Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
International Youth Volunteer Camps "Summer 2000"
Center for Local Development - Buhovo
Background
The decisions for the Summer 2000 partnership project was made at a meeting of the Partners for Local Development Associations in Devin and Madan, the Center for Local Development in Buhovo and their youth organizations. The meeting was dedicated to sharing experience in organizing youth camps and was also attended by French volunteers from the 1999 youth camps in Buhovo.
The decisions for the Summer 2000 partnership project was made at a meeting of the Partners for Local Development Associations in Devin and Madan, the Center for Local Development in Buhovo and their youth organizations. The meeting was dedicated to sharing experience in organizing youth camps and was also attended by French volunteers from the 1999 youth camps in Buhovo.
Practice
The Summer 2000 project was implemented with the assistance of local authorities in Buhovo, Devin and Madan and was funded by USAID under FLGR s Effective Partnerships Program. The project also received additional support from companies and non-profit organizations from the three communities:
Rodopi Autotransport AG, TPK Mihalkovo, Devin AG;
Shadiitsa Hut, Madan Autotransport, the boarding-house of Otets Paisii School in Madan;
Goten Tourism Association, Metalurg Co. and seven NGO s from Buhovo.
Devin Camp, July 15-31, 2000
The Partners for Local Development Association, Devin, was the partner organization for this camp. Major participants included 15 young people from the Step by Step towards the 21st Century Youth Organization, Devin, 4 volunteers from Madan, 4 volunteers from Buhovo and 11 volunteers from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, England and Russia.
The activities within the Municipality of Devin included: cleaning and restoration of 10 bus stops in the city, 25 benches in the city parks, 26 installations at playgrounds and 50 meters of fence at two kindergartens; painting of 70 meters of railing at the bridge next to the bus station, 65 meters of railing and the two small bridges at the entrance of the Ostrova Park; cleaning and cut of 470 meters of grass in the park; restoration of 100 seats and 300 meters of fence at the city stadium; painting of 330 meters of railing and the bridge next to the grocery market; cleaning and restoration of 100 meters of decorative fence.
Madan Camp, August 1-15, 2000
The Partners for Local Development Association, Madan, was the partner organization for this camp. Major participants included 15 young people from the Phenomenon 2000 Youth Organization, Madan, 4 volunteers from Buhovo, 4 volunteers from Devin and 8 volunteers from Denmark, France, Spain and Japan. The activities within the Municipality of Madan included: paining of 770 meters of footings in halls and classrooms at four stories of a boarding-house; cleaning and painting of railings of three bridges and three fences; cleaning and painting of three billboards and a decorative fence; cleaning and painting of benches and gate of the St. George Church.
Buhovo Camp, August 10-25, 2000
The Center for Local Development, Buhovo, which provided overall coordination for the project, was the partner organization for this camp. Major participants included 15 young people from the Dream for Change Youth Center, 3 volunteers from Madan and 13 volunteers from Japan, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. The activities within the mayoralty of Buhovo included: painting of 96 fence sections in the Buhovo park; marking and cutting 12 dead trees and forming 14 park alleys, cleaning of 20 decares of green areas; painting of 150 meters of concrete footing and outlining 600 meters of park alleys; repair of city fountain; pruning of 12 trees and 26 shrubs; placing tourist markings on three paths from Buhovo to the Goten Peak; making and installing 17 benches and 8 waste baskets.
The results and the long-lasting friendly relations established between the young people set up the model of summer international volunteer camps in partnership with local authorities. The model will be replicated and expanded by the three organizations by including Bulgarian participants and youth from the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe.
The Summer 2000 project was implemented with the assistance of local authorities in Buhovo, Devin and Madan and was funded by USAID under FLGR s Effective Partnerships Program. The project also received additional support from companies and non-profit organizations from the three communities:
Rodopi Autotransport AG, TPK Mihalkovo, Devin AG;
Shadiitsa Hut, Madan Autotransport, the boarding-house of Otets Paisii School in Madan;
Goten Tourism Association, Metalurg Co. and seven NGO s from Buhovo.
Devin Camp, July 15-31, 2000
The Partners for Local Development Association, Devin, was the partner organization for this camp. Major participants included 15 young people from the Step by Step towards the 21st Century Youth Organization, Devin, 4 volunteers from Madan, 4 volunteers from Buhovo and 11 volunteers from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, England and Russia.
The activities within the Municipality of Devin included: cleaning and restoration of 10 bus stops in the city, 25 benches in the city parks, 26 installations at playgrounds and 50 meters of fence at two kindergartens; painting of 70 meters of railing at the bridge next to the bus station, 65 meters of railing and the two small bridges at the entrance of the Ostrova Park; cleaning and cut of 470 meters of grass in the park; restoration of 100 seats and 300 meters of fence at the city stadium; painting of 330 meters of railing and the bridge next to the grocery market; cleaning and restoration of 100 meters of decorative fence.
Madan Camp, August 1-15, 2000
The Partners for Local Development Association, Madan, was the partner organization for this camp. Major participants included 15 young people from the Phenomenon 2000 Youth Organization, Madan, 4 volunteers from Buhovo, 4 volunteers from Devin and 8 volunteers from Denmark, France, Spain and Japan. The activities within the Municipality of Madan included: paining of 770 meters of footings in halls and classrooms at four stories of a boarding-house; cleaning and painting of railings of three bridges and three fences; cleaning and painting of three billboards and a decorative fence; cleaning and painting of benches and gate of the St. George Church.
Buhovo Camp, August 10-25, 2000
The Center for Local Development, Buhovo, which provided overall coordination for the project, was the partner organization for this camp. Major participants included 15 young people from the Dream for Change Youth Center, 3 volunteers from Madan and 13 volunteers from Japan, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. The activities within the mayoralty of Buhovo included: painting of 96 fence sections in the Buhovo park; marking and cutting 12 dead trees and forming 14 park alleys, cleaning of 20 decares of green areas; painting of 150 meters of concrete footing and outlining 600 meters of park alleys; repair of city fountain; pruning of 12 trees and 26 shrubs; placing tourist markings on three paths from Buhovo to the Goten Peak; making and installing 17 benches and 8 waste baskets.
The results and the long-lasting friendly relations established between the young people set up the model of summer international volunteer camps in partnership with local authorities. The model will be replicated and expanded by the three organizations by including Bulgarian participants and youth from the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe.
Results
The three organizations acquired new skills on attracting, motivating and managing volunteers;
The partner organizations and their youth groups are in the process of developing an effective partnership network for joint development, management and implementation of projects;
The young people and local government representatives improved their understanding about the mechanisms and the specific opportunities for citizen participation;
The camps generated a great interest in the community and many young people apart from the main group participants also got involved in the activities;
Local partnership networks contributing materials and recreation opportunities for the volunteers were created;
The project generated a lot of interest and was covered by local and national media.
The three organizations acquired new skills on attracting, motivating and managing volunteers;
The partner organizations and their youth groups are in the process of developing an effective partnership network for joint development, management and implementation of projects;
The young people and local government representatives improved their understanding about the mechanisms and the specific opportunities for citizen participation;
The camps generated a great interest in the community and many young people apart from the main group participants also got involved in the activities;
Local partnership networks contributing materials and recreation opportunities for the volunteers were created;
The project generated a lot of interest and was covered by local and national media.
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