Funded projects

Organizations supported within the ‘Open Opportunities’ Program

Partner organizations: Association “Active politics”, Foundation Mentor the Young1. Made with Love Association

Project: Together we are strong! Mentally healthy team – sustainable organization

The organisation runs a social enterprise where a small team of staff, including people with disabilities, and volunteers support over 60 people – people with disabilities and mothers of children with SEN – to live better lives. However, within just a few months, the people in the enterprise team faced a number of unforeseen circumstances. To continue to exist and support dozens of disabled people, the social enterprise needs urgent funding to ensure stability and sustainability. With the support provided by the Open Opportunities programme, the organisation will provide counselling with a professional psychotherapist to provide appropriate strategies for coping with stress and burnout, personal psychological counselling, programmes and initiatives to improve mental health, training sessions to manage stress more effectively, the procurement of information materials for the team and more. In addition to crisis recovery and capacity building, the organization aims to involve the people the social enterprise supports in all activities.

Place of registration: Pernik
Scope of activity: Pernik
Approved funding: 2495.14 EUR

2. Arms Wide Open Association

Project: Embrace for ‘Arms Wide Open’ – dealing with stress, burnout and building organizational capacity in order to increase the capabilities and self-confidence of the team and the organization

The organisation has been operating at full speed and at reduced staff since April 2022, supporting those fleeing the war in Ukraine through a number of successful initiatives and projects. At the time of application, the association assists over 200 Ukrainian refugees and their children on a daily basis, with a total community of over 400 people. In the context of upcoming large-scale initiatives and serious preparations, as well as the situation of constant uncertainty accumulated due to constant delays in expected funding, political instability, change of local government, negative public attitudes, working under constant stress, with many people, with little staff with limited resources, the organization found that it urgently needed external assistance. Assistance focused on dealing with stress, burnout, and building up organizational capacity to increase team capability, motivation, and self-confidence. With the support provided under the Open Opportunities program, the organisation will arrange training sessions with external and internal experts for personal and team development.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia
Approved funding: 2454.24 EUR

3. Magna Silva Association

Project: Urgent health support for Ukrainian refugees

Refugees from Ukraine arrive in Plovdiv every day. Part of them are accommodated in the buffer centre for temporary residence “Second Home”, where they are provided with assistance for integration, one of their main needs being the receipt of health care.

This is especially true for newly arrived refugees – often women, children and elderly people who need medical equipment and essential medication (thermometers, blood pressure machines, inhalers, painkillers, etc.), as well as for people with medical disability decisions issued by doctors in Ukraine. Their situation is particularly complicated by the fact that the entry into force of these decisions in Bulgaria is delayed by 8-10 months due to administrative procedures for coordination with health institutions in Ukraine. Refugees therefore have to pay in full for their prescribed medication. However, their low or completely missing income (pensions of people coming from the territories conquered by Russia are not paid) makes the purchase of vital medicines impossible and puts their health and lives in danger.

With support under the Open Opportunities programme, the organisation will purchase medication and essential medical equipment for the refugees housed in ‘Second Home’, publish and distribute a leaflet in Ukrainian containing information about their health rights and hold information days with them on the subject.

Place of registration: Plovdiv
Scope of activity: Plovdiv
Approved funding: 2479.80 EUR

4. Orion Grid for Leadership and Authority

Project: Hotline for activists

After the adoption of the law banning the “propaganda” of non-traditional sexual orientations and identities in schools, the situation for civil society in Bulgaria, and especially for activists working in the field of LGBTIQ+ and human rights, has deteriorated dramatically. The new law has created an environment of fear and insecurity, especially among LGBTIQ+ educators and other vulnerable groups who are worried about their future. This necessitated the creation of an open support line for activist to provide critical psychosocial support, legal advice and strategic guidance. In doing so, the organisation will contribute to strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations and individual activists and professionals to continue their important work in defence of human rights and democracy despite growing challenges, and to building a stronger and more resilient community of activist by providing a space for connection, solidarity and support.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: national scope
Approved funding: 2499.74 EUR

5. Single Step Foundation

Project: Advocacy activities on the adoption of an anti-LGBTI+ law

Following the rushed adoption of the law banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation” in Bulgarian schools, the LGBTIQ+ community faces daily fear and uncertainty. The sudden enactment of the law, coupled with overwhelmingly negative media coverage, leaves the community in shock, further amplified by new discriminatory bills (anti-trans proposals and the Foreign Agents Bill). In addition, as part of a targeted smear campaign, the Single Step Foundation has been investigated several times and openly threatened with revocation of their license to counsel under 18s.

Although the challenges are enormous, solidarity and support from Europe can bring about significant change, so quickly establishing sustainable and long-term partnerships with MEPs and their formations is key to bringing about change in the newly introduced discriminatory legislation. The Open Opportunities funding will support the participation of 9 Bulgarian LGBTIQ+ activists in a workshop in September 2024 in Brussels with MEPs, the new LGBTI Intergroup of the EP and the European Commission.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Brussels, Belgium
Approved funding: 2499.74 EUR

6. Mission Wings Foundation

Project: First Aid for the Front Line

In the period June-September 2024, the pressure on the Mission Wings Foundation increased because of their active work against the forced repulsions of children and adult refugees, migrants seeking international protection. This activity includes voluntary round-the-clock work of a specialized team on alerts of people in distress, over 40 rescue operations in which first aid was provided in a life-threatening situation for over 120 people – children and adults from Syria, Morocco, Egypt, over 20 alerts about dead people, among which a significant number – unaccompanied children from Syria and Egypt, as well as the search, identification, recognition and organization of the burial of their remains, etc. The work of Mission Wings puts them at high risk and they began to receive summons for interrogation at various border units, summons to the Border Police offices in Sofia, warning protocols and threats of detention of the teams working in the field. The situation escalated drastically after five of the rescuers in the field were detained for 24 hours and charged with complicity in trafficking.

