35 Peter Berkovsky Str.
6300 Haskovo
Bulgaria
- Gender
About us: We are a group of professional women and men. /9 women and 2 men - lawyers, doctors, teachers, journalist, psychologist and artists/; a network of volunteers is supporting the projects. The association was founded as youth one in 1998 according to the NGO law of Bulgaria. Considering the dominating female presence in it as well as the good partnership with The National Network for Equal Opportunities between men and women a team, dealing with women’s issues was established. OUR TARGET GROUPS The IKAR Association provides support and protection of the social, cultural civil etc rights of the minorities in society. We put at first place women and children at risk, these that remain isolated and misunderstood: unemployed and discriminated women; women, who are neglected from the society due to their unacceptable profession, disabilities or psychological diseases; economically challenged women and their children; women and children victims of sexual abuse, drug, traffic and violence. The organization is licensed as a provider of social services to people in risk (License 48/20.06.2003, Social Assistance Agency - Ministry of Labour and Social Policy) IKAR Association’s team has a Certificate for trainers in advocacy campaigns education PARTNERS AND NETWORKS We’ve got out own non formal network of partners: local and government institutions; business contractors; NGOs in Bulgaria. They assist us in releasing our mission and objectives. IKAR Association is an active member of National Network for Equal Opportunities, Local Social Council of People of Special Needs and some National Citizen Campaign . Budget 2009 - 66 688 Euro Main sources of funds include: / GFW - USA CEETrust -USA BG Fund For Women Transparancy Internatinal Mama Cash -Holland Ballkan Trust For Democracy\BULGARIA FUND\ Member taxes and donation
Raising of the social status of the Bulgarian women and children, Bulgarian families OUR STRATEGIES: • to influence the governmental practices in their favour by lobbying and advocacy campaign • to give to the target groups highly qualified assistance and timely information on health and social issues; to work for the process of empowering them • to raise the social awareness towards problems of violence; equality of sexes and women’s discrimination • to establish contacts with other Bulgarian and international organisations • to publish and distribute information for the organization’s activities and results • We try to use arts,media,and popular culture to transform and attitudes and behaviours
2008 – 2010 * ’Maria in a box.’- supported by Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe. The main goal in this project is forum-theatre performance which will provoke a public debate regarding the significance of the “women in a box”. * “The law is not enough/Silence is broken” supported by Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe. The project was focused on the problem of discrimination at workplaces against women. The project was implemented through the methods of forum-theatre and presentation of the production “Sex for salary” and “open juridical rooms” in 11 bigger town in Bulgaria. For more information, refer to http://my.opera.com/ikarorg * “Alice in Trafficland” – 2009, prevention of human traffic through art methods in high-schools of Haskovo Region, project supported by Balkan Trust of Democracy.” * “The Flowers in Boxes “– prevention of domestic violence through movie methods in 30 countries in Haskovo Region, support by Mama Cash Foundation – Holland * 2009 – Won a project for the distribution of a unique printed colorful pamphlet meant for the women from the garment industry in the region that was a year long project under the name “STITCH BEHIND NEEDLE”, supported by the Global Fund for Women – USA. * Project “Blind Game” – for the prevention of trafficking of people by interactive means in three small towns , supported by FM of EES\ Norway, Lichtenstein and Island \ and administrated by FLGR and “Eco society” Foundation - Sofia *Project “Creation of a network of School Forum-clubs” in 6 schools in Haskovo on the problems of aggression and discrimination in schools, supported by EU funds