📶 Within the framework of the implementation of the project "Youth Center Plovdiv - a powerful factor for local development", implemented in the period 01.07.2020 - 30.04.2024. 10 international youth exchanges were implemented. The last exchange took place in Copenhagen, Denmark.
👥 During the exchange, a meeting took place with the representatives of the Bulgarian educational center "Ivan Vazov" in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark. The meeting was attended by Svetla Trasborg - Director of the Center and Miroslav Kovachev - Chairman of the Management Board of the Center, as well as the teachers of the school. They talked about the creation of the Bulgarian school, work with children and youth, as well as the role of parents in education. An informal activity on the topic of "Enlightenment" aimed at researching the Bulgarian and Danish education system, the upbringing of young people and their career guidance was also held.
🤝In addition, all participants in the exchange had the opportunity to attend the educational music program for children and youth from the Bulgarian school on the occasion of the national holiday of Bulgaria. The official guest of the event was Julia Pirgozlieva - temporary manager of the embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Kingdom of Denmark. The Center's team introduced her to the National Network of Youth Centers in Bulgaria, the role of the youth worker and mediator and the methods of non-formal education.
🔎 A meeting was held with the Association of Bulgarian Music and Dance Center "BG Folk Rhythms", with representatives Nikolay and Panka Stoyanovi, who were our hosts and partners for organizing and conducting the exchange. The representatives of the Bulgarian community in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmö, Sweden also took part in the activity. The goal of the organization is to create a community that preserves and protects Bulgarian culture and traditions. All participants engaged in an educational activity which aimed to explore ways of imparting knowledge and skills to children and young people in kindergartens and schools, extracurricular activities and clubs in which they are involved, and support from local authorities in Denmark .
🎨The Youth Center in Aarhus was also visited, where the practical dimensions of socialization through art were presented. Their activities related to sewing, painting, photography and music were presented, through which they develop their personal, social and professional skills. The center has spaces where young people have the opportunity to perform and strengthen their talents. Joint activities for future cooperation between the two youth centers were also discussed.
🧩 A meeting was held with Maria Delcheva, who together with our friend Andrey Iliev / "Leader Academy" in Bulgaria/ are the founders of the Bulgarian school in Aarhus. Maria is also a long-time teacher and owner of a local studio-gallery. The topics of the discussion were related to working with children and youth and the challenges they face.
🎯 The final discussion of the exchange was about the reality of youth communities in Bulgaria and Denmark. Feedback from the exchange was also held in the form of an interactive activity with the youth participating in the exchange.
💡The activity is implemented under the project "Youth Center Plovdiv - a powerful factor for local development" under the program "Local development, poverty reduction and improved inclusion of vulnerable groups", financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014 - 2021.