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

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[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.

Social assistance plays a crucial role in facilitating the integration of refugees into host communities. Refugees arrive in a new country with limited resources and face many challenges while adjusting to their new environment. Social assistance programmes can help them and provide the support they need to build a new life and overcome the barriers they may face. The most critical aspect of social assistance for refugees is access to fundamental rights. Beneficiaries of international protection and refugees from Ukraine registered for temporary protection have access to all social benefits and social services.

The Social Assistance Agency (SAA) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy provides all social support nationally. The ASA has territorial units in every region and municipality in Bulgaria. The provision of social assistance is not conditional on residence in a specific place or region. Social assistance can only be requested from the territorial unit of the Social Assistance Agency where the person is registered.

Social inclusion, adaptation and integration of refugee

In February and March, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, in partnership with the ACR, the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held two regional discussion forums on the social inclusion, adaptation and integration of refugees. Participants discussed the social assistance and social services for refugees and their importance for integration, focusing on vulnerable groups.

Rumyana Georgieva, Deputy Executive Director of the ASP, participated in the discussion forums. Irena Ognyanova, Head of Department at the ASP, presented “The challenges and role of the ASA and regional structures for the integration of displaced persons from Ukraine, as well as a new look at integration based on international practices”. Maria Shisheva from the UNHCR Representative Office spoke on “International and European legal standards and case law on access to the social assistance system for persons granted temporary or international protection”. The discussions focused on vulnerable refugees.

The importance of vulnerability assessment for social assistance and successful integration

Vulnerability assessments are essential for identifying and addressing the needs of refugees. These assessments help to identify individuals and groups of refugees who are particularly vulnerable and in need of social assistance. Refugee vulnerability assessments typically include various factors contributing to vulnerability, such as age, gender, education, health, and social and economic status.

The regional events in Varna and Plovdiv provided a platform to present existing vulnerability assessment tools at the European and national levels and the experience of the State Agency for Refugees and the Bulgarian Red Cross. This approach allowed for the sharing of knowledge, experience and expertise from practice, which will improve future vulnerability assessments of persons granted temporary or international protection related to their access to social assistance and social services.

Tsvetelina Gerasimova, Deputy Director General of the ASP, presented the experience of the ASP in identifying vulnerable persons granted temporary protection status, the baseline needs survey and the implemented social integration measures.

Mariana Tosheva, Chairperson of the SAR, shared the practice of preparing integration profiles of all asylum seekers from vulnerable groups, which contain information on their specific needs and their families educational and professional competence. The aim is to support these persons’ social adaptation and cultural orientation and provide them with social, health and psychological assistance. The efforts are to ensure that people scattered in smaller groups in the country are included and supported in the integration process. The experience and practice in implementing refugee projects, including vulnerability assessment as a condition for assistance, were presented by Alexander Tanev from the Bulgarian Red Cross. He outlined the BRC’s different approaches to the vulnerability assessment of refugees for successful integration in this context.

The event participants discussed the applicability of existing tools and approaches for assessing the vulnerability of beneficiaries of international protection and Bulgarian citizens to BTP from Ukraine.

The discussion forums held to share and transfer experiences and expertise between state institutions and civil society structures are part of the strategic efforts of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants to support awareness raising and capacity building of stakeholders in refugee integration. The combination of shared expertise and the partnership of ASP, SAR, UNHCR, BRC and the BCRM contributes to this.

On International Women’s Day, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (BCRM) commemorates women’s historical achievements and contributions while recognising that large gender gaps still exist.

The UN theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality“.

Gender equality remains a priority in the work of the BCRM. With the implementation of the project “Advocacy for Refugee Integration in Bulgaria”, financed by  UNHCR yearly, we strive for transformative change and to strengthen partnerships with different stakeholders.

The “DigitALL” theme is in line with the BCRM’s priority under the Go4DiGREEN project, which aims to increase job opportunities for newly arrived refugees in the EU by strengthening their digital and entrepreneurial skills in the green economy.

The Go4DiGREEN digital training programme has been developed specifically for women and can address refugee women’s unique challenges and opportunities in the green economy.

We are proud to celebrate International Women’s Day and work for women refugee entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their communities and beyond.

Together with UNHCR, we are working to find innovative solutions to help bridge the gender gap in the refugee context and promote the empowerment of refugee women.

Join us in choosing to challenge prejudice and gender inequality and support the empowerment of refugee women!

The world will be better off if there are more women as leaders, entrepreneurs and agents of change for development, including refugee women.

Bulgarian Council on Refugees аnd Migrants

Інформація українською тут: ukraine.refugee.bg/ua

Информация на русском языке доступна здесь: ukraine.refugee.bg/ru

The re-registration of the persons who arrived from Ukraine and received temporary protection on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria has started, the validity of which is extended until 03.04.2024.

