Over 80 representatives of 43 civil society organizations from across the country gathered at the final meeting of organizations supported by the Together Fund, part of the Rights and Values project. The meeting took place on May 15 in Sofia and became a platform for sharing experiences and discovering new paths towards a more united and conscious society.

The meeting was opened by Iliyana Nikolova, executive director of the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation.

Discoveries begin with superpowers

In the first part of the event, divided into work groups, participants sought and identified their strengths. Some highlighted their ability to inspire young people, others their deep understanding of local needs, and their ability to bring together people with different views. This session not only reinforced the sense of the value of their work, but also showed that when superpowers are combined, a much greater impact can be achieved.

At the end of the first part of the program, each group not only identified their “superpowers” and chose a name that reflected their essence and energy, but also took part in a special photo session at a themed photo corner. This interactive activity aimed to strengthen the sense of belonging, teamwork, and creativity among the participants.

The photos taken were placed on a common “wall of the future,” where each group subsequently added their insights, ideas, and messages related to European rights and values in tomorrow’s world.

More photos here.

From the heart – to the hearts

The culmination of the event was a flash mob in which the participants stood in the shape of a heart and spelled out the letters EU with their bodies. This was not just a symbolic act, but an expression of belonging to the values of solidarity, rights, and dignity that the European Union represents.

Practical ideas with an eye to the futurе

In the second part of the event, the groups set to work on real-life cases dedicated to finding new approaches to engaging more followers of EU values.

The results were both inspiring and applicable. Many of those present shared that it was this part of the event that revealed new ideas to them that they could apply in their work at the local level.

Letters to the future

At the end of the day, each group wrote a “letter to future defenders of values.” These messages were filled with hopes, advice, and inspiration for the generations that will continue the dialogue on rights and values in Europe.

Rather than marking the end of their efforts, the meeting marked a new beginning for the civic activists in attendance. They left not only with new ideas, but also with a sense of belonging to a network of like-minded people they can rely on. For many of them, the event was a chance to break out of the isolation of their daily challenges and see the bigger picture—that they are part of a community building a more just and caring future.

See more photos from the meeting here.