Bulgaria

• "Municipal Board of Trustees - development and perspectives" Project - implemented with the financial aid of the government of Switzerland /Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development/ in the period 2001-2002. Project activities were carried out in training courses, attended by 30 members of the board. As a result members of the Board of directors were trained, printed materials were disseminated and Parents Guide and Charter were distributed. Trainees improved their knowledge on public relations and project development cycle. The total cost of the project is 18 000 lv.
After the completion of the project, 2 members of the board were appointed in municipal commissions and other 4 took part in the "Teacher of the year" contest, where the chair was nominated. In 2002 the later was bestowed the Sign of Honor of Municipality of Gabrovo, given for special contribution to local education.
• "Chance for women" Project – PHARE Program, budget line BG 0102.05 Labor market initiatives, number of contract with Ministry of regional development and public works BG 0102.05.05.046, subtitle - Professional training of single mothers of children in kindergartens and schools in Gabrovo in the period 2002 - 2004. As a result 30 ladies were trained and 70% of the target group are currently employed. Total cost of the project was 37 030 Euro. The European Commission in 2005 nominated the project as one of the most successful in the country.
• "Prometei" Project - implemented in partnership with Association "Support for Education" Gabrovo in the period 2003 – 2004 as professional training of young girls up to 24 years old. The project was financed by UniCredit Foundation, Italy.
• “Symbols in human socializing” Project – joint project of Municipal Board of Trustees as leading partner, High school for mathematics and science Gabrovo and Artgroup Alkuone, city of Aalst, Belgium, implemented in 2004 with the financial support of Ministry of young people and sport through "Youth' Program. The project envisaged cultural exchange of young people from that institutions at the cost of 6 195 Euro. As a result 3 art studios in music, plastic and dance were created and a joint performance was carried out.
• "Media educational program for parents" Project - started in April 2005 and continues until April 2006 in partnership with Municipal Radio Gabrovo at the cost of 2 400 Lv. The project is being developed within the frame of Municipal Program for Children's Misbehavior Prevention.
Young leaders of Gabrovo” - 360 students per year were educated. Total cost of the project - $10050; financed by the Democracy Commission SMALL GRANTS 2005 - 2006.

Projects:
Our international projects are basically realized under the program “Youth in Action” of the European Commission. The implemented up to now projects are the following:
1) “Let’s sing and dance together” -20-27.06.2008 – intercultural project for getting to know each other’s traditions, culture, customs, songs and dances of the partner organizations. The partners were from Tunisia, Serbia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
2) “World without prejudice” – 20-29.06.2009 – training on European Voluntary Service. The aim of the training course was young people and youth workers to learn more about volunteering, to learn how accreditation is done, how to apply for an EVS project and to exchange contacts and best practices. Participating countries: Tunisia, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria.
3) “Today is yesterday’s tomorrow” – 19-27.06.2010 – training for increasing the capacity of youth NGO’s when working in a multicultural environment, project management. Participating countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria. (We have attached pictures from this project).
Activities:
Nowadays at Municipal Youth Centre we have the following clubs: folk dance club “Zora”, modern ballet “Impuls”, vocal studio “Ikonomov”, photography club, club for applied arts “Palette”, break dances, choir, theatre etc. There is a Eurodesk point functioning at MYC – an informational centre which is a part of a European network for exchange of information on volunteer programs, youth exchanges, seminars, festivals which are taking place all over Europe. Since 2009 MYC is accredited to send volunteers in European countries under the program European Voluntary Service.
Every year we hold the international modern ballet dance festival – “Dancing River” – in 2011 the 5th edition is going to take place. Also an international contest for pop-rock singers Northern Lights” („Северно сияние”) – the 15th edition is going to take place this year.

We were epresentatives of the Municipality Petrich in round table by invitation of State Agency of Youth and Sports “Spare time of the young people in Bulgaria – possibilities and challenges”.

Due to its natural phenomenon,The rocks of Belogradchik, the Municipality is included in the contest "The New 7 Wonders of Nature".