In addition, in the context of a discussion of a project of Mission Wings in two committees of the Municipality Council – Stara Zagora, the human rights work of the organization was discussed with false information, tarnishing its reputation, and was declared discreditable for Bulgaria. With funding from the Open Opportunities Programme, Mission Wings will provide legal support for its teams and Board. Legal advice will help them to be as informed as possible about their rights and to defend themselves in the best way.

Place of registration: Stara Zagora
Scope of activity: Stara Zagora, Harmanli
Approved funding: 2495.14 EUR

7. SOS Families at Risk Foundation

Project: Providing protection and emergency services for trafficked women until force majeure circumstances are overcome

SOS-Families at Risk Foundation provides services for trafficked women in shelters and centers for protection and assistance in Sofia and Varna. Just before the contracts were signed for the continuation of operations, the regular government stepped into office, which placed the services in a force majeure situation. The reason is that it has to take a number of bureaucratic steps before it can provide the necessary funding, which means that for a period of at least one month the services have to stop functioning – because round-the-clock staffing and all humanitarian, social and household expenses cannot be provided, nor could the specific needs and crisis conditions of the victims be met. This means that unless urgent action is taken, victims of trafficking belonging to highly vulnerable and marginalised communities have to leave services with no clear destination, be subjected to secondary stress and repeat risk, and for the services to lose a team built and trained over many years. When enquiries have been made to the administration no solutions have been offered. With the funding under Open Opportunities, the organization will work to prevent the collapse of services and the subsequent risks to the lives and health of the women housed, as well as prevent the loss of two trained teams who are dedicated to the organization’s mission and the cause of women’s rights and protection.

Place of registration: Varna
Scope of activity: Sofia and Varna
Approved funding: 2495.14 EUR

8. Queer Varna

Project: Countering anti-LGBTI+ changes to the Law on Preschool and School Education and the potential Foreign Agents Act

In August 2024, in a very short period of time, amendments to the LPSD were adopted that undermine the dignity and threaten the basic human rights of one of the most marginalized groups in Bulgaria, namely LGBTI+ people. Shortly after the adoption of the changes, the names of teachers from Varna were included in a public “blacklist” of one of the parliamentary parties, and the same party called “criminals” over 800 teachers and scientists from all over the country who expressed their criticism of the changes. “Queer Varna” faced anti-LGBTI+ rhetoric and threats on social media, harassment during protests, the theft of the Pride flag and its public setting on fire in the city centre. In addition, at the time of application, there are threats of the introduction of the Foreign Agents Act, as well as further provocations around the start of the school year. With the funding under the Open Opportunities Programme, the organisation will organiso two initiatives – a Community Meeting with the followers of Queer Varna, to which a lawyer, blacklisted teachers and the wider teaching community will be invited to talk, distribute information materials and discuss next steps. The second initiative involves a meeting with NGOs from Varna, to which a specialist from a civil society organisation from Sofia will be invited to discuss joint action and coordination in crisis situations. In addition – the organization will purchase basic supplies for the organization of protests and public actions in response to crisis situations and, given the serious threat, will also prepare to provide security for them).

Place of registration: Varna
Scope of activity: Varna
Approved Funding: 2499.74 EUR

Organizations supported within the ‘Values’ Program

1. Association for Shared Learning ELA

Project: EMPOWER. Empowering Women for Rural Innovation and Leadership

The project unites the efforts of four women’s initiatives in Gorna Malina municipality that rebuild the buildings of abandoned schools and turn them into new educational and cultural centers – “Green Education Center” (Sturgel), “International School Cosmos” (Osoytsa), “Vihroni Art Center” (Dolno Kamartsi), “Cooperative Garden” (Negushevo). They started to cooperate on the basis of common principles and values – inclusion, cooperation, care for every member of the community, social justice, sustainable development. Within the project they will constitute themselves as a network with a calendar of events and a recognizable value profile to which they can attract new social partners and change the community from within.

Place of registration:Sofia
Scope of activity: village of Gorna Malina, vill. Dolna Malina, vill. Makotsevo, vill. Chekanchevo, vill. Aprilovo, vill. Negushevo, vill. Baylovo, vill. Sarantsi, vill. Sturgel, vill. Belopoptsi, vill. Gaitanevo, vill. Dolno Kamartsi, vil. Gorno Kamartsi and vill. Osoytsa.
Approved Funding: 19 981.59 EUR

2. Lespectra Association

Project: For the queerest time: history of queer lives in Bulgaria (1980 – )

The project aims to explore and promote queer and queer-feminist history in Bulgaria during late socialism and the 1990s, thereby engaging the community with its own path to empowerment from then to now and bringing the connections between the community’s struggles then and now to the fore. As in most national contexts, the field of queer history is almost non-existent in Bulgaria, and hence a number of problems arise related to the lack of identification with the political struggles for equality and community liberation today, the delegitimization of the same struggles by conservative forces in the country, and more. Using oral history methods, the team will document the experiences of the generation of activists and queer people who were active in the years before and after the Transition and create a variety of materials to disseminate online and offline – a podcast, a social media campaign, a page on our website, pop-up events, discussions, and more.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of Activity: Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo
Approved: 18 110.24 EUR

