Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Program, Mladost Youth for Civil Society
Metropolitan District of Mladost
Background
In late 1997 and early 1998, the Union of Bulgarian Foundations and Associations (UBFA) held two workshops and a roundtable in Mladost District in the framework of the Public Participation for Local Development Project. As a result of those events, a steering group, jointly with the local administration and the District Council, DEMO Public Cable Television, and the HEKOZ Club NGO, developed a public participation project under the title Mladost Youth for Civil Society and approached UBFA for funding. The Project was endorsed and successfully implemented.
In late 1997 and early 1998, the Union of Bulgarian Foundations and Associations (UBFA) held two workshops and a roundtable in Mladost District in the framework of the Public Participation for Local Development Project. As a result of those events, a steering group, jointly with the local administration and the District Council, DEMO Public Cable Television, and the HEKOZ Club NGO, developed a public participation project under the title Mladost Youth for Civil Society and approached UBFA for funding. The Project was endorsed and successfully implemented.
Practice
The Project helped to:
usefully employ young people s spare time by encouraging their active participation in community dialog and activities in Mladost District
overcome or significantly reduce adverse influences on young people s behavior by providing more opportunities for sporting events, creativity, discussion, involvement in the prevention of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse network
The Project was implemented in the framework of a broader program targeting the community at large with a view to the establishment of an on-going public dialog in the District. Partners involved included: the Social Practices Center of the New Bulgarian University; the Ekozona Sustainable Development and European Integration Agency; the National Drug Addiction Center; the Central Juvenile Delinquency Commission; the district police; schools and school boards.
Three action lines emerged in the course of implementation:
1. Establishment of permanent youth societies at schools, including: windsurfing, hang- and paragliding, photography and video art, young businesspeople. The costs of running the societies, including professional fees and supplies, were covered from project funds and by additional fund-raising.
2. Development of a permanent prevention network to combat the factors of smoking, alcohol and drug addictions. Several meetings were held between the relevant institutions and the local youngsters; two live shows were broadcast by DEMO Cable; special publicity materials were circulated in local schools.
3. Public dialog on local issues by two surveys of local opinion, Public Dialog in a Post-Totalitarian Neighborhood, and a competition among homeowners associations "We Can Do This by Ourselves."
The Project helped to:
usefully employ young people s spare time by encouraging their active participation in community dialog and activities in Mladost District
overcome or significantly reduce adverse influences on young people s behavior by providing more opportunities for sporting events, creativity, discussion, involvement in the prevention of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse network
The Project was implemented in the framework of a broader program targeting the community at large with a view to the establishment of an on-going public dialog in the District. Partners involved included: the Social Practices Center of the New Bulgarian University; the Ekozona Sustainable Development and European Integration Agency; the National Drug Addiction Center; the Central Juvenile Delinquency Commission; the district police; schools and school boards.
Three action lines emerged in the course of implementation:
1. Establishment of permanent youth societies at schools, including: windsurfing, hang- and paragliding, photography and video art, young businesspeople. The costs of running the societies, including professional fees and supplies, were covered from project funds and by additional fund-raising.
2. Development of a permanent prevention network to combat the factors of smoking, alcohol and drug addictions. Several meetings were held between the relevant institutions and the local youngsters; two live shows were broadcast by DEMO Cable; special publicity materials were circulated in local schools.
3. Public dialog on local issues by two surveys of local opinion, Public Dialog in a Post-Totalitarian Neighborhood, and a competition among homeowners associations "We Can Do This by Ourselves."
Results
A good foundation has been laid for public dialog and partnership among Mladost District residents, the local authorities, NGOs, and some central agencies. The technical and information support basis is already in place for a follow-up to the Project. There are plans to set up a non-profit MLADOST Association to carry on with the initial objectives.
A good foundation has been laid for public dialog and partnership among Mladost District residents, the local authorities, NGOs, and some central agencies. The technical and information support basis is already in place for a follow-up to the Project. There are plans to set up a non-profit MLADOST Association to carry on with the initial objectives.
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