Description
The project addresses the difficulties faced by asylum seekers and recognized refugees in Bulgaria. The project aims at empowering them through education, information, self-help and solidarity groups. First, weekly art workshops (piano, guitar and percussions, dancing, choir music) will be organized for children of asylum seekers aged 5-25. Second, children aged 6-12 will have Bulgarian classes to prepare for admission tests. Third, hourly babysitting will be provided for children aged 2.5-5 to enable their parents to study Bulgarian. Fourth, adolescents aged 13-25 will have computer literacy classes. Next, the parents will have opportunities for Bulgarian classes, vocational training as tailors and cleaning staff, an entrepreneurship course and a seminar for CV writing and business communication. Finally, family self-help groups will be set up. The project will benefit asylum seekers and refugees in Bulgaria, decision-makers and the public in general.
Summary of project results
The project helped the public to stop regarding refugees as a problem and to open its eyes to the opportunities for development upon ensuring efficient conditions for their integration. The project activities helped integrate the included persons and overcome the negative xenophobic attitudes among some members of the public. Most activities that were carried out created natural conditions for spontaneous two-way adaptation and multicultural tolerance. The individual approach, compassionate attitude and commitment to specific cases by the project team created a spirit of unity and close relations among all the stakeholders who took part in the project. The free-of-charge training sessions, the well-equipped facilities and the training materials provided helped reduce to a great extent the economic inequality and social isolation of the target group. The project implementation ensured equal opportunities to all 332 participants regardless of their gender, background and culture in order to fully realize their potential. They acquired skills to be successful mediators in the inclusion of marginalized groups with similar background. The exchanged experience and shared practices during the organized public discussions-seminars gave the opportunity to the Rescue Mission Foundation to launch similar initiatives in a competent and systematic manner and to discuss in an open dialogue with NGOs, the state institutions and the target group members some issues, cases or future partnerships in order to streamline the adaptation process and prevent vicious practices. For more information, visit:
http://project.missionbg.org
Summary of bilateral results