Over 35 teachers, psychologists and pedagogical advisors got acquainted with the experience of the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF) in the field of donation and active civic participation during the 11th training of the “Learn to Donate” program. From the fall, they will work with students on the topics of donation, volunteering and civic engagement.
The training is organized by the Bulgarian Donors’ Forum, which, through the “Learn to Donate” program, has been supporting teachers and students for more than a decade in building knowledge, skills and attitudes related to donation and active participation in the life of the community.
During the meeting, Iliana Nikolova presented the long-standing work of WCIF, which has been supporting the development of active and sustainable communities for 25 years. She told how the foundation encourages people to unite around significant causes, to find solutions to local problems and to develop donation and civic participation as a natural part of public life. Through examples from WCIF practice, she showed how the partnership between citizens, non-governmental organizations, institutions and business leads to real change in local communities.
During the meeting, Iliana Nikolova also presented the opportunities that teachers and schools can take advantage of through WCIF programs. She introduced the participants to the initiatives “Robotics for Bulgaria“, “PHOENIX for the Next Generation of Healthier Bulgarians” and the funding program “You and Lidl“, under which student teams can apply through the mediation of a school, municipality, school board or other civic organization.
“The culture of donation and civic engagement is built from an early age. That is why it is important for teachers and school professionals to have the knowledge, confidence and tools to inspire children to be proactive and responsible citizens,” Nikolova stressed.
The meeting was also attended by Rositsa Vatashka from Lidl Bulgaria, Stoilka Arsova from BORICA AD and Alexandra Stoimenova from United Milk Company. They presented their initiatives in support of education, young people and local communities, sharing good practices and ideas that can be used in working with students.
After the meeting with representatives of companies and organizations that develop donation and volunteer initiatives, the training continues with practical sessions in which participants will work with the training materials, discuss good practices in volunteering and exchange experience with colleagues who are already implementing the program in their schools.