Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
We are the people, this is the place and this is the time
Municipality of Ivailovgrad
Background
In the beginning of 2001 by a decision of the Municipal Council of Ivailovgrad February 14th was declared Day of the City. Thus after long years of searching the town has already established its holiday, which is in full keeping with the traditions of this southern vine-growing region. In the beginning of June 2001 the municipality hosted the next fair Ilieva niva day of the Thracian child . This fair was supported not only by donations and sponsorship but also by a project with which the municipality applied to the Culture National Fund. Inspired by the patriotic spirit of the people of Ivailovgrad prominent statesmen gathered on July 16, 2001 for the unveiling of the first monument of Vasil Levski in the eastern Rhodope mountains on the occasion of the 164th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle. This happened thanks to the active position of the municipal councilors in Ivailovgrad and the all Bulgarian committee of Vasil Levski . In September 2001 in Ivailovgrad a unique monument from Roman times was discovered the tomb near the village of Svirachi. The St. Paraskeva-Petka Bulgarska Chapel built with the help of the municipality by order of Vanga was promptly opened in fulfillment of her prophecy for the well being and good luck of the people from this region.
In the beginning of 2001 by a decision of the Municipal Council of Ivailovgrad February 14th was declared Day of the City. Thus after long years of searching the town has already established its holiday, which is in full keeping with the traditions of this southern vine-growing region. In the beginning of June 2001 the municipality hosted the next fair Ilieva niva day of the Thracian child . This fair was supported not only by donations and sponsorship but also by a project with which the municipality applied to the Culture National Fund. Inspired by the patriotic spirit of the people of Ivailovgrad prominent statesmen gathered on July 16, 2001 for the unveiling of the first monument of Vasil Levski in the eastern Rhodope mountains on the occasion of the 164th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle. This happened thanks to the active position of the municipal councilors in Ivailovgrad and the all Bulgarian committee of Vasil Levski . In September 2001 in Ivailovgrad a unique monument from Roman times was discovered the tomb near the village of Svirachi. The St. Paraskeva-Petka Bulgarska Chapel built with the help of the municipality by order of Vanga was promptly opened in fulfillment of her prophecy for the well being and good luck of the people from this region.
Practice
The municipality has developed and put into practice a number of projects connected with the future of the young people in the region. I am young, I am here, I will help you is the first project of the municipality approved by the Maritza Regional Association of Municipalities aimed at young municipal officials for the improvement of the services offered by the administration. The municipality of Ivailovgrad in partnership with Probuda Culture Centre, the Municipal Social Service and the Labor Bureau worked out and successfully applied to Open Society Foundation with the project Initiatives in the Bulgarian village . The people from some of the larger villages e.g. Svirachi, Zhelezino and Slaveevo have benefited from the results - easy-to-get, fast, high quality services sparing people s trouble.
Another successful project of the municipal administration in partnership with Armira citizen organization is aimed at socially disadvantaged children: the project offers opportunities to parentless and disabled children between 14 and 18 years of age for an equal start to continue their education after finishing high school. The project was approved and funded by Charity Know-how Fund.
In 2001 the executive body of the Municipality applied to the Peace Corps with a Project for technical aid assigning volunteers in two areas: ecology and education. In the joint efforts of this successful initiative two new projects were born, amounting to $10 000, aimed at improving the environmental culture and supplying a computer room in Hristo Botev high school, so badly needed by the children of Ivailovgrad.
Under the PHARE program of the EC the municipality won a project aimed at the creation of temporary employment for 35 unemployed people from the municipality in dong repairs and public utilities in the town center and the areas surrounding the blocks in Ivailovgrad. This project contributed to the improvement of the parks where special playgrounds for the children were built.
In March 2002 the municipality of Ivailovgrad competed and won the race with 64 other municipalities before the EC Delegation with the project A Day of Europe in My Border Town of Ivailovgrad . The project is aimed at introducing the people from the municipality to the processes of Bulgaria s integration to the European Union.
