More than 100 representatives of 59 civil society organizations from across the country took part in the second annual meeting of the supported organizations by the two funds of the Rights and Values project. The event took place on May 16 in Sofia and brought together active participants in civil society who work on initiatives promoting democratic values, equality, solidarity, and active citizenship in public life.
The official opening was made by the executive directors of the three organizations behind the project: Georgi Stoychev, Open Society Institute – Sofia, Iliyana Nikolova, Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation, and Asya Kavrakova, European Citizen Action Service – ECAS. During the opening, they emphasized the power of cooperation, shared knowledge, and the sustainable impact of the civil sector, especially in the context of the challenges facing Europe.
A key focus of the program was the so-called “world café” – an interactive working session during which participants divided into small groups and discussed key topics such as: The role of education in promoting values; European solidarity in times of crisis; Mobilizing local communities; Working with institutions in a context of tension and pressure, and others.
Working on these topics not only created an opportunity to exchange good practices and ideas, but also encouraged participants to look beyond everyday challenges and seek innovative solutions to strengthen the values on which the European Union is built.
Participants took an active part in a discussion on “Maintaining EU values: How can civil society organizations maintain their momentum in difficult times?”, which offered an in-depth analysis of topics such as: What are the biggest obstacles to EU values and how does this affect the work of civil society organizations? How can we be bridges, not walls, for citizen inclusion? What have we learned and how will we use it in our organizations going forward? What is the next bold step we can take together?
During the event, an exhibition was presented with materials, products, and videos created within the activities of the supported initiatives. This gave participants the opportunity not only to exchange experiences but also to be inspired by the results and impact achieved in different regions of the country.
The annual meeting became a valuable platform for learning, building relationships, and creating a common vision for the future. For participants, it brought new ideas, partnerships, and confidence that sustainable change begins with small but meaningful actions—together.
See more photos from the event here.