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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SEPTEMBER CALENDAR WITH ACTIVITIES IN THE BUREAU OF INFORMATION AND SERVICES FOR THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS
Located at 113 Hristo Botev blvd., the first in Bulgaria joint Bureau for Information and Services for third country nationals opened its doors one year ago for clients and friends. The bureau is designed to be a vital entry point for foreigners and migrants looking to access accurate information on specialized services and referrals to service providers in heath, legal and protection matters. It offers services in several languages.
Sofia Municipality, Sofia Development Association, the Bulgarian Red Cross, Vazrazhdane Markets, with the support of UNHCR and over 13 NGOs have joined efforts, resources and expertise to provide better integrated services for foreigners.
The program and the services provided by the Bureau are in several languages:
You can find the program for September in Bulgarian HERE.
You can find the program for September in Ukrainian HERE.
You can find the program for September in English HERE.
You can find the program for September in Russian HERE.
You can find the program for September in French HERE.
You can find the program for September in Arabic HERE.
You can find the program for September in FarsiHERE.
https://infobureau.bcrm-bg.org/en
The Bureau for Information and Services for third country national is established under the #CONNECTION project and is funded by a European grant.
CONNECTION project: CONNEcting Cities Towards Integration action, is co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL INNOVATION (EaSI) NATIONAL CONTACT POINT BULGARIA
The project – EaSI NCP Bulgaria - aims to establish and maintain a National Contact Point (NCP) in Bulgaria to inform about the EaSI strand of ESF+, its opportunities, programs and application requirements; to assist in sharing and promoting project results and support (potential) beneficiaries, the public, and all stakeholders. The NCP’s work will contribute to strengthening employment and skills among various target groups, helping improve social protection and inclusion, fostering safe and fair working conditions, as well as encouraging social innovations and experimentation. The consortium is led by an BCAUSE Foundation, who has strong expertise in social economy programming and projects, in partnership with Sofia Development Assossiation. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy supports the project as an associated partner. Over two years, the NCP will offer online and walk-in consultations and organize public events. Transnational cooperation through job shadowing, attending events and projects is planned, with partners from other experienced European countries, for mutual learning, capacity building and boosting the visibility of the NCP and EaSI across countries and communities.
The EaSI project is funded by the European Union and has a duration of two years. (2022-2024).
SOFIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IS RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON THE SUBJECT OF HATE SPEECH ONLINE
Within the framework of the activities of the LEAD-Online project, which helps young people and their teachers to better understand the phenomenon of 'online hate', the Sofia Development Association is looking for four participants in an international training to counter hate speech online.
What is the training about?
The event is titled "Digital Gardening: Applying Strategies to Counter Hate Speech Online through Real Case Scenarios". It will bring together teachers and trainers from 7 European countries, as well as specialists from 7 organizations and institutions with experience and skills in combating hate speech online. The training will be interactive and part of it will be the creation of scenarios for an online game for teachers and students, which aims to enrich the tools for recognizing and responding appropriately to hate speech.
It will take place between 14 and 16 November 2022 in Vienna, Austria. All expenses related to travel, overnight stays and business trips are covered by the budget of the LEAD - Online project and the Association for the Development of Sofia
What are the participation criteria?
SDA is looking for four participants who work in the field of formal and/or informal education and have interests in the field of combating hate speech online. They must have the opportunity to physically participate in the full training program in Vienna, which will last for 3 days. Participants must have an excellent command of the English language.
An important criteria is also their engagement in future activities in the project such as trainings and events that spread the tools to combat hate speech online.
What is the application procedure?
Interested participants should send a short motivation letter in English on the topic "Why do I want to get involved in anti-hate speech online training and how will I contribute to multiplying the results of the project?" (up to 400 words) and a short CV to the email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The project is funded by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.
SOFIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IS RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON THE SUBJECT OF HATE SPEECH ONLINE (2)
Within the framework of the activities of the LEAD-Online project, which helps young people and their teachers to better understand the phenomenon of 'online hate', the Sofia Development Association is looking for four participants in an international training to counter hate speech online.
What is the training about?
The event is titled "Digital Gardening: Applying Strategies to Counter Hate Speech Online through Real Case Scenarios". It will bring together teachers and trainers from 7 European countries, as well as specialists from 7 organizations and institutions with experience and skills in combating hate speech online. The training will be interactive and part of it will be the creation of scenarios for an online game for teachers and students, which aims to enrich the tools for recognizing and responding appropriately to hate speech.
It will take place between 14 and 16 November 2022 in Vienna, Austria. All expenses related to travel, overnight stays and business trips are covered by the budget of the LEAD - Online project and the Association for the Development of Sofia
What are the participation criteria?
SDA is looking for four participants who work in the field of formal and/or informal education and have interests in the field of combating hate speech online. They must have the opportunity to physically participate in the full training program in Vienna, which will last for 3 days. Participants must have an excellent command of the English language.
An important criteria is also their engagement in future activities in the project such as trainings and events that spread the tools to combat hate speech online.
What is the application procedure?
Interested participants should send a short motivation letter in English on the topic "Why do I want to get involved in anti-hate speech online training and how will I contribute to multiplying the results of the project?" (up to 400 words) and a short CV to the email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The project is funded by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.
ЕMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THE OTHER
Did the war in Ukraine change the attitudes of Bulgarian society towards migrants and refugees? Do we know how to help the people who need protection for themselves and their families, no matter what country they are coming from? What does it take to realize that the differences between “us” and “them” are one more opportunity for improving the way we all live?
These questions framed the roundtable discussion held within the project “Da opoznaem drugia”, implemented by the Bulgarian Red Cross and the State Agency for Child Protection. The event, held on 5 August 2022, brought together representatives of civil society, universities, international organizations working for the integration of refugees in Bulgaria. Sofia Development Association also shared its experience and lessons learned from several initiatives on the topic. One is the need for providing regular, impartial information to the host society about the real situation of refuges and migrants in the country. Coalition-building and advocacy with fellow civil society organizations, but also collaboration with local and national public bodies are critical for changing the negative attitudes and misperceptions of integration. At the end of the day, acknowledging dignity and treating others with respect is the first step of building a prosperous society.
CONNECTION project: CONNEcting Cities Towards Integration action, and UMN project are co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
AUGUST CALENDAR WITH ACTIVITIES IN THE BUREAU FOR INFORMATION AND SERVICES FOR THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS
The Bureau for Information and Services for third country nationals in Sofia presents to your attention the Program with activities for the month of August. The desk is located at 113 Hristo Botev Street and is open from 10:00 to 17:30. The program and the services provided are in several languages.
You can find the program for August in Bulgarian HERE.
You can find the program for August in Ukrainian HERE.
You can find the program for August in English HERE.
You can find the program for August in French HERE.
You can find the program for August in Russian HERE.
You can find the program for August in Arabic HERE.
You can find the program for August in Farsi HERE.
On the Bureau legal advice is most often sought, but the services used are diverse: from accompanying translation at institutions to employment certificates, from registering with a GP to receiving anti-covid vaccines, receiving medicine, textbooks and food.
The Bureau is the result of the combined efforts, resources and expertise of Sofia Municipality, Sofia Development Association, the Bulgarian Red Cross, “Vazrazhdane” Markets, UNHCR and over 13 NGOs.
The Bureau for Information and Services for third country national is established under the #CONNECTION project and is funded by a European grant.
https://infobureau.bcrm-bg.org/en
CONNECTION project: CONNECTING Cities Towards Integration action, is co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.