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Description
Over 2020, particularly in the context of the global pandemic, the society has shown us that it has the potential to unite around voluntary initiatives which demonstrate maturity and aspirations towards a citizens’ initiative. The protests from the 2020 summer have also demonstrated energy that for most people has been provoked by taking ownership of establishing democracy. The authenticity of the energy described has made us look for opportunities to promote it and to support the efforts of the citizens to be real participants in the change they aspire to on a daily basis. Darik Foundation, Programme and Analytical Centre for European Law (PACEL) Foundation and 42 Foundation will set up in cooperation a shared channel for citizens’ initiatives, which shall add value to the content of the NGO Portal. Darik Foundation will perform 78 radio programmes (broadcast on Darik Radio’s air with an audience of 1.2 million listeners) and the audio recordings will be further processed to prepare podcasts. 42 Foundation will carry out 24 live streaming sessions online and 2 live events (again further processed to be used later). PACEL Foundation will provide a platform for dissemination via the website ngobg.info and the monthly news bulletin, help edit texts, themes and ideas and ensure a broad network of contacts to promote the initiative. We will focus on active citizenship ideas, answer questions about how to take part, how to help, how to initiate and create communities united around causes to succeed in making a difference, how to work with the media and media content. We will achieve that using personal stories and examples from people and civil society organizations which have experience to share. The emphasis will be on togetherness or how to make a real difference with joint efforts.
Summary of project results
The project targets the lack of media interest in the activities of civil organizations. Its goal is to bridge the gap between the non-governmental sector and the general public by acquainting the audience with the people working in civil organizations and on civic initiatives, and by providing practical information on how to participate in causes and initiate and create communities to bring positive change.
The project uses story-telling to illustrate active civic engagement and the activities of civil organizations. The communication channels of the national Radio Darik, the NGO portal, and the website of the Forty-Two Foundation (Forum Klyuthc) joint efforts to reach broader audience. The project also developed additional communication activities through 10 radio broadcasts, debunking prevalent myths about NGOs in Bulgaria.
Over 27 months, the project''s podcast channel reflected the 90 radio broadcasts aired nationally, 26 video broadcasts were conducted, including 6 live broadcasts. In addition, the editors of the NGO portal produced extensive articles on the topics covered in the broadcasts. Over 100 organizations and initiatives were presented to the public, and the materials from this activity remain published on various communication channels for subsequent use – the project''s website, YouTube, podcast platforms, the website of Darik Radio, the NGO portal, and podcast platforms such as Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, among others.
Foundation 42 contributed by providing access to an audience, approximately around the motivational event Forum Key, as well as through its wide network of contacts within the civil sector to identify participants for the planned activities. The NGO portal served as the primary text communication channel. Their weekly newsletter reaches over 8,000 subscribers – NGOs, journalists, and citizens.