3. Neurodiversity Bulgaria Foundation

Project: Neurodivergent Youth Toolkit

The project focuses on creating a holistic resource for young people with conditions such as autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome and more. It aims to empower neurodiverse identities through affirming strategies for emotional regulation, maintaining healthy friendships, and navigating social norms. With a team of neurodiverse psychologist and illustrator, a workbook will be created that is both clinically sound and based on lived experience. It will be distributed to schools and centres around the country, and trained facilitators will conduct workshops in different cities, introducing participants to the exercises in the workbook.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of Activity: Seminars: Veliko Tarnovo, Sliven, Plovdiv, Sofia. Distribution: national scope.
Approved funding: 19 990.80 EUR
Partner organizations: Foundation Spectrum 24, For Hope Foundation

4. Alliance for Sustainable Regional Development

Project: Leadership and Advocacy Academy for Young Women

The project aims to build the capacity of young women in the North Central region in the areas of leadership, advocacy and civic engagement, to help them overcome the challenges they face and to create a more just and informed society in which they can maximise their potential and contribute to the development of their communities. This will be achieved through a structured approach using effective training/educational methods and tools for support and professional growth to ensure the lasting impact of the project.

Place of registration: Ruse
Scope of activity: Ruse and the region
Approved funding: 19 991.82 EUR
Partner organizations: Association “Active politics”, Foundation Mentor the Young

5. Women in Action Foundation

Project: TOWARDS MORE EFFECTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE LEGAL AID FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The project focuses on increasing the knowledge and capacity of human rights defenders – freelance lawyers and lawyers working with NGOs in North-Eastern and Central Bulgaria to provide more effective legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, including people with disabilities. The project addresses the existing problem in the country that access to the justice system for women and people with disabilities experiencing or with a history of domestic violence is often difficult, with the main barriers including limited access to information, inability to cover the costs of pursuing cases, limited access to qualified legal assistance, and disability-specific barriers.

Place of registration: Shumen
Scope of activity: Shumen, with participants from other regional centers and smaller towns in South-Eastern and Central Bulgaria
Approved funding: 18 764.70 EUR
Partner organization: Network of Independent Experts – NIE

6. Future Perfect Foundation

Project: One in three

Project activities will focus on traumatic experiences related to women’s reproductive health, which face one-third of women worldwide. Women from Romania, Bulgaria and Poland will break the stigma and silence around miscarriage, infertility, wanted or unwanted abortion and stillbirth. ONE IN THREE will be created through a collaborative process between artists, directly affected individuals and the wider public. It will involve research and presentation of the topic in the public space and DOZA Gallery.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia as part of the international initiative. A version of the project will be shown in Bucharest and Warsaw
Approved funding: 19 996.93 EUR

7. Foundation in Support of Women Suffering Violence (FLY – First Love Yourself)

Project: When I learned to love myself…

The project foresees 12 educational and informational seminars in the municipalities of Gabrovo, Sevlievo, Dryanovo and Tryavna. It is also planned to distribute information materials in Gabrovo district to raise public awareness and sensitivity on the issue of violence, to reach more victims and encourage them to seek support. As a result of wider public awareness and support, the organisation hopes to establish a District Council on Violence. In achieving these goals, the project will also support the organizational strengthening of the Foundation through the purchase of office equipment and the establishment of a site for the development of a Counseling Center, which will lay the foundation for the provision of comprehensive services for survivors and those at risk of violence, as well as their loved ones.

Place of registration: Gabrovo
Scope of activity: Gabrovo, Sevlievo, Dryanovo and Tryavna
Approved funding: 19 997.95 EUR

8. Documentary Media Foundation

Project: Feminist Documentary Lab

The project focuses on a training and mentorship program for 5-7 young female, queer, trans, and non-binary artist-activists from underrepresented communities working in the fields of feminism and anti-discrimination who have some previous experience in art or documentary media production. The program aims to support the development of storytellers from underrepresented communities from all parts of the country who are strongly committed to social justice, gender equality issues and aim to challenge the stereotypes and conditions that perpetuate inequalities in their communities. By the end of the initiative, participants will have developed (and/or completed pilot demonstrations of) short documentary projects on some of the most pressing issues of our time.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Two cities (if possible aligned with the approved participants’ places of residence) – Sofia-Varna, Plovdiv-Veliko Tarnovo or Burgas-Pernik.
Approved funding: 19 940.69 EUR

9. For Hope Foundation

Project: Mobile support center

The physical and symbolic distance between the institutions and professionals and the segregated neighborhood “Nadezhda” in Sliven deepens and hardens social inequalities. This creates conditions for exploitation and disempowers the population, especially women and children. To shorten the distance in society and provide a space for prevention and support, the Foundation will use an innovative approach with a mobile social centre where educators and psychologists can reach an otherwise marginalised population. The regular presence will also contribute to rebuilding trust in both the residents of ‘Nadezhda’ and the institutions. In order to combat racism, the project also envisages two festivals where different ethnicities can join in and have fun and regain a human understanding of others. The mobile social centre is new for Bulgaria and could be implemented in other places around the country.

