📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Caritas Sofia was founded on 31 August 1993 and registered as a non-profit charitable organisation at Sofia Court of Justice on 20 April 1994 (no. 20030416009). The 1990s saw Caritas Sofia exclusively focused on providing urgent humanitarian aid to help people survive the heavy economic crisis. Long-term care and assistance provision began in early 2000 as Caritas Sofia registered at the Agency of Social Inclusion and at the State Agency for Child Protection, which enabled the licensed provision of a range of social services.
The mission of Caritas Sofia is love and kindness to our neighbor which brings us to those in need. Leaning on Christian values as our guidance, we, the employees and volunteers of Caritas Sofia, assist the most vulnerable members of our society in finding their way to dignity and justice regardless of their religious beliefs, race, gender and other differences. Caritas Sofia is a voice and example of the Social teaching of the Catholic Church. Every person is created in God’s image and in his face we see God. Following the words of Jesus - “What you have done to my youngest brothers and sisters, you have done unto me” - we help the most vulnerable and suffering in the same way that we would take care of Him. Having no means of our own and heavily relying on project funding, we cannot unfortunately cater for the needs of individual cases. Elderly people, vulnerable families and children, refugees, people addicted to narcotic substances, women in need and homeless people all form our target group. Additionally, we also support people wanting to volunteer.
The organisation is based in Sofia and assistance is provided in cities and towns where the Catholic Exarchate is present: Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Malko Turnovo, Kuklen, Pokrovan, Banya and Veselinovo.
💼 What the programme involves
A new social atelier started less than 3 years ago, Caritart is a project through which beneficiaries from Caritas Sofia have the opportunity to make cards and souvenirs and be paid for their work. Volunteers will help at workshops in a centre for people with mental and physical disabilities (where they primarily make cards, badges and ceramic items, with the support of a qualified art therapist and ceramics expert), in an integration centre for refugees and migrants (where a women’s group mostly makes items from leather and knitted souvenirs) in a centre for children at risk in the Roma region of Fakulteta or with our partners from Rozhdestvo Hristovo - an art atelier and social centre supporting single mothers and vulnerable women. Volunteers will be able to learn from the extensive experience of the staff, while at the same time help with supporting the social workers, sell art products, help with the development of new products, visiting and taking part in other projects.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Through granted funding, accommodation (private room with shared kitchen; internet), transport, food, and pocket money will be provided.
🎒 Leisure activities
Training courses on working with vulnerable groups as well as On-Arrival and Mid-Term training by the European Solidarity Corps.
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profil: - experience of working with vulnerable groups
- ability to work independently with limited supervision as well as part of a team
- cultural awareness and sensitivity
- creativity and ability to think 'outside the box'
- good IT skills including use of Word, Excel, Social media and Content Management systems
- proficient use of English language
- willingness to work in challenging environments
– a responsible, empathetic, flexible, optimistic and emotionally resilient.
Deadline: Application deadline: 29/08/2021
ℹ️ Additional information
Participants are entitled to receive a Youthpass certificate from the organiser, for recognition of their competence development during the activity. Read more about Youthpass:https://www.youthpass.eu/en/
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label. The Quality Label certifies that the organisation is able to run projects in compliance with the principles and objectives of the European Solidarity Corps.