17 Tzar Shishman Str.
1000 Sofia
Bulgaria
- Democracy and community development
- Environment/Sustainable development
- Research
- Youth and education
The Bulgarian School of Politics’ mission is to support the creation of a community of civic and political leaders with an active stand in the national, European and global public life, devoted to contemporary democratic values based on pluralism, tolerance and informed debate.
For more than a decade we have been sharing our unique experience with other countries in Southeast Europe, North Africa and Ukraine.
Our current projects and activities include:
“Election Training During the Transition Period in Tunisia” Its aim is to train a group of 24 young Tunisians, actively engaged in the political and civic life of their country during its transition period towards democratization. The project involves needs assessment, participants and lecturers’ selection, program development, training implementation and feedback evaluation. The training is planned to take place before the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
National Program “Governing Skills” targets young political and civic leaders from parliamentary represented political parties in Bulgaria, representatives of non-governmental organizations, central and local administrations, judicial power and media. It is aimed at the formation of new European-type political and civil culture among young leaders and strengthening morale principles for their present and future development. We also have programs for our Alumni network, where through roundtables and debates we further develop their skills.
The project “Promoting Philanthropic Culture in Bulgaria 2012-2014” aims to strengthen the ability of the key actors to practice philanthropy as a long-term personal engagement and a way to change society, as well as to communicate about charity and philanthropy.
“Models and Good Practices for Legitimate Civic Representation” is another current project. The objective of the project is analyzing the current situation in Bulgaria and researching the experience of ten other European countries. Based on that we will propose suitable models for development and functioning of consultative councils and other forms of citizens’ participation.
We consider the level of citizen’s participation in policy making as an indicator of the standard of democracy. We believe that a wider engagement of civil society in decision-making process will raise the interest in elections and other forms of citizen’s participation will ensure public supervision of public policies and will ultimately lead to better governance. Being an independent institution we provide opportunities to members of the political parties represented in Parliament and civil society young leaders to learn from each other, combining training and expert work with a strong practical bias. We create conditions in which all of them can work together, discuss the most important issues of the society and provide practical solutions. We build new political environment, based on sound moral values, tolerance and cooperation. Therefore, expanding our spectrum of connections and getting to closely know other members of ALF in Bulgaria will benefit the overall public environment in the country.
Our contribution will follow our areas of expertise, where we have proven know-how - civic participation in the political process, climate and energy, philanthropy, media, and foreign policy. We also maintain close co-operation with the National Assembly, government institutions, local authorities, and leading non-government and international organizations.
We are looking forward to exchange our know-how, but also to learn from the other members and form new fruitful partnerships.
Being the largest Network of civil society organisations involved in the promotion of intercultural dialogue across Europe and the Mediterranean, with members of very diverse nature, including NGOs, public institutions, foundations, local and regional authorities, individuals and private organisations the ALF seems the right place for the Bulgarian School of Politics “Dimitry Panitza”.
We are expanding our work in the Euro-Mediterranean area with projects involving Tunisian and Moroccan partners.
In 2010, we organized a special course for representatives from Benin, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Mauritania, aiming to support the creation of Schools of Politics in Africa. We have also provided support for the establishment of the School of Politics and Citizenship in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
In 2012, with our support the Tunisian School of Politics was established. We have supported it methodologically, including by sharing our know-how in the area of adult learning.
In 2013, we became the first international partner of the Citizen School for Political Studies in Morocco. Together, we develop new programs and encourage the exchange of knowledge between the alumni of the two schools.
Last June we organised “Summer Academy for Building Democracy through Cultural Diplomacy”. It was the first and unique initiative for experience and know-how exchange among alumni of the National Programs from the Bulgarian School of Politics “Dimitry Panitza”, the Citizenship School of Political Studies in Morocco, and the Tunisian School Politics. 18 young civic and political leaders from the three countries took part in the training. This resulted in the current project in Tunisia mentioned above.
After those successful events we are very enthusiastic to keep working in the area and we believe that that an ALF membership will open future partnership possibilities.