Place of registration: Sliven
Scope of activity: Sliven and its segregated neighborhood ‘Nadezhda’, where more than 10 000 people, half of which under the age of 18, reside
Approved funding: 20 000 EUR

10. NISHKA Collective

Проект: What I wanted to whisper

The project focuses on the topic of miscarriage and especially on the care of women’s mental health – issues that are rarely talked about in Bulgaria and lack awareness, both among women and their relatives. The first stage of the initiative includes consultations with a psychotherapist to develop an approach to work and to organize meetings with women who have experienced miscarriage. Based on these meetings and within the second stage, an art installation will be built to raise awareness and initiate conversations on the topic, including public discussions led by a specialized psychotherapist. The installation will travel around the country to reach a wider audience.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of action: Vidin and Veliko Tarnovo
Approved funding: 15 246.96 EUR

11. Balkanistic Forum Association

Project: Political repressions over Muslim women during the Communist regime, female resistance networks and civil rehabilitation

The project aims to collect and popularize individual narratives of Muslim women from Pirin region who were repressed by the communist system, with a focus on prisoners whose individual rights were violated and/or who did not receive their due civil rehabilitation. The database, available on the project’s website, will collect and archive documents, sentences, photographs, letters, etc. related to the repression of women. Through a traveling exhibition in localities, women will be able to receive at least partial civic rehabilitation and a white spot in collective memory will be filled.

Place of registration: Blagoevgrad
Scope of activity: Gotse Delchev, Yakoruda, Razlog, Belitsa, village of Valkosel, vill. Kornitsa, vill. Breznitsa, vill. Lezhnitsa, vill. Bukovo, vill. Ribnovo, vill. Gorno Dryanovo, Babyak, Kraishte, etc.
Approved funding: 19 940.69 EUR

12. Area 05 District 30 Zonta International

Проект: Rada says NO

Within the project, a large-scale campaign will be carried out to raise public awareness on the issue of domestic violence in seven major cities in Bulgaria with the help of the Rada doll – a maquette that will be placed in public places, will inform citizens about the problem and through a QR code will provide a direct link to places of support for victims. A miniature version of Rada will be distributed in restaurants, doctors’ offices, beauty salons and other smaller establishments, while stickers with Rada’s image will be placed in shop windows and restaurants, company offices, etc. The project aims to create a network of advocates for women’s rights, in particular for victims of domestic violence, to conduct a large-scale information campaign, to organize public events, to mobilize volunteers.

Place of registration: Stara Zagora
Scope of activity: Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Burgas, Varna and Veliko Tarnovo.
Approved funding: 19 991.82 EUR

13. Znanie Association

Проект: A Level Playing Field

The project will contribute to building an inclusive and democratic society where the fundamental rights of the child are guaranteed and diversity and equality are values. The organization will work with a kindergarten in Lovech, where it will implement a series of activities – training for educators on “Forming prejudices and stereotypes in children”, practical workshops with teachers to develop educational materials aimed at promoting diversity and equality in the kindergarten, and workshops with parents will be the beginning of joint initiatives between parents, children and teachers to use the acquired knowledge on the topic of equality in practice. Meetings with successful, inspiring women role models for children will be organised. An extensive information campaign is planned, including press conferences, media publications and a final event.

Place of registration: Lovech
Scope of activity: Lovech
Approved funding: 19 723.90 EUR

14. The Social Teahouse Foundation

Project: Strategic litigation for women’s rights- capacity building for leadership, advocacy and communication

The project foresees the implementation of public meetings and stakeholder trainings on topics related to strategic disputes on women’s rights. The initiative aims to build capacity in the civil sector in the areas of advocacy, leadership and communication. The development of these three pillars in civil sector leaders and representatives of leading CSOs will be an investment in the entire sector that supports diverse women in their life and legal battles. The organization will work to raise awareness around the importance of strategic litigation, conduct trainings and public meetings with real case studies from litigation and advocacy practice, and provide best practice exchanges on feminist leadership with leading experts in the field.

Place of registration: Varna
Scope of activity: Sofia, Varna and online with the possibility to reach women from small settlements, civil activists from outside the regional cities and interested citizens from all over the country.
Approved funding: 19 966.25 EUR

15. Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

Project: Mapping the Murders of Women in Bulgaria 2018-2023

The project aims to raise the awareness of all stakeholders and consequently the public sensitivity on the issue of domestic and gender-based violence, thus helping to generate political will for legislative and practical measures to tackle the problem. The activities envisaged include a study of final convictions in cases of intentional homicide, attempted homicide and causing death by negligent homicide resulting from bodily harm, handed down by district courts as first instance between 2018 and 2023, where the victims were women aged 14 or older. The information from the survey will be added to the existing website http://spasena.org, which contains information on femicides in Bulgaria for the period 2012-2017, and the website will be improved and updated. The project also foresees a large-scale information campaign on domestic and gender-based violence.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia and national scope
Approved funding: 19 989.26 EUR

16. Positive Skills of the Personality in the Social Environment Foundation (P.U.L.S.)

Project: The power of knowledge – a basic way to a life without violence

The project marks a new beginning in the development of P.U.L.S. Foundation’s programs and services, being the first project for the newly registered branch of the organization in the Kardzhali region. The initiative focuses on women’s and girls’ rights, access to awareness and knowledge and last but not least – raising public knowledge and sensitivity in the field of gender knowledge, protection from violence and promotion of rights, values and equality.

