Non-governmental organizations have an essential role in integrating and including refugees in their new communities. Their commitment proves to be crucial both for the refugees themselves and for society as a whole. Non-governmental organizations provide essential services and support needed to provide basic human needs to refugees, including assistance in health, education and social care. Through their activity, they create a safe and stable environment for refugees, allowing them to rebuild their lives and develop the skills necessary to adapt to the new environment successfully. Non-governmental organizations offer opportunities that play a crucial role in overcoming communication barriers and creating mutual understanding between refugees and host communities. It is also essential to emphasize that NGOs often act as intermediaries between refugees and host communities. They help to create positive relationships and to understand the cultural characteristics and needs of all countries, contributing to faster and more efficient refugee integration. Non-governmental organizations are indispensable in supporting refugee integration by providing services and mediation for their successful adaptation to the new environment. Their activity is essential for the formation of inclusive and tolerant societies.

On September 27 and 28, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants held а regional training to support the development of the capacity of non-governmental organizations working with refugees in Eastern Bulgaria in Sofia. The event is part of the strategic efforts for regionalized and localized support for non-governmental organizations and strengthening partnerships and cooperation, as non-governmental organizations are central actors in everyday situations and crises.

Thirty-five representatives of various non-governmental organizations from Sofia, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Lovech and Smolyan participated in the training. The training program includes a wide range of topics identified through a survey conducted among organizations to increase their effectiveness in the integration and inclusion of refugees, as well as an interactive panel for sharing ideas, experiences, coordination and strengthening cooperation among organizations.

Mariana Tosheva, the chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers, presented the topic of cooperation between non-governmental organizations and institutions in the context of the long-standing partnership between the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers and non-governmental organizations, including those that operate on the territory of the registration and reception centers.

Reni Borisova, an expert from the Ministry of e-Government, presented the topic of digitization and digital transformation of non-governmental organizations, ways of using various digital resources and open data.

Associate Professor Rositsa Simeonova from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” presented the topic of quality management in organizations working with refugees, as it is of paramount importance to ensure the effectiveness, efficiency and ethical behaviour of their activities and structures.

Associate Professor James Iolovski from VUZF: University of Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation presented the topic of financial management, financial sustainability and funding sources for NGOs, as financial management, financial sustainability, and funding sources are vital cornerstones for the operational efficiency and sustainability of non-governmental organizations.

Anelia Miteva, director of CATRO Bulgaria, presented the topic of cooperation between business and non-governmental organizations as a means of converging efforts to promote the economic empowerment of refugees and fulfilling corporate social responsibility, business and economic development.

Olga Toncheva, consultant to the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants, presented the topic of information management and data analysis for non-governmental organisations that support refugees. Information management systems facilitate the organised collection, storage and retrieval of data, enabling NGOs to draw valuable conclusions and develop practical models to guide their activities.

The interactive session provided an opportunity to outline proposals and follow-up actions to strengthen the capacity and optimise the work of non-governmental organisations in the order of integration and inclusion of refugees linked to the process of social and economic development at the local and social levels.

The Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants organised the event under the “Advocacy for the Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria” project, financed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – The UN Refugee Agency.

In October, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants is organising a regional training for refugee assisting non-governmental organisations from Eastern Bulgaria in Varna. If you represent a non-governmental organisation working on refugee integration and wish to participate, you can get more information by contacting us at bgrc@bulrefcouncil.org.

Refugee integration is more than an act of compassion; it is a powerful catalyst for positive change in a rapidly globalizing world. Successful integration of refugees depends on comprehensive, well-coordinated policies and partnerships. Governments, non-governmental organizations and international bodies must cooperate to create an enabling environment for the inclusion and integration of refugees. Specialized programs aimed at language acquisition, vocational training, health care are essential components of effective integration. In addition, public-private partnerships can facilitate job placement, mentoring and skills development, ensuring that refugees are prepared to make meaningful and sustainable contributions.

Because of the opportunities for the integration process to be used as a tool for development at the local and national level, the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants and the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers organized in August a working forum on social adaptation, inclusion and integration of persons granted international protection in Bulgaria.

The forum brought together representatives of ministries and agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations to discuss the issues related to the current situation with the integration of refugees, the position of the institutions, as well as the experience of the non-governmental sector and municipalities.

The Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers – Mariana Tosheva presented the role of the Agency for the initial adaptation of the persons granted international protection in Bulgaria. Mariana Tosheca shared concrete examples of the work in preparing integration profiles of asylum seekers, which contain a set of concrete integration measures with a focus on education and employment. In this context, the various approaches to assessing vulnerability and overcoming it in order to successfully integrate into public life in our country were also outlined.

Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented the possibilities for financing integration projects under the national program of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund in the current program period from 2021 to 2027. The experience of the local authorities on the part of the Ruse Municipality in developing a social service to support refugee children, the experience of the Vitosha and Oborishte Regions both for the integration of resettled and relocated refugees, and for the development and implementation of refugee integration projects and support for refugee children. The position of the institutions was provided by representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Healt, the Employment Agency, and the Agency for Social Assistance.

The long-term experience of the non-governmental sector in the field of integration measures and activities was presented by representatives of the Bulgarian Red Cross and Caritas Sofia, emphasizing that non-governmental organizations are a reliable and proven partner of institutions and local authorities in the long-term integration process of the refugees.

The event is organized as part of the project “Advocacy for the Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria”, funded by UNHCR – the United Nations Refugee Agency, and is another effort by the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants to strengthen capacity and develop new partnerships between all interested parties in the process of integration of persons granted international protection.

We present to your attention the next issue of the Information newsletter “Integration of refugees in Bulgaria: Opportunities for development”

This issue includes information on the following topics:

• Statistics for refugees in Bulgaria for the period January – June 2023.
• World Refugee Day 2023: Hope far from home
• Football tournament for World Refugee Day
• Regional trainings of the non-governmental sector
• Digital student lab
• Working practices in teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language to adults, asylum seekers and refugees
• Successfully implemented student project for integration activities
• Concluded agreements on the integration of refugees
• Call for expressions of interest: partnership for a city program for the inclusion of migrants and refugees
• Facilitating the daily life of displaced Ukrainians: consumer rights in the EU

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Every year on June 20, the world celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homelands to escape conflict or persecution.

The theme for World Refugee Day 2023 is “Hope away from home. A world where refugees are always included.”

Hope away from home. A world where refugees are always included

The inclusion and integration of refugees in host countries where they have found safety after fleeing conflict and persecution is the most effective way of supporting them to start their lives anew. In this process, the refugees themselves should also contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of the countries that receive them.

World Refugee Day, celebrated annually on June 20, draws attention to the millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution and violence. It serves as an extremely important reminder of the challenges facing refugees and the urgent need to ensure their protection and inclusion in society. In a world where conflict and humanitarian crises continue to displace millions, World Refugee Day calls for solidarity and empathy for those who have been forced to seek asylum and protection in other countries. World Refugee Day highlights the importance of providing protection and integration to refugees refugees.

Inclusive societies welcome refugees by offering access to education, healthcare, job opportunities… They promote social cohesion and create platforms for refugees to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives. By removing barriers and combating discrimination, inclusive societies provide refugees with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to their new communities. World Refugee Day also serves as a platform to recognize the remarkable resilience and courage shown by refugees. Despite the hardships they face, refugees demonstrate remarkable strength, determination and adaptability.

The first Issue of the Academic Bulletin “Refugees: Today and Tomorrow” for 2023 features in its first section in-depth analyses in three fields: university education, psycho-social inclusion and financial integration. The Issue’s lead article examines the development and analyses of the European-level policy framework on the social dimensions of university education. The second article analyses the topic of increasing the financial literacy of refugees as an opportunity to achieve more effective integration. The third paper presents how staging conflict and traumatic scenarios in a secure environment allows refugee actors to see and experience themselves in new roles. On the bases of data from the 2022 UNHCR Age, Gender, Diversity Participatory Assessment, another essential article reveals information on the profile of Ukrainian citizens seeking protection in Bulgaria, how and where they are accommodated, what challenges they face, what can be done to improve their quality of life in Bulgaria. The case of the city of Plovdiv is also presented as an example of successful integration at the local level. The first Issue also presents several important publications, an academic book “Refugees in the Perceptions of Bulgarian Citizens Fears, Perception, Compassion” 2022, published by the academic publishing house “Prof. Marin Drinov” and two practical books ” A Practical Manual on Alternatives to Immigration Detention” published by the Legal Aid Center “Voice in Bulgaria” and “ABC – First Steps” by the Reach Out Foundation. The Issue also features information on the European Refugee Scholars Support Hub, part of the EURAXESS network, in which Sofia University is an active partner.

