Key topics related to developing reliable indicators for assessing the environment for students with disabilities and refugees, as well as creating an inclusive academic environment, were discussed at an international conference held in Sofia.

Acting Minister of Education and Science, Professor Galin Tsokov, emphasized the importance of social inclusion in higher education. He noted that significant steps have already been taken in this direction. One example is that 25 out of the 33 public higher education institutions in the country will now accept 400 foreign nationals or stateless persons with temporary protection for regular study programs.

Professor Eliza Stefanova, Chair of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency of Bulgaria, called for active participation and constructive solutions to address the challenges facing higher education. According to her, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), higher education institutions, and non-governmental organizations must work together to propose changes to the Higher Education Act.

Other topics discussed included opportunities for changes in the regulatory framework concerning the use of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), as well as the introduction of mechanisms for validation and micro-credentialing within higher education practices.

The event was organized as part of the implementation of the START project—Social Inclusion, Tolerance, Acceptance, and Realization for All Students—carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency of Bulgaria, the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS), and the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants. The project is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program.

The third issue of the academic bulletin “Refugees: today and tomorrow” for 2023 is a collection of knowledge from different fields of science. In a situation of increasing wars worldwide, the issue offers, on the one hand, analyses that trace conflicts leading to forced displacement, and, on the other, theoretical and legal aspects for the study and teaching of forced migrations, as well as of an applied nature. The geographical scope of the issue includes the Western Balkans, Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria. The first article is on the aftermath of the wars in the former Yugoslavia with a focus on the one in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its memories through the lens of children. The second article focuses on the development of the mid-September 2023 conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia with an emphasis on the challenges posed by the refugee wave to Armenia. The third article introduces a relatively new undergraduate course on international migrations that is being read to students in the “Economic Sociology and Psychology” program at the University of National and World Economy. The last article examines the right to data protection provided by all individuals in the European Union, including asylum seekers and protection beneficiaries.

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In November, the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants presented Information material for the new mayors and representatives of local authorities, which provides extensive information on the subject of the integration of refugees (persons granted international protection or registered for temporary protection) at the local level – in the cities and municipalities on the territory of Bulgaria. The publication emphasizes the opportunities for social and economic development, building local, national and international partnerships, as well as guaranteeing security. The publication was also developed as a result of consultations with experts from representatives of municipalities, state bodies and non-governmental organizations with experience on the subject of refugee integration.

Cities are where new societies develop. They bring together people with different histories, different origins, and this leads to the creation of new forms of economic, social, cultural and political exchange. Cities, municipalities and local authorities are at the forefront of the complex task of integrating refugees. The process of integrating refugees into the local context is a multifaceted endeavor that requires the cooperation and commitment of local authorities to provide an inclusive social and economic environment that also contributes to the well-being of local communities.

Globally, there are many ways in which municipalities respond to the refugee situation with a focus on the development opportunities that the situation presents. The scope of their efforts includes ensuring access to rights and services, coordination between different structures, support for social and economic integration of refugees; stimulating initiatives that protect and promote human rights, reduce vulnerabilities, combat prejudice and stereotypes, and promote inclusion.

Refugee-related opportunities and challenges for local authorities relate to both emergency response and the long-term integration of refugees into host societies, contributing to sustainable development, security, building international partnerships and supporting the private sector in finding a workforce.

The material is available online in PDF

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 on refugees in Bulgaria

∙Extended duration of the humanitarian assistance program

∙Supporting local authorities: from challenges to opportunities

∙Working forum Social adaptation, inclusion and integration of persons from Ukraine registered for international protection in Bulgaria

∙Available for work but facing challenges: latest survey results highlight barriers to employment for displaced Ukrainians in the EU

∙Academic Forum “Social and Educational Inclusion of Refugees”

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The second issue of the academic bulletin for 2023 presents research in two areas – integration of beneficiaries of international protection in Bulgaria with a focus on educational integration and the situation of beneficiaries of temporary protection displaced from Ukraine in Poland. The first article affirms the thesis of local government as a significant mediator and actor in the process of refugee integration in Bulgaria. The following two articles focus on educational integration, on the one hand, through the prism of the need to rethink teachers’ professional-pedagogical preparation in the context of refugee children’s educational integration through a competency-based approach, and the second, presenting two innovative educational practices (Dialogic Reading and Reading Friends) that would support refugee children in developing their educational achievement, sense of belonging and enhancing the well-being of all children. The last text provideс more information on measures concerning the reception and integration of displaced persons from Ukraine in Poland.