Place of registration: Pernik
Scope of activity: Kardzhali and the villages in the region
Approved funding: 19 971.37 EUR

17. Roma World – 21st Century Foundation

Проект: Your life depends on you

Through the unique approach of the artistic-documentary format of “Small Stories from the Roma World” – the program on BNT, in which for years the organization presents its fascinating stories, the project continues the theme of human values, on which the organization has been working for years. It aims to sensitise Bulgarian society to violence against Roma women, to raise young Roma women’s awareness of the potential risks of violating their rights and to stimulate their determination and practical preparedness to defend them in critical situations of domestic abuse, exploitation and some form of so-called modern slavery. In addition to targeting a national and narrower audience of the Roma community with two short documentary feature films that will be produced by the project and promoted through several media channels, the organization will develop the two interesting case studies into training materials that can be used by nonprofits and schools in their educational work on the topic. Through the unique approach of the artistic-documentary format of “Small Stories from the Roma World” – the program on BNT, in which for years the organization presents its fascinating stories, the project continues the theme of human values, on which the organization has been working for years. It aims to sensitise Bulgarian society to violence against Roma women, to raise young Roma women’s awareness of the potential risks of violating their rights and to stimulate their determination and practical preparedness to defend them in critical situations of domestic abuse, exploitation and some form of so-called modern slavery. In addition to targeting a national and narrower audience of the Roma community with two short documentary feature films that will be produced by the project and promoted through several media channels, the organization will develop the two interesting case studies into training materials that can be used by nonprofits and schools in their educational work on the topic.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia, small towns, national scop
Approved funding: 19 940.69 EUR

18. Rhodope Fund for Women – Poprelki

Project: Red book of feminine grammatical gender in Bulgarian language

The project aims to produce a book with the results of an analysis of regulations and requirements, research through online surveys and events in remote areas with women in feminized professions, interviews with representatives of the scientific community, public authorities and private companies on the use of feminine grammatical gender in the Bulgarian language in the spelling of professions and positions. The results will be disseminated to women’s rights organisations, media and public institutions with the aim of protecting women’s rights and empowering women through the validation of the feminine grammatical gender in official documents and public discourse. In the long term, the project aims to change normative documents and the established informal norm of using the masculine grammatical gender as a valid and universal one by including the feminine grammatical gender.

Place of registration: Smolyan
Scope of activity: village of Chepintsi, Rudozem, Madan, Zlatograd, Smolyan, vill. Stratsin.
Approved funding: 19 710.60 EUR

19. Center for Independent Living Association

Проект: The Invisible Power – Women with disabilities with rights

The project aims to highlight and bring to the public’s attention the violated rights of women, inside and outside institutions, with disabilities. A combination of the following activities is envisaged – researching disability policies and producing an analysis with recommendations, running empowerment groups and a mentoring programme with women with violated rights, creating a space for debate on the rights of women with disabilities through a series of webinars, a series of advocacy actions, producing a series of videos for public awareness and a series of advocacy actions to press for policy change in the area of disability. The expected outcomes are increased awareness and public sensitivity to violated rights of women with disabilities, greater courage within women themselves to voice violations, and having a tool to pressure local and national government.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia and regional centres
Approved funding: 19 991.82 EUR

20. National Association for Foster Care

Project: #YoungIndependant: how is it possible?

The project focuses on two important topics concerning the quality and sustainability of foster care in Bulgaria. On the one hand, it will produce a volume of information that will support decision-making at a key moment for foster care in Bulgaria – 2025 is the year when foster care should move from international project to sustainable state funding. On the other hand, the project seeks to improve public understanding and reduce stigma about foster care, thereby attracting more Bulgarians to become foster parents. The main objective of the project is to positively influence policies and public attitudes towards foster care in Bulgaria. It will achieve this by conducting three surveys and providing information to inform decision-making processes and by promoting good practice in foster care.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia
Approved funding: 19 633.91 EUR

21. Access to Rights Foundation

Проект: Access to employment for refugees and migrants

The project will contribute to raising awareness on the fundamental rights of refugees, persons with humanitarian status, persons with temporary protection, persons seeking international protection and migrants in accessing and integrating into the labour market. The organisation will work to increase jobseekers’ and workers’ knowledge and awareness of their own labour and social security rights by holding information sessions and individual consultations with refugee and migration law lawyers, social mediators and labour intermediaries. It will develop an interactive map of different support service providers and implement a public awareness campaign on refugee and migrant employment.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia, Burgas, Varna, Dobrich, Plovdiv and online with national scope
Approved funding: 19 991.82 EUR

22. Kikimora and Kikimora Foundation

Проект: Online Informational Campaign about the needs of FLINTA+ community and a third edition of the PRIZMA Festival

PRISMA Festival is a queer feminist arts and culture festival – its program foregrounds feminist values and the experiences of lesbian, bi and queer women, trans, non-binary and intersex people. The FLINTA+ acronym includes women, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people, and is advantageous for all other queer women. The project will be running the next edition of the festival, as well as a preceding awareness campaign about the need for safe spaces where the perspectives and needs of people with FLITNA+ identities are at the forefront. To ensure this, the organization will issue an open call for people in the community to share personal stories to use for the campaign.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and online campaign with national scope
Approved funding: 19 480.52 EUR

23. Danaya Foundation

Проект: ‘Strength / POWER and Support for Mothers’

The project focuses on the rights and feelings of mothers whose children are in hospital. Key activities include research on mothers’ needs through surveys and interviews, data analysis and suggestions for improvement; knowledge raising campaigns through information sessions, workshops and materials, and a pilot programme for the care of mothers as companions in hospitals that provide specialized services. Expected outcomes include improving mothers’ awareness of their rights, identifying and proposing concrete measures to improve the health system based on mothers’ real needs, emotional and psychological support, and increasing the sense of community and solidarity among mothers. The project aims to lay the foundations for building a tolerant, sensitive and supportive health system where the focus, in addition to health care for child patients, is on much-needed social and psychological support.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia as well as campaigns and research with national scope
Approved funding: 19 991.82 EUR

