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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PAYING IT FORWARD: STORIES OF NEW BEGINNINGS AND SUCCESS
For the third consecutive year, Sofia Development Association and partner organizations awarded entrepreneurs and employers who support the socio-economic inclusion of refugees and migrants. The Responsible Employers Awards are an initiative that recognizes refugees who have started their own business in Sofia, as well as employers and companies that provide employment to refugees and migrants. For people who have left their homeland under duress, building a second home and finding the strength to start their lives again in another country is a bold, albeit difficult, decision. That is why their successes deserve recognition. That is why this year, SDA, in partnership with UNHCR, Caritas Sofia, the Bulgarian Red Cross, and the Ot Nas Zavisi Foundation nominated and selected 16 companies and entrepreneurs in different categories – women entrepreneurs, contribution to Tasty Sofia, Paying it Forward, Multicultural team, etc. The ceremony was exciting for both the winners and all attendees – many of them with refugee origin, who have already settled in Bulgaria and support for other people in need is their unchanging cause. And the wonderful songs performed by Lilia Levitska and her students from Ukraine really created a festive atmosphere, but also reminded all of us why they left their country.
This event is part of the activities of the project "Support for the development of integration policies and services for refugees in Sofia", funded by UNHCR and implemented by Sofia Development Association.
KULTINCUSION: PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN CULTURAL EVENTS
The Erasmus+ funded project, led by the Romanian CREATIVE PROJECTS AND EVENTS, in collaboration with POT PROJECT from Italy and ACOCIACION CULTURAL ATENEO DE JEREZ from Spain, aims to promote inclusiveness, sustainability, and environmental responsibility in culture. The project's primary objective is to enhance the capacity of staff members from cultural and educational organizations in designing and implementing environmentally friendly cultural events. A special focus of the initiative is the active participation of children and individuals with Special Educational Needs (SEN), along with the implementation of measures to reduce the environmental impact of cultural events. The project targets professionals working in the cultural sector, cultural managers, and adult educators. By participating in this project, SDA further solidifies its portfolio of culture-related initiatives and, more importantly, contributes to promoting the role of culture in building an inclusive, cohesive, and just society.
A hybrid project kick-off meeting was held in Romania on November 24. The project will be implemented in 2023-2025. It is funded by the Erasmus+ program.
SYNCLUSIVE PROJECT: FIRST NEWSLETTER
Welcome to SYNCLUSIVE Project!
Join us on this thrilling adventure as we dive into the heart of SYNCLUSIVE, exploring its essence and the transformative solutions it brings to the table.
What SYNCLUSIVE Project is About: Unraveling Innovation and Collaboration
SYNCLUSIVE project redefines the landscape of innovation and collaboration. In this edition, we invite you to discover the essence of the project. Explore how SYNCLUSIVE is paving the way for a future where inclusivity meets innovation, creating a synergy that moves us forward.
Living Labs: Where Ideas Take Flight
Step into the dynamic world of Living Labs, where ideas come to life, and innovation knows no bounds. SYNCLUSIVE's Living Labs are the heartbeat of our project. Learn how SYNCLUSIVE is pushing the boundaries of possibility, making innovation a tangible reality.
First Research: Embarking on a Journey of Discovery
Embark on a journey of discovery as we share insights into our initial research endeavors.
News and Recent Events: Stay Informed, Stay Inspired
Stay in the loop with the latest updates and happenings at SYNCLUSIVE. Our newsletter will keep you abreast of project milestones, and the vibrant tapestry of events shaping SYNCLUSIVE's narrative.
Subscribe for our newsletter here:
https://synclusiveproject.eu/?page_id=1514
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094526
WE PRESENTED THE LEAD-ONLINE PROJECT AND THE HATE OUT! GAME INFRONT OF AN INTERNATIONAL CROWD IN SOFIALAB
On 9 November we once more presented the LEAD-Online project and our game HATE OUT!
We presented our HATE OUT! game to the guests of SofiaLab - representatives of different NGOs and educational institutions from Denmark, Poland, Greece, Portugal and Bulgaria, who are part of "Educating Adults Against Stereotypes - EASY" - a project that aims to promote understanding of age and gender stereotypes that can lead to discrimination in different sectors of society.
We discussed the process of creating the game, the selection of the scenarios in the game, the challenges and successes in its dissemination and its technical parameters. We also had a session where we played through several of the scenarios together and discussed the results.
Our work within LEAD-Online continues!
The LEAD-Online project is co-funded by the EU.
TRAINING COURSE IN REALIST EVALUATION: EMPOWERING RESEARCH PARTNERS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE
In the ever-evolving landscape of research and development, staying at the forefront of innovative methodologies is crucial for progress. At the beginning of November 2023, SYNCLUSIVE project took a significant step forward by organizing a groundbreaking training course for it’s dedicated research partners. The focus of this intensive course was applying the Realist Evaluation method in practice, an essential component of the SYNCLUSIVE monitoring framework. In this article, we'll delve into the details of this transformative training course and the visionary mind leading the way.
A Deeper Dive into Realist Evaluation
Realist Evaluation is a systematic and theory-driven approach to evaluating programs and interventions. It aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of how and why programs work in specific contexts, emphasizing the importance of context, mechanisms, and outcomes. It's a valuable tool for those seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities of social programs and initiatives.
Meet Suzanne van Hees
At the heart of the Training Course in Realist Evaluation is Suzanne van Hees, an authority in the field whose groundbreaking dissertation, 'Supporting employees with common mental health problems at work: a realist approach,' has garnered widespread acclaim. Her work, steeped in extensive research and the perspectives of various stakeholders in the workplace, seeks to answer the pivotal question: "What works, for whom, under what circumstances, and how?"
With its commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, SYNCLUSIVE project is ready to empower its projects and drive positive change in the realm of research and development. The SYNCLUSIVE consortium's dedication to innovation and progress is evident in its endeavors, and this training course is yet another testament to its commitment to excellence and growth.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094526
SGN 2023: LEAD ONLINE TALKS IN SOFIALAB
On 4 November 2023 we became part of Sofia Game Night 2023's family with our LEAD ONLINE TALK! Throughout the day, more and more people came to our innovation lab to participate in the three themed events related to games and their role in creating skills, building communities and raising awareness among youth.
We hosted the ARC Academy, which brought together parents and experts for a discussion on innovation in games, the digital world and how video games can go from a hobby to a profession. The end of the event turned into the presentation of our game HATE OUT!, which we developed within the LEAD - Online project, and presented and played with our guests. During the presentation, we discussed what hate speech is, how to recognize it and respond, and how to build strategies to counter hate speech. Our guests immersed themselves in the nine scenarios from our game and together discussed what is the best possible response to strengthen community bonds and weaken hate speech. The entire Saturday afternoon was dedicated to our other partners, MindHub, who ran a treasure hunt with robots, digital tools and games for kids and teens.
The project is co-funded by the EU Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.
