Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Adopt a Park or Playground Project
Society for the Protection of Children's Rights
Background
The Children Rights Protection Regional Society in Velingrad was established in 1992. Since then, it has been engaged in many and various charity and social activities aimed at chilrden and youth. In its work, the Society is assisted by scores of volunteers. The Society has an active educational program for students and teachers, which is being implemented together with the Open Society Foundation, the Open Society Center and US Peace Corps. In September, 1995, an Youth Club was established within the Society. The Club allows the young people to implement their ideas through their own efforts. Following several successful campaigns, such as Anti-AIDS, To the 21st Century without Drugs, Youth for Cleaner Environment 99 and the only Blues Marathon in the country, the Society initiated a city environment improvement project.
The Children Rights Protection Regional Society in Velingrad was established in 1992. Since then, it has been engaged in many and various charity and social activities aimed at chilrden and youth. In its work, the Society is assisted by scores of volunteers. The Society has an active educational program for students and teachers, which is being implemented together with the Open Society Foundation, the Open Society Center and US Peace Corps. In September, 1995, an Youth Club was established within the Society. The Club allows the young people to implement their ideas through their own efforts. Following several successful campaigns, such as Anti-AIDS, To the 21st Century without Drugs, Youth for Cleaner Environment 99 and the only Blues Marathon in the country, the Society initiated a city environment improvement project.
Practice
The Adopt a Park or Playground project had the following goals:
to educate children and youth through a series of discussions and classes;
to organize and coordinate efforts to clean the adopted park areas.
By means of discussions, personal examples and volunteer labor, the Society focused students and youth s attention on the issues related to the preservation, restoration and afforestation of parks and playgrounds. This has helped the Society win many supporters to the adoption of park areas.
The project was supported by the Ministry of Environment and Waters and was implemented between April and June, 2000.
The international Earth Day, April 20, was chosen for the start of the first general clean-up. All playgrounds located in the downtown area and close to schools and kindergartens were painted. All unusable installations within them were repaired. The foster parents periodically clean the adopted areas throughout the year. Project managers and youth club managers present information on the cleaned areas and on the necessity of waste disposal.
All materials needed for the initial painting and restoration of installations were provided by sponsors, donor organizations, the Municipality of Velingrad or other sources. Afforestation was done by the Municipality of Velingrad.
The Children Rights Protection Society, the Time Youth Education Center, the Discussions Club and student environmental organizations from all schools had volunteers work on the project. Other NGOs and citizen clubs were also involved. The days of the clean-ups were announced in the local radio and TV stations and in the regional newspapers.
The groups that have adopted a park area or a playground placed information signs in visible places. The signs informed who was responsible for the site. The Society developed materials to promote its activities and to appeal for cooperation on behalf of the community.
The Adopt a Park or Playground project had the following goals:
to educate children and youth through a series of discussions and classes;
to organize and coordinate efforts to clean the adopted park areas.
By means of discussions, personal examples and volunteer labor, the Society focused students and youth s attention on the issues related to the preservation, restoration and afforestation of parks and playgrounds. This has helped the Society win many supporters to the adoption of park areas.
The project was supported by the Ministry of Environment and Waters and was implemented between April and June, 2000.
The international Earth Day, April 20, was chosen for the start of the first general clean-up. All playgrounds located in the downtown area and close to schools and kindergartens were painted. All unusable installations within them were repaired. The foster parents periodically clean the adopted areas throughout the year. Project managers and youth club managers present information on the cleaned areas and on the necessity of waste disposal.
All materials needed for the initial painting and restoration of installations were provided by sponsors, donor organizations, the Municipality of Velingrad or other sources. Afforestation was done by the Municipality of Velingrad.
The Children Rights Protection Society, the Time Youth Education Center, the Discussions Club and student environmental organizations from all schools had volunteers work on the project. Other NGOs and citizen clubs were also involved. The days of the clean-ups were announced in the local radio and TV stations and in the regional newspapers.
The groups that have adopted a park area or a playground placed information signs in visible places. The signs informed who was responsible for the site. The Society developed materials to promote its activities and to appeal for cooperation on behalf of the community.
Results
The adopt-a-park project of the Youth Club of the Children Rights Protection Society was implemented in eight Velingrad parks. 180 decares of park areas were cleaned, 400 benches were painted, 400 shrubs were planted, 50 woodden signs were posted, 20 bird shelters were placed and many other improvements were made as a result of the Society s young members efforts. All these have made Veligrad an attractive and desired place for recreation.
The adopt-a-park project of the Youth Club of the Children Rights Protection Society was implemented in eight Velingrad parks. 180 decares of park areas were cleaned, 400 benches were painted, 400 shrubs were planted, 50 woodden signs were posted, 20 bird shelters were placed and many other improvements were made as a result of the Society s young members efforts. All these have made Veligrad an attractive and desired place for recreation.
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