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The Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (BCRM), in partnership with the Faculty of Pedagogy of Sofia University (SU) and the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) under the Council of Ministers (CoM), organizes a Student Competition for the design of an integration activity for refugee children. The competition takes place within the framework of a BCRM project financed by UNHCR.

The competition required the design of an activity for inclusion and integration of children seeking protection and refugees accommodated in the Registration and Reception Centers of the DAB in Sofia.

Activities from the scope of non-formal education and social work were eligible, such as various courses (painting, music, dance, languages,); sports activities; creative activities; trainings; private lessons; mentoring; educational activities during free time; preventive activities; activities for personal, social and cultural development.

The evaluation of the presented projects was assigned to a committee chaired by associate professor Dr. Rositsa Simeonova, deputy dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy, SU with the participation of the chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees at the MS Mariana Tosheva, professor Siika Chavdarova-Kostova, head of the master’s program “Social Work with Refugees and Migrants”, Faculty of Pedagogy and Dr. Kina Sabeva, Chairman of the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants.

The commission unanimously ranked the project “Learning and having fun together” in first place, developed by Boryana Dimova Peycheva, a first-year student majoring in “Informal Education”, Faculty of Pedagogy, SU “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

In second place was ranked the project “Karaoke with Bulgarian songs”, developed and presented by Fani Antonova, a first-year student majoring in “Pedagogy” at the Faculty of Pedagogy, SU “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

The conditions of the competition included implementation of the project activity within the protected budget and within the planned parameters. The ranked projects were implemented on May 19. The authors of the selected projects combined the proposed activities. Boryana Peycheva organized an excursion for ten children and their mothers from the Registration Reception Centers of the DAB to Plovdiv with a visit to the Natural History Museum, the children’s corner on Mladezhkia Hill and the children’s railway. Fani Antonova organizes activities in the park and learning the song “One Bulgarian Rose”. The children enthusiastically competed in singing and games. Mothers shared their joy at the smiles and joy of cheerful children.

The student competition allowed BCRM to carry out advocacy for the inclusion and integration of refugee children. The activity impacts both youth and academic engagement for capacity building and advocacy for refugee protection and integration.

The competition not only provokes students to create projects for activities aimed at the inclusion of refugee children. The winners gained experience in the implementation of the proposed activities.

Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, the Faculty of Pedagogy of the SU and the State Agency for Refugees are satisfied with the holding of the Student Competition and appreciate that such activities contribute to the preparation of the next generation of specialists working in the field of human rights protection, integration and the creation of a supportive and tolerant environment.

The Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants will hold regional trainings for NGOs assisting persons seeking or granted international or temporary protection in Bulgaria. The objectives include, on the one hand, increasing the capacity of NGOs to support the socio-economic inclusion and integration of refugees, and on the other hand, building networks and coalitions of NGOs working to achieve the integration potential of refugees.

To better plan the events, BCRM is conducting the present survey to identify specific topics of interest to be included in the training programme.

Invitations to participate in the trainings will be sent to all who have completed this preliminary survey. 

The topics listed have been formulated by BCRM or suggested by colleagues from partner NGOs in preliminary discussions.

Fill the survey

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[Русский]

Болгарский совет по делам беженцев и мигрантов проведет региональные тренинги для НПО, оказывающих помощь лицам, ищущим или получившим международную или временную защиту в Болгарии. Цели включают в себя, с одной стороны, повышение потенциала НПО в поддержке социально-экономической включенности и интеграции беженцев, а с другой стороны, создание сетей и коалиций НПО, работающих над реализацией потенциала интеграции беженцев.

Чтобы лучше спланировать мероприятия, БСРБ проводит настоящий опрос для определения конкретных тем, представляющих интерес для включения в программу тренингов.

Приглашения принять участие в тренингах будут разосланы всем, кто заполнил этот предварительный опрос.

Перечисленные темы были сформулированы БСРБ или предложены коллегами из партнерских НПО в ходе предварительных обсуждений.

