Re-Act
Opportunities for Everyone
Improving the Social Skills of Youth in Institutions for Their Effective Reintegration into Society
“Opportunities for Everyone” is an innovative project by Re-Act Association that equips youth from correctional institutions in Bulgaria with essential social and practical skills, supporting their effective reintegration into society through non-formal education, vocational workshops, creative activities, and community engagement. It also lays the groundwork for a national support mechanism for young people after leaving institutional care.
Period:
01.12.2014 – 30.11.2016
Countries involved:
- Bulgaria
Donor:
- EEA Civil Society Fund
Program:
- Program for support of Bulgarian NGOs under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area
Lead partner:
- Re-Act Association
All partners:
- CBS “Angel Uzunov”
- NC “Future Now”
Contacts:
Lyuben Georgiev
luben@re-act.bg
Hashtags:
#ReintegrationThroughEducation #InclusionMatters #NonFormalEducation #YouthEmpowerment #FromInstitutionsToOpportunities #SupportEveryFuture
Useful links:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY?
Every year, between 5,000 and 6,500 children and youth in Bulgaria commit antisocial acts and crimes. They fall into such situations as a result of an unfavorable surrounding environment, lack of adequate upbringing in the family, a bad and criminal environment in which they grew up, untimely interrupted education and a lack of good practices in the environment from which they come.
The backbone of the project “Opportunities for Everyone” is providing opportunities to children from the “Angel Uzunov” boarding school, Rakitovo, in the full sense of the word.
During the project, a supplementary program for extracurricular education was developed and successfully implemented, specifically designed for the needs of children placed in correctional institutions. Through it, they acquire knowledge, skills and competencies for their successful reintegration, professional realization and social adaptation after leaving the institution.
AREAS OF FOCUS:
The methods used are based on non-formal education and building social sensitivity among children. The program also supports the work of the educational team at the “Angel Uzunov” boarding school, providing a number of opportunities for the development of children in the boarding school in four main areas:
1. Practical and professional competencies: workshops to develop skills for professional integration in young people and at the same time educate them in work habits and attitude towards work. Among these extracurricular activities are the “Bike Workshop“, “Young Driver”, “Do It Yourself” workshops, etc.
2. Social and creative knowledge and skills: the workshops “Sveshtolivnitsa”, “Decoupage”, “Art Shop”, etc. develop the boys’ creativity and ability to express themselves through art, as well as a number of other soft skills.
3. Stimulation and development of volunteering for the benefit of society: includes organizing volunteer initiatives, of which the boys from the “Angel Uzunov” boarding school are the main initiators. These activities are carried out within the framework of the “Committee for Public Engagement” and develop a sense of responsibility towards society, contributing to the good relations of the local population with the children from the boarding school.
4. Promotion of sports activities: children and youth placed in correctional institutions are of adolescent age and it is useful for them to put effort into sports activities that build discipline, self-confidence, teamwork and maintain tone. In this direction, competitions are organized, participation in them is encouraged, and various sports clubs are held, such as break dancing, fitness, football, etc.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY?
The backbone of the project “Opportunities for Everyone” is providing opportunities to children from the “Angel Uzunov” boarding school, Rakitovo, in the full sense of the word.
During the project, a supplementary program for extracurricular education was developed and successfully implemented, specifically designed for the needs of children placed in correctional institutions. Through it, they acquire knowledge, skills and competencies for their successful reintegration, professional realization and social adaptation after leaving the institution.
The methods used are based on non-formal education and building social sensitivity among children. The program also supports the work of the educational team at the “Angel Uzunov” boarding school, providing a number of opportunities for the development of children in the boarding school in four main areas:
1. Practical and professional competencies: workshops to develop skills for professional integration in young people and at the same time educate them in work habits and attitude towards work. Among these extracurricular activities are the “Bike Workshop“, “Young Driver”, “Do It Yourself” workshops, etc.
2. Social and creative knowledge and skills: the workshops “Sveshtolivnitsa”, “Decoupage”, “Art Shop”, etc. develop the boys’ creativity and ability to express themselves through art, as well as a number of other soft skills.
3. Stimulation and development of volunteering for the benefit of society: includes organizing volunteer initiatives, of which the boys from the “Angel Uzunov” boarding school are the main initiators. These activities are carried out within the framework of the “Committee for Public Engagement” and develop a sense of responsibility towards society, contributing to the good relations of the local population with the children from the boarding school.
4. Promotion of sports activities: children and youth placed in correctional institutions are of adolescent age and it is useful for them to put effort into sports activities that build discipline, self-confidence, teamwork and maintain tone. In this direction, competitions are organized, participation in them is encouraged, and various sports clubs are held, such as break dancing, fitness, football, etc.