The nominated various projects from around the country were evaluated on the basis of: achieved results, sustainability of the project activities, financial efficiency, participation of the target groups and the local communities, innovative services and the possibilities for implementing the project in other areas of the country.
„In our world, where everything is constantly changing, a ten years is a unique thing. So let me first congratulate you and wish you to continue working because you have a mission and most importantly – you are people with a vision.” With these words Adela Peeva, a special guest and a member of the Jury Project of the Year 2007 and 2008, greeted the participants and the guests.
Sasha Bezuhanova, a member of the jury in 2006 and 2007, also began with encouraging words „Congratulations to Tulip Foundation for the anniversary! What you did is so important for Bulgaria, as now there are more people who are thinking for the good causes, but you the first who made the path and created the culture in Bulgaria for us to see the good initiatives. Thanks you Tulip Foundation for being the agent of change!”
This year the best projects were selected by a jury with members Violina Marinova, Chair of the Board and CEO of DSK Bank; Nikola Dobrev, CEO of KZM 2000 AD; HE Anick Van Calster, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium; Sevda Shishmanova, Programme Director of the Bulgarian National Television, Georgi Gospodinov, a writer and Kiril Domuschiev, Chair of CEIBG.
The members of the Jury announced and gave away the three equal awards especially made by the prominent Bulgarian sculptor Georgi Capkunov.
Sevda Shishmanova and Nikola Dobrev presented the project: „Breaking the marginalization of Roma in Kjustendil through a model for development of the community” implemented by the Know How Centre for alternative care for children New Bulgarian University. “ This is a project run with a profound knowledge about the people in the Roma community – their problems, their weak and strong sides. It covers a big scale – from education to social integration and family communication. It has created a network of leaders – young able people. I personally admire you all who have done this work.” With these moving words sevda Shishmanova announced the awarded project. Then Nikola Dobrev continued:”I want to speak about the future and why is this project necessary. If we talk about marginalization it means that we have a problem. This project is as important for the Roma community as for the Bulgarian society. It is important for us to be one integrated society. The project is developed in Kjustendil but it is applicable elsewhere in Bulgaria. I congratulate you and I hope that it will be indeed implemented in other places around Bulgaria!’
Dr. Galina Markova from the Know How Centre shared “The motto of the NBU is “we are not afraid of diversity!”. We come from a community that is trying not to be afraid of diversity and we do this through education and research. It’s the research that helps us to say that we do not know. Admitting that we don’t know is a very good remedy against prejudices and a very good start for learning from the reality as it is. I am extremely grateful for this award as we have been faced with many difficulties and it is going to help us to go ahead!”
Angela Philipova from the team in Kjustendil started „I thank you all very much for the opportunity to be here. It means a lot for us – to walk more bravely, to be more confident and to reach better results.” Her colleague Arso Ganev continued that ‘It is extremely important that Roma and Bulgarian people are bringing the integration into practice together. And that is the only possible way.” Zornitsa Stoichkova from Health and Social Development Foundation – project partner organisation added that “for us this is not just a project, but a model which is good and and has to be introduced to many other towns. And we make our best so that it is not just about services but a model for development of the Roma community.”
Violina Marinova and Georgi Gospodinov announced the award for the project of Equilibrium Association Ruse “Improving the quality of social services through active policy of fundraising, community participation and building of public image”. Violina Marinova congratulated Tulip Foundation with its tenth anniversary. “I thank you for the opportunity to get to know such important projects in social sphere for another year. The one that liked the most impressed me with the fact that so much work is done with so little funds. Equilibrium Association has organised various fundraising events and used the funds for children. We say that we need to be good, to be empathic and this is a project that proves it.”
Georgi Gospodinov told that “There were many projects this year and we as a Jury had to select three of them. And here we are together with Mrs. Marinova because we have both liked this project the most. It works with a minimal budget, some 300 BGN. And I find this extremely important because the good doesn’t need to be glossy, luxury. This project brings something else – it develops sensitivity, empathy. Thank you for doing that!”
Elena Petkova from Equilibrium Association was moved - „I thank all of you for these words and the feeling that other people have sensed the essence of our work so well. I also thank the whole team, all foster parents, adoptive parents and candidates for adoptive parents, children, the Roma community. Thank you all!”
HE Anick Van Calster and Kiril Domuschiev presented the project: „To be a Father National Campaign“ of Parents (Roditeli) Association and partners. HE Van Calster told about her impressions from women and men in Bulgaria from her first year in the country. “sometimes we are part of the minority and other times we belong to the majority. So it is important to keep in mind all the stereotypes. This is a project of group of 10 NGOs that started a wide campaign to stimulate and support fathers to play an important role in care for their children. It is a big scale ambitious project and wish success!’
Kiril Domuschiev shared “I was very nicely surprised by the National Campaign “To be a Father”. I was surprised by the scale of the campaign and the results so far. We have discussed this with colleagues and we are aware that we can do much more. This is out contribution to the society. We need motivated young people. So our role of fathers is to help them become such. And message to all of you : Do not educate your children – educate yourselves to be parents!”
Deyan Petrov from Parents Association shared “our campaign is indeed a wide scale one. I thank all people who got in contact with us and wanted to get involved. This is it To be a father!” Elena Velinova from DOIT added “This award is an exclusive motivation for us to keep up the spirit – engaged, inspired, because only together – men and women we can make the world a better place for everyone.”
The public applauded and greeted the teams of the organisations awarded the Project of the Year 2014. The public ceremony took place with the media partnership of the Bulgarian National Television, capital weekly and the Informational Portal of NGOs in Bulgaria.
The Project of the Year 2014 competition was launched in the end of 2014 for a tenth successive year as an answer to the numerous good projects realised each year all over the country. Each of these projects has been made possible by the hard work of the people who invested a lot of their time and dedication for the success of the projects.
In total 30 nominations for the Project of the Year were received before 12 February 2015. Twelve nominated projects are implemented in various towns and villages, eight are realised in cities and five – in the capital. Three projects are implemented in a number of places in Bulgaria, two are at a national scale and other two are international. The projects are nominated by civil originations and partners; donor organisations, by the project team of the implementing organisation; volunteers, participants and citizens.
Civil organizations working on a project aimed at improving the living conditions, possibilities and quality of life of groups of people or communities in disadvantaged position were invited to participate in the competition. Projects implemented in towns, cities and villages are welcome regardless of the project budget, source of funding, scale of operation, type of activity or beneficiaries.
News Bulgarian National Television, 23 March 2015
Darik News Ruse, 24 March 2015
Small stories, Bulgarian National Television, 28 March 2015