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On October 24, 2023, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers and SU “St. Kliment Ohridski” orgabised the Academic Forum “Social and Educational Inclusion of Refugees”.

The Academic Forum is a logical extension of the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants’ strategic efforts to engage the academic community in the field of refugees in response to the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), par. 43: a global academic network on refugees, other forced displacement and statelessness will be established, comprising universities, academic alliances and research institutions, together with UNHCR and other relevant stakeholders, to facilitate research, training and opportunities for scholarships that lead to concrete results in support of the goals of the global compact. Efforts will be made to ensure regional diversity and expertise from a wide range of relevant subject areas.

The event was attended by leading representatives of the academic community and university lecturers, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science. The event was opened by Mariana Tosheva – Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers, Dr. Kina Sabeva – Chairperson of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, Associate Professor Dr. Vanya Bozhilova – Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and Ana Radulesko, vice-president of the International Federation of Social Workers, president for the Europe region.

During the event, the following academic papers were presented, which will be published in a collection:

• Functions of social work with refugees

Prof. Dr. Siika Chavdarova – Kostova, Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of “Theory of Education”

• Social inclusion of persons seeking international protection residing in the registration and reception centers of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers

Mariana Tosheva, Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers

• Socio-pedagogical reading of the vulnerability of refugees

Prof. Dr. Maya Cholakova, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Arts, Department of “Social Pedagogy and Social Work”.

• Sleep quality in asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in a social work perspective.

Prof. Dr. Ginka Mekhandzhiyska, Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of Social Work.

• Quality of social work with refugees – why, what, how

Assoc. Dr. Rositsa Simeonova, Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of Social Work

• Approach to social work with refugees who have experienced trauma

Ch. Assistant Professor Teodorina Milusheva, Ph.D., Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of Social Work.

• The war through the eyes of children (with a focus on the museum of childhood during the war, Sarajevo)

Prof. Dr. Vladislav Gospodinov, Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of “Theory of Education”.

• Good practices for educational integration of refugee children

Ch. assistant professor Ekaterina Tomova, Ph.D., Faculty of Pedagogy, Department “Theory of Education”.

• Social integration of refugee children through education – specifics and challenges

Kristina Gologanova, PhD student, Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of Social Work

• Armenian refugees – an (un)solved problem

Dr. Alexander Hristov, Faculty of Pedagogy

• Reflective picture of students’ work with refugees

Prof. Violeta Kotseva, Kremena Yordanova, assistant professor, Faculty of History

On October 31 and November 1, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants in partnership with the State Agency for Refugees held the second regional training for the development of the capacity of non-governmental organizations from Eastern Bulgaria  in Varna. The training is part of the strategic efforts of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants to strengthen civil society structures on issues of refugee integration and inclusion.

In a rapidly evolving environment, the challenges faced by non-governmental organizations engaged in humanitarian work are multifaceted and complex. Therefore, the need for continuous improvement of skills and competence is of paramount importance. Capacity building trainings serve as structured pathways through which NGOs can acquire new knowledge, improve existing skills and adopt innovative approaches to meet the dynamic demands of their operations.

Representatives of non-governmental organizations from the eastern part of Bulgaria took part in the training, and the program included the topics of cooperation between the State Agency for Refugees and the non-governmental sector, quality management of social work, digitization and digital transformation in the non-governmental sector, protection of personal data, cooperation between the private sector and non-governmental organizations, as well as the financial sustainability of non-governmental organizations.

The training is organized under the project “Advocacy for refugee integration in Bulgaria”, financed by UNHCR.

We present to your attention the next issue of the Information Bulletin “Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria: Opportunities for Development”

This issue includes information on the following topics:

∙Statistics on refugees in Bulgaria
∙Refugees from Ukraine: EU member states agree to extend temporary protection
∙ The government extends the term of the current program for humanitarian assistance to displaced persons from Ukraine with temporary protection in the Republic of Bulgaria until December 31, 2023.
∙European Public Employment Network: 7 recommendations for employment services supporting refugees and displaced persons from Ukraine
∙The beginning of the school year and the integration of refugee children into the education system
∙Regional capacity building training for non-governmental organizations working with refugees
∙Held a working forum on social adaptation, inclusion and integration of persons granted international protection in Bulgaria

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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.