Project: “Opportunity for young people to express themselves – establishment of a youth center in Gabrovo“
Implemented in: Gabrovo
Program: “Local development, poverty reduction and enhanced inclusion of vulnerable groups”
Implementation period: 20.10.2020 – 19.04.2024
Lead organisation: Gabrovo Municipality, Republic of Bulgaria
Partners: Technical University Gabrovo; Norwegian University College of Agriculture and Rural Development
Project summary:
The purpose is to establish a Youth Center in Gabrovo through which complex services for young people between 15 and 29 years of age will be offered, incl. young people from vulnerable groups, meeting high standards for youth work and meeting the needs and desires of young people. For this purpose, the summer theater complex in Gabrovo will be reconstructed by performing the necessary construction and assembly works and purchasing and installing the necessary equipment and furnishing. Initiatives and activities will be developed and implemented under the five main strands of the Strategy for Creation and Development of the Gabrovo Youth Center: Youth Hub (Youth Open Zone); Youth Leadership; Culture, Ecology and Creative Activities; Sports and Physical Activity; Health and Wellbeing, which are also included in the Youth Development Plan 2020 – 2024 to the Strategy. The main target groups of the project are: Youth between the ages of 15 and 29; Students at risk of dropping out or dropping out of the education system; At-risk youth living in small and remote settlements or in economically less developed areas. Secondary target groups: Mediators working with young people from vulnerable groups (including Roma); Youth workers; YC and municipal employees; Other persons involved in the activities of the YC incl. children, parents, teachers, community representatives.
The main objective of the project proposal is to create an infrastructure (YC) in the town of Gabrovo, through which complex services for young people between 15 and 29 years of age are to be offered, incl. young people from vulnerable groups, meeting high standards for youth work and meeting the needs and desires of young people. The specific objective of the project is: To provide an opportunity for implementation of the Strategy for Creation and Development of the Gabrovo Youth Center: Attractive for Young, Active and Entrepreneurial People 2020-2030 and the Youth Development Plan 2020 – 2024 of the Municipality of Gabrovo through: Provision of activities that support a multicultural approach, safeguard democratic values and encourage active public participation; Ensuring the active participation of young people in the activities of the Center; Provision of opportunities for non-formal education in the fields of democratic values, human rights, youth participation and youth social rights; Provision of educational support to young people still in formal education but at risk of dropping out; Provision of individualized services for social inclusion of young people from vulnerable groups; Ensuring active engagement with the community, stakeholders, local public authorities to develop coordinated policies and actions for young people, including those from vulnerable groups; Hiring at least five youth workers and at least two Roma educational mediators at each youth center to be trained in accordance with the requirements for quality youth work and educational mediation by qualified trainers.
Grant amount: 1 961 709 EUR
Contact: Irena Boynovska
email: boynovska@gabrovo.bg
phone: + 359 885 677 601
address: 3, Vazrajdane Square 5300 Gabrovo, Bulgaria