24. Open Doors Situation Center Foundation

Проект: From theory to practice: her rights in the labour market

The project will train and empower 90 displaced women from Ukraine seeking safe and decent work in Bulgaria. Over 57% of Ukrainian women in our country are unable to find any work due to the many barriers they face. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation and unethical behaviour, pay and working environment. Thus, a large number of Ukrainian women in our country are unable to exercise their rights related to finding a job, given to them by the European directive on temporary protection. Through a combination of information sessions, counselling, and workshops, the project will improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of Ukrainian women in navigating the labour market in Bulgaria. Expected outcomes include increasing awareness of labour rights, ensuring equal access to employment, improving skills for successful labour market integration, building sustainable communities, and increasing financial independence for women from highly vulnerable groups.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia and Bansko
Approved funding: 19 715.72 EUR
Partner organization: Dignita Foundation

25. Health Without Borders Association

Проект: Active citizenship in HIV policies

The main objective of the project is to improve the conditions for citizen and patient participation in HIV policies in Bulgaria and to improve the understanding of the needs of people living with HIV as well as opportunities for their empowerment. There is a need to move closer to practices in Europe in this respect, from where examples and models can be drawn. Through two studies – one on practices in Europe and one on needs in Bulgaria, by writing a document with recommendations and by holding a meeting between European and Bulgarian patient leaders, the project aims to improve the conditions for civic and patient participation, to raise awareness among institutions and citizens about policies and practices in Europe and about the needs of people living with HIV in Bulgaria.

Place of registration: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora, Pleven
Approved funding: 19 107.27 EUR

Organizations supported within the “Mission: Possible” Program

1. The Wake Up Foundation

The foundation focuses on fighting domestic and gender-based violence, protecting women’s rights, and raising public awareness of these issues. The organization’s activities include programs working with survivors of domestic violence, as well as working on community and policy levels, leading advocacy campaigns, and organizing communities online.

The Wake Up Foundation’s team administrates the Facebook group “You Are Not Alone – Together Against Violence”, prepares the thematic podcast series #YouAreNotAlone, as well as seminars and advocacy campaigns for amendments to the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence (LPDV).

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: the whole country
Approved funding: 9,999.85 €

2. Bulgarian Platform European Women’s Lobby

The Bulgarian Platform European Women’s Lobby is a coalition of NGOs and supporters from across the country working for gender equality and against all forms of violence against women.

The Platform works as a corrective to the country in the field of equality, including against gender stereotypes and sexism that underlie inequality and predispose to violence against women, as well as to change public attitudes and encourage more feminists to participate in politics.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country except the Northwest region
Approved funding: 57,264.69 €

3. GLAS – Bulgaria Foundation

GLAS – Bulgaria (Gays and Lesbians Accepted in Society) Foundation aims to contribute to a positive change in the lives of the LGBTI+ community in Bulgaria, ensuring full equality and protection from all forms of discrimination. The organization is part of the initiative committee and co-organizer of Sofia Pride – the largest human rights event in Bulgaria, creator of the first community center in the country Rainbow Hub, and the media Proud.bg. With initiatives such as the Work It OUT platform, the foundation works hard to achieve an accepting work environment, and equal conditions for LGBTI+ people and promote female entrepreneurship.

In partnership with the psychotherapy support platform Kabinet.bg, GLAS provides free psychotherapy help and emotional support for LGBTI+ people and their loved ones. On a political level, the foundation fights for legislative, institutional, and organizational changes that contribute to more equitable and non-discriminatory policies toward the queer community.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 59,309.86 €

4. Ekaterina Karavelova Foundation

Ekaterina Karavelova Foundation fights for full and effective participation of women at all levels in politics, economy, and public life to form an active civil society. The focus of its activities is to promote women’s leadership and political participation by monitoring their activities, developing analytical reports on structural barriers to gender equality, and organizing advocacy initiatives for changes in legislation.

The Foundation seeks to create and sustain supportive women’s communities through the “SHE’s In” social format, a series of events that provide girls and women with diverse stories and from different professional backgrounds with the opportunity to share their experiences, the obstacles they have faced and the successes they have achieved.

Location: Plovdiv
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 59,483.70 €

5. LGBT Youth Organization Deystvie

The LGBT Youth Organization Deystvie works for full legal recognition and social inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Bulgaria. Among the main activities of the organization are the provision of free-of-charge legal aid, the organization of specialized pieces of training, and advocacy activities. Since 2023 it has been actively developing the “Leаderlandia” project – a free online civic education platform focused on human rights, the intersection of forms of discrimination, and civic activism. The organization leads advocacy campaigns for legislative changes, and cases before courts and organizes public events such as the Rights Forum. Deystvie is part of the initiative committee and co-organizer of Sofia Pride – the largest human rights event in Bulgaria.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country (mostly Southwest, South-central region, and Southeast)
Approved funding: 59,999.08 €

6. Listen Up Foundation

The activities of the “Listen Up” Foundation are focused on the protection of the rights of deaf people in Bulgaria, the prevention of discrimination against them, and the creation of an enabling environment for their development. The Foundation actively supports bilingual education through the use of sign and verbal language to improve the literacy, confidence, and leadership skills of deaf people. The Foundation also organizes linguistic projects, mentoring programs, and training for future sign language professionals. Through these activities, “Listen Up” strives to create a recognizable and functioning deaf ecosystem, promoting education, leadership, and innovations among the deaf community in Bulgaria.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 58,798.57 €

7. The Women in Action Foundation

The Women in Action Foundation focuses on achieving gender equality and women’s political empowerment in Shumen, Bulgaria. The organization’s activities include advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns, and monitoring the local governmental institutions. The Women in Action’s team leads strategic cases to influence policies and legislation at local and national levels to overcome structural barriers and inequalities to women’s participation in cultural, political, and economic life.

