ESC: Volunteering Circles 2

CVS-Bulgaria is a non-governmental organisation that has been working in the field of international volunteer exchange since 1998 and was officially registered in 2002 as an organisation working in public benefit. CVS-Bulgaria is a branch of the international peace and volunteer-exchange network of Service Civil International (SCI - www.sciint.org) and a full member of South Eastern European Youth Network (SEEYN - www.seeyn.org). In 2019, the organisation became a member of the civic association "Ravni BG", which unites 30 civic organizations that believe in democratic values ​​and work in the field of human rights, vulnerable groups, sustainable development, advocacy etc. CVS-Bulgaria aims to: - promote the values of volunteer work through organising variety of voluntary activities; - motivate young people to be active and participate in volunteer actions(volunteering workcamps, projects and initiatives) - thus taking part in the development of the civil society; - to forester inclusion of marginalised societal groups; - promote and support intercultural understanding and solidarity, social justice and environment protection. CVS-Bulgaria has years of experience in the field of youth work, including young people with fewer opportunities. We also have significant experience with Erаsmus+ and its preceding programs, an experience that includes organising of and participating in trainings, seminars, youth exchanges, hosting and sending longterm volunteers. The topics are different and include: volunteering for peace in different contexts, promotion of human rights, women empowerment, social inclusion of people with fewer opportunities, integration of asylum seekers and refugees, volunteering in culture festivals and sport events, trainings and seminars following the methods of non-formal education, ecological projects and initiatives etc. Main activities of CVS-Bulgaria are: - dissemination and promotion of volunteering as a form of active civic participation - organizing of short-term and long-term international volunteer projects: volunteer workcamps, youth exchanges and trainings; seminars and conferences; workshops and human libraries; - organizing short-term and long-term volunteer local projects to work with marginalized groups and for their social inclusion /e.g. refugees, children deprived of parental care, people from small and/or rural places, people with disabilities, young girls and women, etc./; -organizing and participating in cultural initiatives and initiatives for environmental protection and promotion of sustainable development; - receiving and sending volunteers / incl. in the framework of the European Voluntary Service service and European Solidarity Corps / in support of socially significant projects in Bulgaria, Europe and the world; - work with local NGOs and institutions to support their activities by coordinating volunteers and volunteer initiatives of different nature: cultural, sports, educational, etc .; - working in partnership with other NGOs to protect human rights, the inclusion of refugees and other marginalized groups; - organization of trainings for different age groups on the different topics described above. The organisation owes its progress and success to its full and associate members, as well as active volunteers who help in carrying out the various daily activities of CVS-Bulgaria. In addition, a large number of volunteers donate their time, expertise and knowledge in the individual projects of the organisation: the Refugee Project, podcast format "DOBROcast", Tolerance Project, Volunteer Circles Project 1 and 2, Vlahi Nature School, Volunteering within the International Sofia Film Festival, No More War Fest, Solidarity Festival, Refugee Month, human libraries, CVS UNI, Tandem mentoring program and others. The projects of CVS-Bulgaria are organized by volunteers for the volunteers and in this sense the work of the organization is supported by numerous active volunteers and friends. Together we create a space where everyone is equally important and has the chance to further develop themselves. Additionally every member of the organization recognizes the ownership and takes the responsibility towards reaching our common goals, altogether sharing the learning experience and benefits of the outcomes.