Forum Citizen Participation is a network of over 120 civil society organizations from across the country working in various spheres of public life – regional development and good governance, social services, child protection policies and youth activities, culture, media, rural development and many others. What is the thing that collect so different organizations on the same network? FCP members are united by the understanding that citizens and civil society organizations should participate more actively and effectively in the decisions making processes on local, national and European level. This is why member organizations in FCP, conduct advocacy campaigns that seek to influence the adoption of changes in laws and strategic documents aimed at enabling environment for the development of NGOs and better conditions for civic participation.

“We joined the House because we believe in the network as a way to work together. The power of FCP is the power of the network of organizations from across the country and this brings many positives. We believe that the House is a great project and our participation in it will give us a wonderful opportunity to become part of another network where to give and receive knowledge, expertise, information, friendship. Our partnership with BCNL is old and tested, so we are sure that working together in a shared space will be great.”

More information on the FCP can be found here.

National Youth Forum is the largest formal youth platform, which brings together 41 youth organizations from Bulgaria. The main objective of the Forum is to represent the interests of young people in Bulgaria, their needs and to maintain the role of youth organizations, their development and participation in socio-political processes and to be a partner of the institutions and the government. The main target group of the organization are young people in the country. The main priorities of the National Youth Forum from the Strategy 2011-2018 are education, youth employment, active citizenship, sustainable development, local youth policy, structured dialogue and health and physical activity. Each year the organization adopts an annual work plan, according to the Strategy. National Youth Forum has 41 member organizations, which together have more than 105,000 individual members. In order to reach better conditions for youth in the areas of priorities, the Forum has working groups on each sector (the group members are experts and volunteers). The working groups do research on current youth policies in Bulgaria and prepare recommendations for better implementation. National Youth Forum also has its administrative office – Secretariat, as well as Coaching team with 30 members, and project activity team and team for analysis and research.

More information about NYF can be found here.

Youth For Understanding (YFU) is one of the oldest and most respected international organizations for cultural exchange in the world. YFU is founded in 1951 and today it still continues to fulfill its mission to work for the development of intercultural understanding, mutual respect, social responsibility and global citizenship.

Youth For Understanding Bulgaria/YFU Bulgaria is a part of the global YFU network. Over 20 years we organize intercultural student exchange in more than 30 countries all over the world.

YFU Bulgaria has hosted more than 50 students from 4 continents and has made the dream of over 350 Bulgarian students come true – they had the opportunity to study and live in different countries around the world. YFU’s exchange programs include placement in a local host family and enrollment in a local school in the exchange country.

YFU believes that we can create a peaceful world by fostering active global citizens. A single person can change their surroundings and have an impact beyond their closest family and friends. An exchange experience enhances global understanding by deepening our appreciation for other cultures and customs, which in turn increases tolerance, reduces violence, and helps to eliminate stereotypes.

For more information about YFU Bulgaria: www.yfu.bg

The mission of “Maria’s World” Foundation is to improve the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. This is achieved through supporting their personal fulfillment by providing access to quality services, developmental training and employment.

Among the projects of the Foundation are:

“Worlds” Day care centre : The centre operates since June 2013 and helps young people with intellectual disabilities to acquiring skills that they can use in their every day and working lives; thus improving their quality of life and personal independence.

The Sheltered cafe: The café is a place for occupational rehabilitation and improvement of skills tailored to the individual needs of its employees, who have intellectual disabilities. Through this project they receive a practical opportunity to practice and develop their work and communication skills.

Supported employment and agency in the recruitment process: Supported employment focuses on possibilities, rather than on disabilities. It firstly supports the person according to their individual needs and wants, and secondly it provides advice for the employers.

NGO House has since the beginning of 2016 accommodated another NGO activist – Miriana Malamin-Sirijski, the Program Director of the Foundation “Maria’s World.” Miriana has been a socially engaged expert at the non-profit field for 18 years. She believes that people with disabilities should and can live a decent life in Bulgaria and she works hard to support their integration and full participation into the society. Miriana has experience as an expert, consultant, trainer and manager. She works on issues connected to the social integration of vulnerable groups, against institutionalization, the rights of people with disabilities, education and social policies. She also supports the cultural policy in the capital as an external expert to the Standing Committee on Education, Science and Culture of the Sofia Municipal Council.

More about the “Maria’s World” and Miriana Malamin-Sirijski you can find here.

Foundation “Citizens against bureaucracy” is a rather new organization established only in 2015. The Foundation’s mission is to reduce the bureaucratic burden on citizens and businesses. The main project of the Foundation is the website www.Pisar.bg – a place where everyone can create the needed document from everyday life for free, avoiding the need to use lawyers. The Pisar.bg project does not only help people save time and avoid the hassles of bureaucracy, but also contributes to reducing paper consumption.

A representative of the foundation in the co-working area of ​​the house is Stefan Hristov.

More information about the Foundation “Citizens Against Bureaucracy” and Stefan Hristov you can find  here.

Association “Devetashko Plateau” is a Bulgarian NGO working since 2008 towards the preservation, development and promotion of the Devetashko plateau. It unites the residents of 10 villages located on its territory – Agatovo, Brestovo, Gorsko Slivovo, Devetaki, Kramolin, Krushuna, Kakrina, Karpachevo, Tepava and Chavdartsi.

The main activities of the association “Devetashko Plateau” are aimed at protecting and developing the resources of the region, enhancing the skills of local people so they can manage natural resources better. As well as the conversion of the plateau into an attractive place for tourism, recreation and education.

More than 140 active people of different ages and occupations have already joined the association. They are united by the desire to be useful and to improve the lives and conditions for tourism in the area. Municipalities Letnitsa, Lovech and Sevlievo are partners of the association, supporting its projects and initiatives.

A representative of the association “Devetashko plateau” in the NGO house is Iva Taralezhkova.

More information about the association “Devetashko plateau” can be found here here.