activities. Donors are rewarded through a range of services provided by the 6 District General Direction for Social Care and Child Protection. The evaluation of the products, the work done and the services provided to the donors is based on a transparent system of points. The establishment of the SocialXChange store has brought many benefits and rewards to the community. Beneficiaries’ efforts to overcome their needy condition have been answered by people eager to help, which has given a new meaning to the idea of a united community.
The 300 people who have been given the chance for a normal life through the SocialXChange Charity Store are a small part of the people in need category that requires our support. In turn, the over 1000 companies and individuals who supported our first store, located in the Crângași District, represent only a small part of those who can and want to help. Together with our partners, we have succeeded in promoting this project as a successful social programme.
The services provided to donors consist of medical treatment, language courses, parenting, event organisation, sports and entertainment. In this way, people who want to support those in need can exercise their civic engagement giving people with financial problems a temporary solution to overcome crisis situations. Apart from its social utility, the programme also has a strong economic and environmental impact, combating waste and promoting environmental protection. The results obtained, the national and international assessments, the reactions from the beneficiaries, companies or specialists, convinced us to extend this project and bring SocialXChange closer to the homes of all the citizens of 6 District.
We must not forget the ecological environmental protection, which this type of activity promotes. This has contributed to the reputation of the programme and has brought more people willing to donate. Based on these considerations, 6 District General Direction for Social Care and Child Protection decided to open a new SocialXChange Store in another area of the District in September 2017. The donations that can be made at the SocialXChange Store are non-perishable and shelf-life foods (flour, oil, sugar, canned food, pasta, rice, etc.), electronics, furniture, sanitary products, or toys and other children’s accessories. We were delighted with the impact SocialXChange had on those around us and we were glad to hear that giving and receiving bring the same joy and put people together. There were still firms, big retailers, state institutions, but also many individuals still not socially involved, who could give us a helping hand.
Once it became known, the programme received national and international appreciation; many institutions and individuals working in the social field were interested in its implementation. Several city and community administrations have approached us to provide them with the know-how about implementing this programme.
SocialXChange has been recognised at European level as an innovative programme that can respond to many of the challenges of Western societies, including refugee integration:
- Recognition as a Good Practice Model at the European Quality Conference ‘Strengthening the capacity of public administration at present and future challenges. Public administration – part of a solution’, Luxembourg, 1–2 October 2015.
- Best Practice Certificate at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) competition ‘Public Sector as a Partner for a Better Society’, Maastricht, the Netherlands, 17–18 November 2015;
- Excellence Award for the ‘Most Important Projects for the Development of Social Services at the Sixth Edition of the Gala of Excellence Awards Gala, Poiana Brasov, 22 October 2015;
- Second Prize in Pillar III – Methods and Practices to Stimulate Citizen Participation in Public Life at the International Conference ‘Innovation and Quality in the Public Sector’, organised by the National Agency of Civil Servants (ANFP), Sibiu, 19 November 2015;
- The Grand Prize at the Public Institutions Category to promote the principles of environmental protection at the Eighth Edition of the Clean Environment Awards Gala organised by ECOTIC.
Up to the opening of the new store in September 2017, more than 1110 businesses and individuals had been involved in this project, offering various donations. A total of 300 people chose to work in return for the aid received; there were 3 tonnes of cereal-based food, 4800 cans of meat and vegetables, 2500 litres of oil and 2.1 tonnes of sugar donated. Beneficiaries provided 4550 community work hours.
Since the beginning of 2015, we have been able to open access to those who do not have money for goods of strict necessity, which they choose according to their own needs. We have reduced the dependence of poor people on social benefits and stimulated people’s involvement in community life. The services provided to donors have increased social cohesion, and the environment has gained by reintroducing many products into the consumer circuit.
Developments
Since the submission of the initial project application, SocialXChange has undergone significant development and consolidation, strengthening its institutional, operational, and strategic foundations and ensuring its long-term sustainability within the public administration framework.
One of the most important developments has been the formal institutionalisation of the project within DGASPC (Direcţia Generală de Asistenţă Socială şi Protecţia Copilului) Sector 6, moving from a primarily charitable initiative to a fully integrated public service aligned with local and European policy objectives. Organisationally, SocialXChange has evolved into a structured operational model with clearly defined roles for coordination, beneficiary management, logistics, and partnerships, enabling more efficient governance and accountability.
