Youth Volunteering for Human Rights

Description

In Bulgaria, 2020 was marked by significant political pressure and obstruction of civil society. Media campaigns against organizations defending liberal values and human rights intensified, and hate speech found its way into academic circles. The COVID-19 state of emergency further hampered the work of NGOs, highlighting the sector’s heavy reliance on volunteers.

This project aims to support these organizations by increasing the interest and involvement of school and university students in issues addressed by NGOs, particularly in the area of human rights. It builds on our successful model from last year, which included The Heroes’ Cup competition, year-round mentorship, online and printed resources, structured monthly human rights challenges, and the involvement of youth opinion leaders.

Encouraged by the success of this approach—reaching over 830 young people, launching 100 initiatives, attracting 25,000 platform visitors, and engaging a combined audience of 700,000 in 2020 alone—we now seek support to introduce additional activities. These include:

• Video lessons and a guide linking volunteering to human rights topics
• Online meetings between young people, NGOs, and our team, offering direct insights from those active in the field
• Capacity-building initiatives to equip young people with the skills needed to volunteer for NGOs
• Speed dating or “exchange” events, allowing youth to connect with a wide range of NGOs for potential collaboration
• Marathons focused on real human rights cases
• Engaging digital activations and more

Through these activities, the project strives to strengthen support for human rights by expanding knowledge and providing practical tools. Ultimately, we want to empower young people to take an active role in shaping society through their participation in NGO initiatives.

Summary of project results

The "Youth Volunteers for Human Rights" project (BG-ACTIVECITIZENS-0152) by Time Heroes tackled pressing challenges in Bulgaria’s civil sector. These challenges included diminishing trust in civil organizations, reduced civic engagement, the proliferation of hate speech, and insufficient youth involvement. Additionally, the project addressed the lack of extracurricular and informal educational opportunities, particularly in smaller communities where volunteering opportunities are scarce.

Key Activities and Outputs

To address these issues, the project implemented a comprehensive strategy that combined youth engagement, education, and volunteerism. Key activities included:

1. Establishing Mechanisms for Youth Engagement:
   • Created resources tailored to youth on human rights, presented in accessible language.
   • Consolidated educational materials on the website kupatanageroite.com for easy access.
   • Developed resources to support teachers and coordinators in integrating human rights education and volunteerism into their activities.
2. Expanding the “Kupata na geroite” Model:
   • Supported 114 school volunteer clubs across 38 towns and villages, engaging over 3,100 participants, many from socio-economically disadvantaged areas or with significant Roma populations.
   • Organized structured monthly challenges on human rights topics.
   • Conducted ongoing mentoring and provided online and print resources for youth clubs.
3. Innovative Events and Campaigns:
   • Organized two speed-dating NGO fairs, involving nearly 200 youth participants.
   • Conducted two volunteer marathons and seven online meetings featuring journalists, experts, and organizations to inspire youth engagement.
   • Hosted four publicity events, including the competition finale, offering activities such as improv theatre, graffiti-making, and urban culture workshops.
4. Educational Content Creation:
   • Collaborated with Ucha.se, Bulgaria’s largest educational platform, to produce 12 video lessons, which garnered over 145,400 views.
   • Published a handbook linking volunteering with human rights issues to guide youth and educators.
   • Authored 18 educational "Topics of the Month" on critical issues such as gender equality, anti-racism, and eco-social justice.
5. Widespread Outreach:
   • Reached over 542,613 people via social networks and featured in 132 media publications.
   • Formed partnerships with 10 media outlets to amplify the project''s reach.

The project delivered significant outcomes and impacts for diverse beneficiaries:

1. Youth and Volunteer Clubs:
   • Strengthened 114 volunteer clubs nationwide, providing a platform for more than 600 initiatives that addressed local needs, such as:
     • Collecting sanitary products for at-risk women.
     • Preparing food for underprivileged individuals and delivering meals to those in need.
     • Offering free haircuts to elderly individuals in nursing homes.
   • Inspired over 3,100 participants from diverse backgrounds to become active agents of change in their communities.
2. Educational Impact:
   • Empowered teachers and coordinators with resources to incorporate human rights and volunteerism into their teaching.
   • Enhanced youth awareness and sensitivity to human rights through video lessons and monthly educational topics.
3. Community Impact:
   • Engaged a broad audience through online activities, publicity events, and media partnerships.
   • Facilitated dialogues on pressing social issues, inspiring youth to advocate for their own rights and those of others.
4. Sustainability and Long-term Change:
   • Established a foundation for continued support and expansion of youth volunteerism.
   • Observed lasting changes in participants’ civic attitudes, fostering a generation more engaged with human rights and social justice.

The "Youth Volunteers for Human Rights" project not only achieved its goals but also created a ripple effect of positive change in Bulgarian society. By fostering a culture of volunteerism and empowering youth to advocate for human rights, the project addressed critical societal challenges and laid the groundwork for a more engaged, informed, and inclusive future.