Принять участие в опросе

________________________

[Українська мова]

Болгарська рада у справах біженців та мігрантів проведе регіональні тренінги, спрямовані на підвищення потенціалу НУО для досягнення стійких рішень інтеграції біженців. До участі у заходах буде запрошено НУО, які підтримують або планують працювати на користь осіб, що мають міжнародний або тимчасовий захист. Мета тренінгів, з одного боку, підвищити потенціал НУО у підтримці довгострокової інтеграції біженців, а, з іншого боку, створити мережі та коаліції НУО, що працюють у цьому напрямку, з акцентом на досягнення інтеграційного потенціалу біженців.

БСБМ проводить це опитування, щоб визначити теми, що становлять інтерес для партнерів і грамотно спланувати програми навчання та заплановані заходи.

Запрошення взяти участь у тренінгах будуть надіслані всім, хто взяв участь у цьому попередньому опитуванні.

Тренінги організовуються в рамках проекту “Захист інтеграції біженців у Болгарії” за контрактом БСБМ із ВКБООН ООН.

Взяти участь в опитуванні

On April 21-23, in Burgas, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants held a second training “HELPING THE TEACHER – Working practices in teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language to adults, asylum seekers and refugees”. The training was organized under the project “Advocacy for the Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria”, financed by UNHCR.

The event is part of the BSBM’s efforts to contribute to increasing the quality and effectiveness of the teaching of the Bulgarian language to refugees as a prerequisite for their real integration. It is a continuation of the forum “Teaching Bulgarian as a Foreign Language: The Role of Institutions and Challenges for Practitioners”, organized by BSBM in partnership with UNHCR and UNICEF in November 2022.

The training of trainers is a response to the desire and recommendations of Bulgarian language teachers of adult refugees to share experience, knowledge and good practices.

The main goal of the training is to increase the quality of teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language for asylum seekers and refugees in order to facilitate their adaptation, inclusion and integration into Bulgarian society.

The training program is aimed at two main tasks: to acquaint the teachers with successful practices in teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language to asylum seekers and refugees, and to provide a forum for the exchange of expert knowledge, skills and experience of the participants.

The program was carried out by leading specialists in Bulgarian language training for asylum seekers and refugees.

Radost Sabeva and Radoslava Zagorova presented the specifics of teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language and the specifics of teaching refugees; the impact on the learning process of working in groups; the role of the communicative approach in education; lesson steps and elements; language activities, activities and games in learning.

Vladislav Damyanov presented teaching through suggestopedia and desuestopedic training – science, methodology, practical tips and demonstrations of a suggestopedic lesson in Bulgarian.

The training included presentations by lecturers, tutorials and group work.

All participants were encouraged to share challenges and successes from their work, comment on the themes and make recommendations for further action.

The participants in the training made interesting suggestions for follow-up activities that would contribute to increasing the effectiveness of teaching the Bulgarian language to refugees. The recommendations include additional training for trainers on specific topics: grammar, vocabulary, cross culture; interactive forms, methods and approaches in education; motivation of the students, etc.

The lecturers made a proposal, as a natural continuation of the training, to make a Creative Workshop, in which there will be: a. a theoretical part including useful topics such as stress management, sociolinguistics, Waldorf education and applying ideas from this system to refugee education and b. a practical part to present ways of teaching difficult grammar units: verb aspect, datives and accusative forms of personal pronouns, the definite article, the complex verb tenses.

Another interesting suggestion of the lecturers, argued with a need shared by the teachers, is to write and publish a “Compendium of tests to help the Bulgarian language teacher of refugees”. The collection should include extended dialogues and texts on the topics covered in textbooks A2, B1. The compendium should be aimed at teachers working with higher levels.

Learning the host country’s language is one of the most critical aspects of successful social and economic integration. Refugees must communicate effectively with their new communities, access services and participate fully in society. Language barriers can create significant challenges for refugees, including difficulties accessing healthcare, education and employment.

Learning the Bulgarian language also helps refugees to develop social ties, find employment or further their education. The Bulgarian language is a critical element of the culture, and learning it will enable refugees to understand the country’s customs and traditions better. The Bulgarian language can help break down barriers between refugees and Bulgarian citizens and foster greater understanding and empathy.

Language skills are often an essential requirement for many jobs, and learning the host country’s language can help refugees access job opportunities and build their careers. Knowledge of the Bulgarian language can be vital for refugees with limited work experience or facing other employment barriers.

