The municipal administration s attempts to function in a financially decentralized environment, the growing dynamics of life, the new legislation at national and local level, the changes in social assistance terms and the social problems faced by the citizens of Peshtera resulted in a necessity for an honest dialogue and a wide information campaign through the electronic and the printed media in the municipality. The journalists in the city also felt a need for a comprehensive study of the social problems and wanted to help their fellow citizens.

The project was initiated in February, 2004 with its presentation to the public by the local media.

Radio Peshtera developed and broadcasted 16 one-hour sessions addressing a wide circle of social and ethnic groups. The broadcasts were spread over a 5-month period, one every week. The information about the activities of citizen associations, national and municipal institutions was presented to the citizens through a variety of journalistic means: surveys, interviews, positions, dialogues and direct phone lines. At the end of each broadcast the most interesting opinions and proposals were submitted to the relevant institutions. The broadcasts covered the following topics: is there child violence in the municipality, what are the reasons for its existence and how can we counter it; the youth in the city free time, sports, tourism and interests as ways to solve the problems of the youth arising from social inequality, and drug abuse; labor market and unemployment; April 8, International Day of the Romas; integration of the Roma population, the Roma women, traditions and education; from apprentice to master adaptation and re-training for a new job; trade unions and the free association of people; adaptation and problems of people with sustainable disabilities; the ethnic groups and their role in municipal life; our role in child protection; the beggars a modern phenomenon; the new face of the Bulgarian Red Cross; the role of the women in the modern family; the people in the third age life goes on; social patronage in need of salvation; are today s social cares really social; the Municipality decentralized and needed.

During the first broadcasts the people had no clear requirements and knowledge about their role in civil society and their rights when interacting with national and municipal institutions. As the broadcasts targeted poor families, ethnic groups, disadvantaged groups, the youth and the children, the main focus of the conversations with them was on the need for the employees in the national and the municipal administrations to realize their personal civic and professional tolerance and compassion for the social problems of the target groups. The purpose of the broadcasts was to inform the people about their rights and their responsibilities.

The role of the broadcasts in the development of a modern civil society can be valuated by the hundreds of opinions, live calls and the response of the citizens to the information delivered.

Five months later the listeners of Radio Peshtera were different. They sought they place in the topics of the broadcasts. The topical broadcasts and the place that was reserved for the people in them, the assistance they received in solving specific problems resulted in a constant presence of social topics in Radio Peshtera s work.

The employees of the national and local institutions changed their attitude to the delivery of information. An important step was made towards transparency in public administration. The information delivery channels established during the broadcasts continued to function even when the project was over.

The team believes that the project s main goal has been achieved: to inform the citizens about their rights and responsibilities. Many specific problems were solved with the mediation of the media. A new type of relations was established between the institutions and the media, to the benefit of the citizens of the municipality of Peshtera.

Citizens were better informed about their rights and responsibilities.

Improved adaptability to the modern social conditions.

Improved interaction between institutions and media and citizens.

Active citizen participation.

The Razvitie Community Center asserted itself as a factor in municipal life and created a new public image.

For additional information, please contact :

Stoyan Yovchev

Razvitie Community Center

4550 Peshtera

4, Dimitar Gorov Street

Tel.: (0350) 5681