The Bulgarian Fund for Women is launching a new program for community building, which aims to support community leaders and active citizens in their efforts to unite and mobilize their communities, to encourage initiatives on citizen’s collaboration for a better public environment, to offer an opportunity for meeting and exchange between various communities and to promote the inclusion of women in community building. The main goal of the program is to promote and support the informal inclusion and cooperation between citizens in the process of finding solutions of the social problems neglected by state support.

BFW’s program consists of two stages – theoretical and practical. The first stage is a seminar on community building and development, while the second stage includes scholarships distribution among the seminar participants to bring to life ideas regarding the fostering of their communities. Eligible candidates for the program are informal leaders of local communities, professional communities or communities built around specific interests (e.g. parents, students, people with disabilities).

To start its program, BFW is opening a call for participation in a two-day seminar dedicated to the building and organization of communities, which will be held in the days 23-26 January 2020. The event will offer a discussion around issues such as how to bring people to support socially important causes, how to transform public energy in actions, how to promote ideas among stakeholders, how to detect share interests and partnerships. The participants who win scholarships will be able to promote their ideas and communities on Radio Sofia, media partner of the project.

Who can join?

The seminar and the program are open for participation to all who are 16 y.o. and older and who declare themselves as part of communities (no official membership or previous experience needed) larger than the family circle which brings together people because of specific location, time, interest or other feature. The community shares the same values and its members are close to each other, and the sense of belongingness is strong.

Candidates with initiatives championing women’s issues will be favoured.

What’s in for you?

• Practical and theoretical knowledge on how to effectively create, develop and foster communities;
• Encounter with other community leaders and opportunities to exchange ideas and to form new partnerships;
• Project financing to develop and implement the themes and knowledge gained in the seminar;
• Opportunity to promote your community and project.

How to apply?

Please fill out  the following form until 15 December 2019 (including) (in Bulgarian)

Timetable

• The call for applications is open from 13 November to 15 December 2019. 
• 19 December 2019 г. – announcement of selected candidates
• The seminar will take place between 23 and 26 January 2020 on a location close to Sofia.

 All transport, accommodation and food expenses will be covered by BFW.

For any questions and further information please contact us at office@bgfundforwomen.org.

The project is possible thanks to the financial support of Global Fund for Community Foundations.

Photo: chandlermacleod.com