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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 upgrade the capacity for sustainable development of Worldwide Foundation for Vulnerable Children (WFVC) and the early childhood partnership network of the Element of Play® learning spaces. One of the project activities was training for building skills for fundraising and PR and effective communication. In order to achieve sustainability of the practices, the project provided for a process of developing a WFVC fundraising strategy with the participation of partners and with experts’ support. In order to ensure the sustainability of the network and the local learning practices, the project included stakeholder monitoring in 3 locations in the country, improved communication of WFVC (English version of the website and e-newsletters) and the Annual meeting of the partner organizations of the network.
The organization has a developed English version of the website - https://wwo.bg/en/
The outcomes of the project activities are 41 representatives of 14 non-governmental organizations trained in fundraising and communications. The acquired knowledge and skills are directly related to the needs of the organizations and currently applicable to the improvement of the practices for early childhood learning in places, which will ensure their sustainability. The evaluation and monitoring workshops with the participation of 35 stakeholder representatives in 3 locations created an opportunity to involve local communities in the development of Element of Play® learning spaces. The products of the project activities - the 3-year fundraising strategy of WFVC and the updated online environment have a long-term character and ensure the sustainability of the project activities and the practices for early childhood learning.
The project strengthened the development of the network as a learning professional community in which practices are exchanged, knowledge is upgraded and common standards are shared, which is crucial for future work in support of vulnerable families with young children.