Location: Shumen
Scope of activity: Shumen
Approved funding: 5,010.66 €

8. Endometriosis and Reproductive Health Foundation

The Foundation aims to build and shape a sustainable health culture regarding endometriosis and reproductive and sexual health in general. Their mission includes raising awareness about menstrual health and encouraging open dialogue on taboo topics, informing women about the healthy processes in their bodies and when they should seek medical help. Another important work of the foundation is advocating for policy change to improve health literacy, especially among young people.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 43,306.42 €

9. Emprove Foundation

The Foundation supports women who are going through or have already been in a toxic relationship with violence. The organization’s mission includes raising awareness about early relationship violence signs, changing societal attitudes, and supporting women and girls who have experienced violence. Their work includes public campaigns, providing psychological and legal support, coaching, organizing events, trainings, therapy sessions, and arts initiatives. Particular attention is paid to building the #WomenSurvivors community, which supports other women on the path to a new life.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: Southwest region (Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia)
Approved funding: 59,984.76 €

10. Elizabeth Kostova Foundation

Elizabeth Kostova Foundation actively invests in the potential of Bulgarian women writers and translators through various programs that highlight the role of women in literature. The Foundation organizes training workshops, festivals, creative writing courses, and residencies, providing a platform for the expression of women in creative professions and youth from marginalized groups. Other goals of the organization include encouraging, challenging, and publishing talented writers; creating networks between Bulgarian, American, and English writers; supporting the training of English-speaking translators of contemporary Bulgarian literature; supporting the publication of Bulgarian writers in English; and promoting and developing the reading of Bulgarian writers in Bulgaria and abroad.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 59,999.08 €

11. Dignita Foundation

Dignita Foundation works with victims of human trafficking, helping them gain fair access to justice. The organization provides legal assistance, counseling, and representation in criminal trials, and then – support and mentoring to build basic skills to engage in regular forms of employment to achieve independence. The Foundation fights against gender-based violence in vulnerable communities by providing training and support. Dignita supports migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers by implementing socio-economic integration programs and providing specific training sessions. The organization also works at a policy level organizing advocacy legislative campaigns for a long-term sustainable impact.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 9,999.85 €

12. Animus Association Foundation

Animus provides support and assistance to people affected by domestic and gender-based violence. The organization develops accessible psychotherapeutic and psychoanalytic services and programs offering professional and competent assistance, creates public attitudes of respect for suffering and non-acceptance of violence, promotes the values of dynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, encourages democratic changes in the Bulgarian family and society, develops and implements projects and programs to support people in need of help. The main lines of work are to stimulate understanding in society; to promote the increase of respect for women, to act as a mediator between state institutions and NGOs, coordinating activities on the problems of violence against women and children. The organization focuses on raising awareness and conducting advocacy campaigns for changes in legislation to adequately protect victims.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 59,999.08 €

13. Hayaci Association

Hayaci Association works for the prevention of abandonment, educational integration, and prevention of early marriages in the municipality of Novi Pazar and the region. Among the main activities of the organization are advocacy, mediation, accompanying, informing, and counseling women on issues related to health, education, social activities, and employment.

The organization supports families with young children and pregnant uninsured women, provides support for young girls to continue their education, and organizes training courses, thus helping to fight poverty and social exclusion. Another important focus of the organization’s work is education and capacity building among the community, which includes conducting interactive trainings on topics such as sexually transmitted infections, early pregnancy and prevention, continuing education, and career guidance.

Location: Novi Pazar
Scope of activity: Northeast region (Varna, Targovishte, Dobrich, Shumen)
Approved funding: 58,208.02 €

14. Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria

The Association assists refugees and asylum seekers in the process of their adaptation and integration into Bulgarian society. The organization works in the field of human rights, the inclusion of ethnic minorities, women’s empowerment, anti-discrimination, and social inclusion by providing humanitarian assistance, social counseling, and support to refugees and migrants. Among the organization’s significant and essential objectives are to involve Bulgarian citizens and institutions in the process and to ensure the right to request and receive assistance without compromising human dignity. “The Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria” is the first community-based humanitarian organization in Bulgaria led by a woman refugee.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia
Approved funding: 59,999.08 €

15. “Youth and Civic Initiatives in the Rose Valley” Association

The Association is actively committed to empowering women, promoting leadership and their political participation. To achieve that, the organization implements projects including trainings, forums, analyses, studies, and booklets on women’s participation in politics and governance.

Their work focuses on empowering women and promoting their active participation in cultural, economic, and political life through initiatives such as “Girls Today, Leaders Tomorrow” and “Who If Not Us Women?”. The organization fights for gender mainstreaming by creating gender equality clubs that sensitize young people on the issues addressed.

Location: Karlovo
Scope of activity: municipality of Karlovo (Karlovo, Kalofer, Klisura, Banya, and 23 villages in the region)
Approved funding: 56,242.11 €

16. Association “Network of Independent Experts – NIE”

The Association works to protect human rights and support disadvantaged people. Their main goal is to establish systemic change in Bulgaria, focusing on equal access to justice, empowerment, deinstitutionalization, and community-based services. The association actively participates in working groups, provides statements on draft laws, and participates in coalitions and initiatives with other NGOs. Their work also includes litigating cases and organizing trainings for communication mediators in court cases and police investigations involving people with mental or intellectual difficulties.

The efforts of the “Independent Expert Network – WE” are focused on achieving systemic and sustainable changes in the field of human rights and in making society more sensitive to marginalized groups, especially people with intellectual disabilities.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 9,999.85 €

17. Lespectra Association

Lespectra is a collective whose mission is to create spaces where women and LGBTI+ people can dream, share, and work for a better world together. The focus of their work is to empower discriminated groups and to spread feminist knowledge through the feminist media Vechernitsa, maintaining an archive and organizing events.

