More than 40 representatives of civil society organizations and informal parent groups from all over the country were trained in effective communications and advocacy. The training took place on July 7 in Sofia and is part of the program “Parenting 2.0, more than care”. The program encourages parents to be active participants in decisions and changes that affect the lives of children and families.
Communication that creates change
During the training, participants developed practical skills to strategically plan their communications, to define their target audiences, to create clear and impactful messages, to choose the most appropriate communication channels and to build campaigns that lead to a real change in public attitudes and policies in support of children and families. Special emphasis was placed on hope-based communication, ethical storytelling, and advocacy as a tool to achieve sustainable societal change.
The training was attended by representatives of organizations and groups that are about to receive support within the second competition under the program, as well as organizations that are already implementing their initiatives at national and local level. The meeting created an opportunity to exchange experience, share working practices and build new partnerships.
Step One: Parental Activism and Mobilization
A day earlier, on July 6, the new organizations and parent groups passed the first module of the training program. It was dedicated to parental activism and community mobilization.
Participants explored how personal experiences can become an engine for societal change, how to build trust in the community and how sustainable local initiatives are developed. Through practical exercises, they analyzed real cases, mapped their communities, identified like-minded people, and planned specific next steps for the development of their ideas.
About the program
The training program for increasing the capacity of civil society organizations and informal parent groups is part of the program “Parenting 2.0, more than care”. It aims to build stronger civic organizations and active parent communities that work to ensure that more children grow up in a safe family environment through timely support for their parents.
The “Parenthood 2.0, More Than Care” program is implemented by the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF) with the support of the “Tanya’s Dream” Fund. Its main goal is to establish parents as an active and sustainable force for children to grow up in a family environment.
The program encourages parents to participate as full partners in decision-making processes related to the life and future of their children, as well as in the creation and change of policies, programs and practices that affect families in Bulgaria.