Mladost 3, bl.321B
Sofia
Bulgaria
- Youth and education
“Syznanie” is a non-government organisation working towards the adoption of alternative educational methods in Bulgaria.
Following the best of the European practices, we develop study programmes based on the living methodology – learning through experiencing. We stimulate children to make their own discoveries and to experiment. We encourage them to analyse their own experiences and to develop new skills and ways of thinking.
We are trying to find creative potential in each child while avoiding any set frameworks of what is right or wrong, ugly or beautiful. Our goal is for the children to express themselves in their unique creative ways.
We create a stable supportive environment for the children in disadvantageous position, through extra-curriculum educational programmes and courses in a stimulating creative environment.
Our main activities are related to social and educational themes focusing on marginal groups, human rights education, and emotions expression. We are trying to use art and music to express someone’s feelings, to understand our selves, to connect with the others and to the outside word. We are training to make nature part of our work and educational process and to stress the importance of health and environment in daily base life.
Course for stimulating children's creativity
Children work on topics like "My image", "The other's image", "Friends", "Dreams", "Expectations", "Needs", "Feelings", etc. They allow them to become aware of their own individuality, the differences between children, but also the common things and the similarities.
The activities involved have as a goal to create an environment that is safe and protected, but at the same time open for participation. There through work with various art forms children of different ages acquire and master a variety of skills, experiment in many different directions – with themselves and with the surrounding environment. They will follow their endeavors and raise their questions without the threat of being destructive or dangerous in the process of their development, growth and entry into society. The aim is through team work for the children to learn to communicate with each other, acquire useful skills, become confident and capable of taking responsibilities. The focus of the activities is on the positive and pleasant experience of the child and not on the end result and the accomplishment of a "finished work". Each child finds their own potential to be creative without the limitations of a framework of what is beautiful or right and what is ugly or wrong.
This summer we realized one day activity part of a our social project - Colors of the Hart where we link generations and we connect kids and their grandparents in varieties of workshops
Locally, we are trying to get more and more close relations with the schools, kindergartens and other institutions. We believe that any project could benefit of that and we hope we could achieve it even more. Internationally, a partnership with ALF Network is one very important and significant step.
We do believe that the education is the tool for global social change. We, as an organization, and we - as members, are trying in our daily work to better, stimulate and develop the educational program and to brain-storm for solutions. There are varieties of topics that need to be adrees- human rights and environment as well as emotional intelligence are one of those where we are most focused. We believe ALF Network could be useful asset to our work and would help us better our work.