A major milestone was the strategic partnership with Inditex Romania (2023–2025), which significantly expanded the project’s capacity and impact. This partnership led to a substantial reallocation of resources, including private investment exceeding EUR 175 000, directed towards equipping and operationalising a professional social laundry. The laundry is now an integral component of the project, ensuring the sanitation and preparation of donated clothing, and creating employment and integration opportunities for vulnerable individuals. As a result, annual textile collection capacity increased from approximately 65 tonnes to 110 tonnes.
This partnership also led to the development of programmes aimed at empowering vulnerable groups and preventing child–family separation, school dropout, and other related risks.
In terms of planning and service development, the project shifted from a simple redistribution model to a comprehensive circular economy system. The points-based mechanism for donors and beneficiaries was refined and standardised, improving transparency, traceability, and social accountability. Beneficiaries’ involvement through community service became a core operational principle, reinforcing the project’s focus on dignity, responsibility, and social inclusion.
Operational planning has also been strengthened through the diversification of services. Beyond the charitable store, SocialXChange now includes structured upcycling activities and has planned the launch of tailoring and upcycling workshops for the next development phase (2025–2027) for disadvantaged women. These additions reflect a strategic focus on skills development, professional empowerment, and increased value retention of donated textiles.
Another key development is the project’s enhanced capacity for rapid response and crisis intervention, demonstrated during humanitarian emergencies (e.g. refugee influx, natural disasters). This required improved logistics, coordination mechanisms, and partnerships with NGOs, effectively positioning SocialXChange as a local social logistics hub.
Finally, the project’s planning and governance have been aligned proactively with emerging EU legislation on food and textile waste reduction, anticipating regulatory requirements and embedding circular economy principles into routine public practice. Collectively, these developments mark SocialXChange’s transition from a pilot initiative into a stable, institutionalised, and scalable public model, supported by structured partnerships, sustainable resource allocation, and long-term strategic planning.
Long-term impact
The long-term impact of SocialXChange is demonstrated by its successful transition from a charitable initiative into a permanent, institutionalised social circular economy model, delivering sustained social, environmental, and administrative benefits in line with the project’s original objectives.
A core objective was the reduction of textile waste through reuse and recycling. This has been achieved structurally and at scale: annual textile volumes increased from an average of approximately 65 tonnes to 110 tonnes after 2023, with around 87% of collected clothing redistributed to vulnerable individuals or charitable organisations. This resulted in a lasting reduction of landfill disposal and a stable contribution to local environmental protection.
Another key objective was to support vulnerable populations through a dignity-based inclusion model. SocialXChange replaced passive aid with active participation, enabling beneficiaries to access essential goods through community service. To date, 749 beneficiaries have contributed over 4200 hours of community work, strengthening personal responsibility, social inclusion, and basic employability skills. Humanitarian exemptions ensure unconditional support for the most vulnerable, preserving social equity.
The project also embedded circular economy principles within public services through a transparent points-based system, the operation of a social laundry, and the integration of upcycling activities. Educational actions targeting children, youth, and young parents reached more than 6000 participants, generating long-term behavioural change in responsible consumption and environmental awareness.
At an institutional level, SocialXChange achieved its objective of creating a scalable and sustainable public model. Strategic partnerships, particularly with Inditex Romania, mobilised over EUR 175 000 in private investment and strengthened public infrastructure, resulting in a governance framework that is replicable in other communities.
Adjustment in the objectives
During implementation and institutionalisation, the objectives were refined and expanded in response to operational learning, community needs, and evolving policy frameworks, though not fundamentally changed. Initially focused on the redistribution of donated goods and the reduction of textile waste, the project progressively strengthened its emphasis on social inclusion, employability, and integration within public services.
A major adjustment has been the transition from a primarily charitable initiative to a comprehensive social circular economy model formally embedded within DGASPC Sector 6. This shift introduced new objectives related to workforce integration, particularly through the establishment of a social laundry operated by individuals from vulnerable groups. As a result, the project evolved from addressing material deprivation alone to supporting skills development and pathways to social reintegration.
The project also expanded its educational and behavioural objectives. Beyond waste reduction, SocialXChange now promotes responsible consumption, environmental awareness, and civic participation, especially among children, young people, and parents, ensuring long-term impact beyond immediate service delivery.
Additionally, SocialXChange has generated spillover effects across multiple policy areas, (environmental protection, employment activation, emergency preparedness, and public–private partnerships). Looking ahead, it provides a strong foundation for future initiatives in vocational training, circular economy education, and sustainable public services, supporting replication at local and national levels.