Projects were also prepared and presented before the State Agency for Youth and Sport, National Culture Fund, the Government of Japan, the Interethnic Initiatives for Human Rights Foundation, the UN and other organizations and the results of the competitions are being expected. All this has been made possible mostly thanks to the enthusiasm of the young people who work in the municipality and those who have recently started working in the municipal administration under the law for protection against unemployment and the preferences offered by the Labor Bureau to unemployed youths of up to 29 years of age. Having become aware of the fact that they are the future of the municipality, confident in their abilities, feeling the support of the municipal government they understand that this is the time and they are the people who can change things for the better because the town and the local people deserve it.
The municipality has developed and put into practice a number of projects connected with the future of the young people in the region. I am young, I am here, I will help you is the first project of the municipality approved by the Maritza Regional Association of Municipalities aimed at young municipal officials for the improvement of the services offered by the administration. The municipality of Ivailovgrad in partnership with Probuda Culture Centre, the Municipal Social Service and the Labor Bureau worked out and successfully applied to Open Society Foundation with the project Initiatives in the Bulgarian village . The people from some of the larger villages e.g. Svirachi, Zhelezino and Slaveevo have benefited from the results - easy-to-get, fast, high quality services sparing people s trouble.
Another successful project of the municipal administration in partnership with Armira citizen organization is aimed at socially disadvantaged children: the project offers opportunities to parentless and disabled children between 14 and 18 years of age for an equal start to continue their education after finishing high school. The project was approved and funded by Charity Know-how Fund.
In 2001 the executive body of the Municipality applied to the Peace Corps with a Project for technical aid assigning volunteers in two areas: ecology and education. In the joint efforts of this successful initiative two new projects were born, amounting to $10 000, aimed at improving the environmental culture and supplying a computer room in Hristo Botev high school, so badly needed by the children of Ivailovgrad.
Under the PHARE program of the EC the municipality won a project aimed at the creation of temporary employment for 35 unemployed people from the municipality in dong repairs and public utilities in the town center and the areas surrounding the blocks in Ivailovgrad. This project contributed to the improvement of the parks where special playgrounds for the children were built.
In March 2002 the municipality of Ivailovgrad competed and won the race with 64 other municipalities before the EC Delegation with the project A Day of Europe in My Border Town of Ivailovgrad . The project is aimed at introducing the people from the municipality to the processes of Bulgaria s integration to the European Union.
Projects were also prepared and presented before the State Agency for Youth and Sport, National Culture Fund, the Government of Japan, the Interethnic Initiatives for Human Rights Foundation, the UN and other organizations and the results of the competitions are being expected. All this has been made possible mostly thanks to the enthusiasm of the young people who work in the municipality and those who have recently started working in the municipal administration under the law for protection against unemployment and the preferences offered by the Labor Bureau to unemployed youths of up to 29 years of age. Having become aware of the fact that they are the future of the municipality, confident in their abilities, feeling the support of the municipal government they understand that this is the time and they are the people who can change things for the better because the town and the local people deserve it.
Results
The Municipality of Ivailovgrad pays special attention to the possibilities of revival of the history of this region so rich in traditions. It strives to discover and put into practice the potential of young people as bearers of innovation. Many projects are worked out in order to repair historical monuments. They support the patriotic spirit of the citizens. Others ensure employment for young people.
The local authorities have initiated the development of successful ideas. They are aware of the necessity to look for alternative sources of funding in order to achieve the main objectives of the municipal strategy: use of local resources and potential to stop the decline in the economy, create new jobs for the population, increase the birthrate and create European lifestyle standards. The key to the work in the municipality is the trust in young people. Mayor Stefan Tanev has initiated in the recent years 8 projects which have been successfully carried out to the amount of 230 880 leva.
The Municipality of Ivailovgrad pays special attention to the possibilities of revival of the history of this region so rich in traditions. It strives to discover and put into practice the potential of young people as bearers of innovation. Many projects are worked out in order to repair historical monuments. They support the patriotic spirit of the citizens. Others ensure employment for young people.
The local authorities have initiated the development of successful ideas. They are aware of the necessity to look for alternative sources of funding in order to achieve the main objectives of the municipal strategy: use of local resources and potential to stop the decline in the economy, create new jobs for the population, increase the birthrate and create European lifestyle standards. The key to the work in the municipality is the trust in young people. Mayor Stefan Tanev has initiated in the recent years 8 projects which have been successfully carried out to the amount of 230 880 leva.
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