1.COMMERCE “Creating Optimal Mobility Measures to Enable Reduced Commuter Emissions”, co – financed in the framework of the “Intelligent Energy – Europe” Programme. www.commerce-eu.org
2.SORCER “Stimulating Obtaining Results in Communities in relation to Energy – efficiency and Renewables”, co – financed by “Sixth Framework Programme” www.sorcer.eu
3.“Sheltered home for people with disabilities in the Municipality of Plovdiv”, financed by Phare 2005 BG 2005/017-353.01.02
4.“Different, but equal – for independent and deserving life for people with disabilities in the Municipality of Plovdiv”, co – financed by OP “Human Resources Development”
5.“Preservation and protection of cultural – historical monuments in the city garden “Tsar Simeon” in the city of Plovdiv, financed by “Youth in action” programme

Main projects in the field of culture: 1. Reconstruction and renovation of the Opera House of Stara Zagora - total costs 10 000 000 leva; 2. Constructing of a new building for the Stara Zagora Regional Museum of History - 6 000 000 leva, etc.

The European Programs and Projects Directorate has developed and implemented many projects funded from the European Commission. It has experience in the development of projects, applying in calls for proposals, budget allocation and project implementation. Some of the past projects are “Protected House” – social establishment for handicapped people, building of waste-water purification plant for the municipalities of Velingrad and Sarnitza and projects for energy efficiency of various buildings on the town’s territory.

- Development of interactive STEAM educational programs - since 2015 our team and external experts have developed more than 15 thematic programs and 60 workshops for children and family audiences, school groups; it has co-created a four-lingual 75-hour online training GardensToLearn for early childhood teachers and educators with resources, technical and pedagogical advice for developing and using inclusive school gardens; Muzeiko has co-produced resources for distance learning related to ocean literacy (videos, quizzes, presentations, leaflets) through its participation as a partner in the Horizon 2020 SeaChange multinational project; - Support and organization of professional communities in museum education - Muzeiko is a co-founder of the national professional community “Together with children” which has been holding regular meetings since 2014; - Methodological support and advice for educators in formal and non-formal setting - over the past year Muzeiko hosted a national conference on school gardens with 120 educators in November 2019 and a practical workshop in February 2020 with 60 educators; organising training for museum workers and creative companies in design and manufacture of museum exhibitions, conducted by international experts Paul Orselli (POW! / Paul Orselli Workshop) and Joe Cook (Hüttinger Interactive Exhibitions), as well as a series of practical workshops for museum educators on interactive methods for presenting academic content and linking primary curriculum with specific exhibitions in their museums. - Work with volunteers (currently we have a network of 40 young persons).

In 2004 NAVA was awarded by the District Governor for its entire contribution in the civil society development in the whole region, as well as was honored by international jury with award for Best project of the 2006 Year.
In 2005 NAVA, in partnership with other Bulgarian NGO’s has created and managed the most impressive Complex for social services for children and families support. Some of the following services have been provided since its functioning: “Primary prevention”, “Deinstitutionalization”, “Supportive programs for children with disabilities”, “Specialized support”,” Mother and a child”,” Center for street children support” and etc.
In 2007 the National Alliance for volunteer action created and promoted Regional resource center for social services for children and families” located in Plovdiv, that ensure support to all Community-support centers in the relevant Municipalities ,develop the social services’ methodology, programs for individual and group work with clients, policies and standards for provision of social services to clients, as well as permanent supervison and evaluation of local teams , working with children and families in the Municipalities.
In 2009 NAVA expanded its National Network to 24 Regional and Local Volunteer Centers at the territory of the country, that are hosted by partner organizations. That appears to be the largest National Volunteer Network in Bulgaria as a whole. Each Volunteer Center, as well as NAVA, gained long-term experience in the development and management of projects, directed to young people and children.

NGO established in 2002 National Forum ALTERNATIVES PRACTICE INITIATIVES (NF API) initiates and organizes projects in the field of European Citizenship, Youth, and Human Rights Education in Bulgaria and abroad, promotes Bulgarian artists and stimulates the exchange of ideas and professional information.
The purpose of National Forum is to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures
NF API provides both, youth and adults, with an international quality educational, cultural and humanitarian programming with multiple opportunities to experience face-to-face contact among peoples.
National Forum API is a pro-European non-governmental organization, which promotes the idea of the united Europe and its values, such as democracy, pluralism, tolerance and human rights. NFAPI, founded in September 2002, has 120 members and a long different project experience. Main activities of the organization are organizing regular meetings for its members, seminars, camps, lectures, discussions and street actions, Europe Week celebrations, encouraging young people to become active citizens of Bulgaria and European Union.