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Description
Worldwide Orphans Foundation Bulgaria (WWO Bulgaria) works to support early child development and learning of vulnerable groups of children and their families in Bulgaria since 2009. In order to apply in practice the original “Element of Play” programme, the organization has developed partnerships with 13 NGOs, 4 municipalities and 9 public institutions – suppliers of social and educational services. As of the end of 2016 they have been part of a network through which the organization boosts their capacity, exchange and establishing of successful practices for learning through play. The negative campaign launched against the organization in 2019 and the reduced opportunities for financing by its main donor and organization co-founder, WWO, have put at risk established practices in 32 localities and the development of the network. The changes have brought about reduced financial support for the network members and fewer opportunities to attract new members. The project aims at boosting the capacity for sustainable development of WWO Bulgaria and the organizations – network members through specific activities building fund-raising skills, efficient communication and monitoring. The implementation of the project will create conditions to achieve sustainability and reinforce support for early child education of vulnerable groups of children and their families. The goals will be achieved though training, developing a strategy for fund raising, participatory monitoring, a website, an online newsletter and an annual meeting. The project will benefit WWO Bulgaria and 13 NGOs - network members and their partners.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to enhance the capacity for sustainable development of the Worldwide Foundation for Vulnerable Children (WFVC) and the early childhood partnership network of Element of Play® learning spaces.
One of the key project activities included training sessions designed to build skills in fundraising, public relations (PR), and effective communication, strengthening the organizations’ ability to secure resources and increase their impact.
through a collaborative process involving partners and expert support.
To further strengthen the network’s sustainability and support local learning practices, the project included:
- Stakeholder monitoring in three locations across the country,
- Enhanced communication efforts, including the English version of the WFVC website and e-newsletters,
- The Annual Meeting of the network’s partner organizations to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The organization has launched an English version of its website: https://wwo.bg/en/
The outcomes of the project activities include 41 representatives from 14 non-governmental organizations trained in fundraising and communications. The knowledge and skills acquired are directly aligned with the organizations’ needs and are immediately applicable to enhancing early childhood learning practices in various locations, ensuring their long-term sustainability.
Additionally, evaluation and monitoring workshops with 35 stakeholder representatives across three locations provided an opportunity to actively engage local communities in the development of Element of Play® learning spaces.
The key project outputs—the three-year fundraising strategy for WFVC and the updated online environment—are designed to have a long-term impact, ensuring the sustainability of project activities and the continued improvement of early childhood learning practices.
The project also strengthened the network’s development as a learning professional community, where practices are exchanged, knowledge is enhanced, and common standards are shared. This collaborative approach is crucial for future efforts in supporting vulnerable families with young children.