Learning the language can help refugees feel more confident and self-sufficient in their new country. Learning Bulgarian by refugees is a challenge but also an opportunity through which refugees can be more connected to their new community and more optimistic about their prospects.

Training of trainers in Bulgarian as a foreign language

Language learning is a critical aspect of refugee integration, and developing the capacity to teach Bulgarian has a vital role to play. Providing language courses to refugees requires methodological support for teachers of Bulgarian as a foreign language.

Following identifying this need, in March, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants held the first regional pilot training for Bulgarian language trainers of adult refugees, which looked at the latest trends and innovations in teaching and their adaptation to the exclusive methodology each teacher uses.

The leading specialists in teaching Bulgarian to refugees, Radost Sabeva, Radoslava Zagorova and Vladislav Damyanov, have developed the training programme. The programme includes the specifics of teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language, the particulars of teaching refugees, the impact on the learning process of working in groups, learning styles, the role of the communicative approach in teaching, the steps and elements of the lesson, language activities and games in teaching. The programme also includes instruction through suggestopedia and desuggestopedic education – science, methodology, practical tips, and a demonstration of a suggestopedic lesson in Bulgarian for people worldwide.

The next regional training for trainers of Bulgarian as a foreign language to refugees will take place in April. After the training, the materials for teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language to refugees will be available on the BCRM website with free access as a resource in teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language to refugees.

If you are a trainer of the Bulgarian language to adult refugees and would like to participate in a training for trainers, you can write to bgrc@bulrefcouncil.org

Useful resources:

•Учебно помагало по български език за бежанци

•Учебно помагало по български език като чужд за начален етап част 1

•Учебно помагало по български език като чужд за начален етап част 2

Refugee youth face many challenges in their efforts to integrate into host societies. These challenges include language barriers, difficulty integrating into the education system, and the labour market. The exclusion of young refugees from social, economic and political participation can negatively affect their well-being, mental health and prospects. The inclusion of young people is, therefore, essential for their integration and the social cohesion of the host society.

Youth inclusion can take various forms, including participation in decision-making processes, access to education and vocational training, and participation in sports and cultural activities. These activities provide young refugees opportunities to interact with other young people, develop their skills and build their confidence and sense of belonging. Furthermore, including young people promotes mutual understanding and tolerance between refugees and host communities, essential for social cohesion.

Youth participation is essential to democracy, social development and community empowerment. Youth engagement in decision-making processes and community activities can lead to positive outcomes, including increased civic engagement and social inclusion.

Youth participation can also foster leadership development. When young people can participate in community activities, they develop leadership skills such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork. These skills are crucial for personal and professional development and can also prepare young people for future leadership roles in their community.

Youth participation can promote social inclusion by giving young people a voice and a platform to express their opinions and ideas. When young people participate in decision-making, they feel valued and respected, which can help reduce social exclusion and foster a sense of belonging. Furthermore, young people’s participation can help to bridge the gap between different generations, cultures and communities, leading to greater social cohesion.

Youth participation is also an innovation for refugee integration. Initiatives created by Bulgarian and refugee youth can address various integration challenges that benefit local communities.

Youth Cooperation Lab for Refugee Integration

In March, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, in partnership with the UNHCR, held a Youth Cooperation Lab in Plovdiv with representatives of local and regional youth organisations from across the country and refugee youth. In collaboration with the Open Space Collective, the BCRM adopted the Open Space methodology for the event to enable youth participants to share their experiences on youth inclusion and how/what initiatives to create or adapt to integrate refugee youth.

The Youth Collaboratory is part of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants’ strategic efforts to create a network of inclusive refugee youth communities.

Recommendations for successful youth engagement for successful integration:

Refugee youth should be involved in decision-making and co-designing youth projects. Proposals made included establishing youth councils and advisory committees and providing training and support to young people for effective participation.

The importance of non-formal education for the integration of refugee youth is critical. In addition to formal education, refugee youth should have access to non-formal and civic education that gives them the skills and knowledge they need to integrate and contribute to the host society.

Stakeholders should create more youth spaces in support of local and refugee youth. Communities must create safe spaces for young refugees to interact, learn and socialise. These spaces should be inclusive and non-discriminatory, allowing young people to express themselves freely.

Sports and cultural activities can bring young refugees and host communities closer, promoting mutual understanding and tolerance. Policymakers and practitioners should support the creation of sports clubs and cultural events that encourage youth participation.