The key goal of the collective is to build a mobilized queer feminist community, politicize the LGBTI+ community, create solidarity among marginalized groups, and create sensitivity about these issues in the broader civic circle.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: Southwest region (Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia)
Approved funding: 9,970.19 €

18. LevFem Association

“LevFem” is a left-wing feminist organization that fights against socio-economic gender inequality. The organization addresses issues through discussions, publications, research, and campaigns, raising awareness in civil society and supporting victims.

LevFem’s goals include creating an active community committed to feminism, anti-racism, and anti-capitalism, and raising public awareness of social issues. They promote political education and activist research focused on various aspects of social movements and feminism. A major focus of the organization’s work is combating gender-based violence, addressing it in a broad context, and providing support through online and offline resources, participation in protests, and advocacy in legislative processes.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 9,999.85 €

19. Largo Association

LARGO Association (Liberal Alternative for Roma Civil Union) works in the field of Roma identity protection and community integration, and its activity is concentrated in Kyustendil and the Southwestern region. Its mission is to improve the social situation of Roma people, to develop and affirm community values and a vision of their place and future in the civil society of Bulgaria, and to emancipate Roma people as well as take positions in local communities.

Among the various activities of the organization, the focus is on improving health, and education, promoting initiative, developing civic culture, and direct advocacy in support of Roma women. Another sensitive issue that the Association addresses is LGBTI+ rights in Roma society, which is being doubly discriminated against. LARGO actively participates in national and international initiatives to support vulnerable groups. The organization combines consultation and training with active work on the implementation of public policies as the most effective tool for achieving long-term and sustainable results.

Location: Kyuestendil
Scope of activity: Southwest region (Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia)
Approved funding: 51,129.19 €

20. Bibliofem Association

Bibliofem is a feminist collective whose mission is to spread and promote the history of feminism around the world as well as to connect the different struggles for equality and justice.

The organization maintains a feminist library, and an educational blog, publishes and distributes educational materials and books, and organizes events and workshops. The library also functions as a community center, serving feminists, young people, students, educators, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of other marginalized groups. One of the organization’s key activities is raising awareness and education in the community, creating the basis for a larger movement of conscious and empowered people mobilized for collective action.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: Sofia
Approved funding: 9,999.85 €

21. Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance Amalipe

Amalipe is the largest Roma organization in Bulgaria dedicated to improving education, community development, and equal integration of Roma in society. The organization uses a comprehensive approach, addressing issues in education, employment, gender equality, community development, and discrimination. The Centre fights for equal opportunities for Roma women and promotes their active role in public and political life. Education is a key subject in their work as they focus on dropout prevention and the introduction of intercultural education. The main goal is to support Roma girls, keeping them in school and advocating for inclusive education policies. The organization actively fights for policy change, with a focus on raising awareness about Roma women’s empowerment and education and providing more opportunities for advancement in society and institutions.

Location: Veliko Tarnovo
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 58,798.57 €

22. Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria Foundation

The Foundation works towards respecting the human dignity of migrants, refugees, and foreigners by empowering them and contributing to their independence and rights. The organization provides free-of-charge legal advice and representation in administrative and judicial proceedings on a national and European level. Through advocacy campaigns and research on migration, the Foundation works to establish practices and changes in legislation in line with international standards. Their program for vulnerable women provides comprehensive support to migrant women in Bulgaria through case management and legal assistance. The organization is actively involved in advocacy work aimed at changing public attitudes and helping different communities to participate effectively in policy and institutional decisions in the area of migration and integration.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 56,633.25 €

23. SolidarityWorks Foundation

The Foundation’s goal is to promote the sustainable development of individuals and communities through solidarity and collective action for social change. The key focus of their work is promoting intercultural and intergenerational dialogue, empowering with skills, and giving visibility to marginalized groups, especially women, youth, and the elderly. Through art, storytelling, advocacy, and personal development, the organization is committed to the prevention of domestic and intimate partner violence. With a focus on non-formal education, SolidarityWorks provides training programs and materials and conducts youth exchanges, trainings, and camps.

Location: Sofia: Drugan village
Scope of activity: Drugan village and Southwest region (Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia
Approved funding: 30,677.51 €

24. Bilitis Foundation

The Foundation actively works for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and the achievement of full equality for LGBTI+ people in Bulgaria. Bilitis’ programs include training, support for new leaders, and economic empowerment of vulnerable groups. Through initiatives such as the stophate.bg platform, the Foundation collects data on domestic violence in LGBTI families and works to overcome taboo topics in the community. Bilitis is part of the initiative committee and co-organizer of Sofia Pride – the largest human rights event in Bulgaria, as well as is also one of the founders of the country’s first community center Rainbow Hub.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: The whole country
Approved funding: 59,974.54 €

25. Partners Bulgaria Foundation

The Foundation works on the development of democratic processes and sustainable civil space through human rights education, peaceful conflict resolution, and social inclusion. The organization supports the efforts to improve policy and practice in areas such as justice, social welfare, education, and environmental protection. “Partners Bulgaria” actively promotes dialogue between civil society, government, and the business sector, with a focus on the participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

Location: Sofia
Scope of activity: Northwest (Vidin, Vratsa, Lovech, Montana, Pleven) and Southwest (Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia)
Approved funding: 59,821.15 €

“Mission: Possible” is part of the BIRDS in BG project to provide 360-degree support to the civil society sector in Bulgaria, which BFW is implementing alongside its partners from the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) and Impact Drive Foundation.

BIRDS in BG project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.