SOFIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION was founded as non-profit organization with the decision 348
of the Sofia Municipal Council to work for the sustainable development of the capital.
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AWARDS FOR RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYERS OF REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS
For second year in a row, Sofia Municipality, Sofia Development Association, Caritas Sofia, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Foundation “Za dobroto” are organizing Awards for Responsible Employers of Refugees and Migrants. The awards will honor employers with contributions to integration, recruitment and support of refugees and migrants.
The event will take place on 15th of December at SofiaLab on Serdika Street 1, fl. 3 at 16:00.
If you are unable to attend the live event, you can join online at the following ZOOM link: https://bit.ly/3Fz4856 .
The award event will broadcast online on the Facebook page of SofiaLab, as well as on the page of Caritas Sofia.
The awards are also part of the activities of the Bureau of Information and Services for Foreign Citizens, which was established and has been operating since October last year with the joint efforts of the SM, SDA, BRC, with the support of Market “Vazrazhdane” and UNHCR, co-financed by the EU through the Asylum Fund, migration and integration under the CONNECTION project.
CONNECTION project: CONNECTING Cities Towards Integration action, is co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES IN DECEMBRE 2022 IN THE BUREAU FOR INFORMATION AND SERVICES FOR THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS
We consider this year a successful one in the development and work of the "Information and Services Bureau".
Among the most frequently used services, in the last few months of this year, are the legal consultations offered by the "Legal Assistance Center - Voice in Bulgaria" as well as the "Foundation for access to rights - Far". Other frequently used services are humanitarian assistance, escorting to various institutions and medical assistance, language training and health insurance.
The most frequent users of services in the bureau are Syrian citizens, less in number are citizens of Ukraine, Iraq, Russia and other countries.
On the official website of the bureau, a program is offered every month, in which the various services are described by days and hours. The content of this program is in several languages: Bulgarian, English, French, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic and Persian.
Our statistics show that the site has been visited by more than 2,200 people for the last year and these people has been engaged with the posts and content more than 16,000 times.
Here you can see the program for the month of December:
- You can find the program for December in Bulgarian HERE.
- You can find the program for December in Ukrainian HERE.
- You can find the program for December in English HERE.
- You can find the program for December in French HERE.
- You can find the program for December in Russian HERE.
- You can find the program for December in Arabic HERE.
- You can find the program for December in Farsi HERE.
On behalf of everyone at the Information and Services Bureau, we wish you happy holidays!
CONNECTION project: CONNEcting Cities Towards Integration action, is co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
SOFIA DESIGNS THE INNOVATIVE ON-DEMAND TRANSPORT TOGETHER WITH MANASTIRKSI LIVADI RESIDENTS
Sofia municipality, Sofia Development Association, Sofia Urban Mobility Center, Modeshift Europe ltd., together with community association “United for Manastirski Livadi – West” oranized an information day to present the new electric minibuses and the on-demand service in the Manastirski Livadi neighbouthood.
The information day was held at the weekend, om December 3rd, 2022, to allow maximum citizens to get involved. Along one of the major streets, Mur Street, by the kids’ playground, the INNOAIR team put boards with maps of the neighbourhood, workshop materials and snacks and refreshments on the chill morning. The aim was to develop – together with the citizens – potential on-demand bus routes and more importantly – points of interest where citizens would like to get to, as well as preferred time zones for their travel.
The citizens were invited to try the mobile application BUSINN, to see how it works for the driver and for the dispatch back office. The app is based on AI calculating optimum routes to service maximum users and create minimum traffic and waiting times.
One of the e-minibuses was available for the residents to see, get to know its features – from Wi-Fi and power outlets to low floors and a ramp for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The last amenity is of particular importance to the residents since many of them have young children.
Many residents took a ride in the minibus in the neighbourhood and their experience was very positive.
The residents proposed measures how to make this innovative transport service more popular. They were also interested in the tariff and the use of public transport monthly and year cards. Around 20 residents of Manastirski Livadi volunteered to be test users of the app and bus in the coming days and provide feedback on features like ordering, waiting times, routes, etc.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
INNOAIR – INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW EUI APPLICANTS
After the European Urban Initiative (EUI) announced its first call for proposals with a budget of 50 million to support the New European Bauhaus demonstrators, the Permanent Secretariat organized several information days, one of which was held in Sofia on November 29-30, 2022. The event brought together representatives of DG Regio, Bulgarian and other cities, universities, NGOs, business companies, interested in having their questions answered about funding, project management, innovative solutions.
The event was opened with a welcome address by Kristian Krastev, Sofia deputy mayor on transport and manager of INNOAIR project. As the first and only Bulgarian project supported by the EUI predecessor – Urban Innovative Actions - INNOAIR was invited to share its experience. Sevdalina Voynova briefly presented the project and focused on the lessons learned and what the applicant may expect developing and implementing an innovative project. The other members of the INNOAIR team were also in attendance, directly sharing inspiration and encouragement with the interested future applicants.
The event offered thematic sessions, Q&A, one-to-one consultations with the Permanent Secretariat, networking, and numerous examples how to make our cities better with innovative actions.
INNOAIR is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
THE FACULTY OF ECONOMICS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PLOVDIV PRESENTED ITS RESULTS UNDER THE INNOAIR PROJECT
On 25th of November 2022 the team from Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, which works on the InnoAir project, presented the results of its implementation at a meeting-discussion in the Episcopal Basilica of Philipopol, the largest early Christian church in the country. The forum was attended by representatives of the municipalities of Sofia, Plovdiv and Asenovgrad, the Thrace Economic Zone, the Bulgarian Industrial Association, teachers, doctoral students and students from the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences.
The project is the only one of its kind in Europe and aims to develop alternative routes for public transport, limit traffic and improve air quality, explained the Sofia deputy mayor of transport, Kristian Krastev. Plovdiv University has developed various models and special software for tracking traffic based on video surveillance.
More than 10 publications by scientists from Plovdiv University have been published under the project, 8 of which have found a place in the prestigious scientific databases Scopus and Web of Science, emphasizes the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Professor Stanimir Kabaivanov.
The studies, scenarios and models presented by the team of the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences related to improving urban mobility and air quality can be used by other Bulgarian cities interested in improving their urban mobility.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
SOFIA MUNICIPALITY AND “UNITED FOR MANASTIRSKI LIVADI – WEST” ARE ORGANIZING AN INFO DAY FOR THE NEW ELECTRIC MINIBUSES
Sofia Municipality and “United for Manastirski Livadi - West” are organizing an info day during which the new electric minibuses, that will deliver the innovative “transport on demand” public service, will be shown to citizens of the neighborhood.
The event will start at 11 a.m. on 3th December 2022 on “Mur” street in the “Manastirski Livadi - West” neighborhood in Sofia.
The new vehicles are fully equipped to travel through the southern neighborhoods of Sofia. The goal of this initiative, which is a part of the INNOAIR project, is to make public transportation a preferred way of commuting in the city, by making connections between inner neighborhoods and main crossroads more accessible.
The project partnership, led by Sofia Municipality, includes 2 universities: Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”; 2 non-for profit organizations: Sofia Development Association, National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria; 2 companies: Sofia Urban Mobility Centre, Modeshift Europe EAAD; and 1 national public authority: National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. Thus, strong collaboration of city administration, scientists, business and citizens is ensured.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. This is the first Bulgarian project selected for funding by UIA.