The new registration cards will be issued from 13.02.2023 to 31.03.2023.
During this period, persons with temporary protection should appear and submit:
application form for renewing the Registration Card of a foreigner granted temporary protection, containing an up-to-date address of residence;
national identity document;
registration card valid until 23.02.2023

The old registration cards will be valid until 31.03.2023.

Re-registration will take place in:
the nearest regional directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOI);
Metropolitan Directorate of Internal Affairs (SDVR) – for the city of Sofia;
The registration and reception centers (ROC) of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers (DAB under the Council of Ministers):
• ROC – Sofia
address: city of Sofia, Ovcha Kupel district, “Montevideo” street No. 21A;
address: Sofia, Voenna Rampa Quarter, “Prof. Ivan Georgov” No. 29;
address: city of Sofia, Vrazdebna district, 270 “Botevgradsko shose” blvd.
• ROC – Banya village
address: village of Banya, municipality Nova Zagora, “Mineral Baths” area No. 17
• ROC – town of Harmanli
address: town of Harmanli, g.k. “Friendship” No. 23.
• Shopping center – Pastrogor village
address: Pastrogor village, Municipality Svilengrad, region Haskovo.

Additional information can be obtained on-site at the above-mentioned centers of the DAB at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, at e-mail: sar@saref.government.bg; on the hotlines: 02/905-5555; + 380/322-465-075;

We present to your attention Information Bulletin “Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria: Opportunities for Development” – December 2022.

Dowload in PDF [BG]

In the publication you will find information on the following topics:

• Statistics on granted international and temporary protection in Bulgaria
• Support for civil and refugee organizations at local level for refugee integration: Academy for Professional Civil Sector: Management, Financial Sustainability and Advocacy Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations
• Teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language: role of institutions and challenges for practitioners
• Adaptation and integration of asylum seekers: practical steps to expand and improve integration activities in the centers of the State Agency for Refugees
• Refu’In – an innovative toolkit for refugee inclusion
• Financial assistance program for persons affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine of the Bulgarian Red Cross

In order to improve and upgrade the provided information materials “Integration of refugees in Bulgaria”, developed and distributed by the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants under a project financed by the UNHCR representation in Bulgaria, we invite feedback.

FEEDBACK FORM

In the rapidly changing world in which we live, every sector of human activity increasingly needs good practices and innovations that provide long-term solutions to existing challenges and opportunities for further development. In this context, the humanitarian sector is no exception. On the contrary, innovation is becoming increasingly important for its effectiveness, and this is where innovation for refugee integration comes in.

In November 2022, the online version of RefuIn – Innovative Toolkit for Inclusion of Refugees was launched, which is the response of Erasmus+ project partner organisations, including the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, CRESCER in Portugal, Programma Integra and ARCI in Italy and Osterund Municipality in Sweden, to develop the capacity for inclusion and integration of refugees. The Refu’In Innovative Toolkit was launched at the International Closing Conference, in which representatives of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants and Mariana Tosheva – chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers participated, presenting the Bulgarian experience and challenges for the integration of refugees.

Developed in an unprecedented context – a global pandemic and a refugee crisis in Europe, the project identifies good practices and innovations for integrating refugees through a human-based approach – through feedback from refugees and specialists working in the field. The innovative Refu’In toolkit also emphasises good practices for integrating refugees with the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030 – SDGs).

The innovative Refu’In toolkit is available online and will be updated and upgraded in the coming months as well as after the end of the project.

The integration of refugees is a dynamic and complex two-way process that requires efforts from all parties involved, both from the state authorities and public institutions that are involved in the protection and integration of refugees and the willingness of refugees to adapt to the host society, The integration process is complex and lengthy, with different but related legal, economic, social and cultural components. Each is critical to the ability of refugees to integrate successfully as equal members of the host culture. The integration of refugees brings the potential for social and economic development.  Building a sustainable refugee integration system requires developing the capacity of the institutions and organisations involved in the process, as well as strengthening the partnership between them.

On 30 November, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (BCRM), in partnership with the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers (SAR) and the UNHCR, organised an expert session focusing on practical steps to expand and improve integration activities in SAR centres.

SAR Chairperson Mariana Tosheva presented the challenges and needs of the agency and formulated the upcoming priorities. Participants in the forum discussed access to education, employment and Bulgarian language training for asylum seekers accommodated in the Registration and Reception Centres. Keynote presentations on the topics were made by Yanita Manolova, Deputy Chairperson of SAR, Stanislav Georgiev, representative of the Regional Department of Education, Tonka Karaivanova, representative of the Employment Agency and Zahari Stoilkov, SAR. During the discussions, steps and ways to overcome the shared challenges were proposed and discussed. The importance and necessity of better inter-agency cooperation and expanding partnership with NGOs were underlined.

The Forum is part of the efforts of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants to develop the capacity and strengthen the cooperation of stakeholders for the integration of refugees, linked to opportunities for social and economic development at the national and local levels.  The event is part of the BCRM project “Advocacy for Refugee Integration in Bulgaria”, funded by UNHCR.