The ceremony was attended by representatives of many of the organisations implementing the nominated and the awarded projects as well as by partner and donor organisations, many guests, representatives of local municipalities and ministries. A special opening address to the ceremony guests was made by HE Willem van Ee, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria.
As a recognition of their contribution the members of the jury: Ms. Carmen Gonsalves, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Ms. Sasha Bezuhanova, General Manager, Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria; Jan Willem Overwater, Country Manager ING Bulgaria; Ivo Prokopiev, Chair Economedia; Toon Streppel, Head of Information Office for Bulgaria, European Parliament; Ben Cross, British actor; Konstantin Tillev, Vice President, FM+ Radio; Bert van der Velde, Managing Director Metro Cash & Carry Bulgaria and Anthony Georgieff, Mediacorp OOD were awarded the Tulip Foundation token of honour, made by Georgi Chapkunov.
Carmen Gonsalves and Ivo Prokopiev gave a brief overview of the jury’s work. Members of the jury announced the Projects of the year 2006.
The project Social Integration and Rehabilitation of Women with Oncological Diseases of the Association of Women with Oncological Diseases and their Supporters, Varna was presented by Sasha Bezuhanova. The award was given away by Ronald van der Giessen, Executive Director of Oranje Fonds, partner organisation of Tulip Foundation for many years.
The British actor Ben Cross announced the award for the project Nashentzi for Bulgaria of the Association Help for Children at Risk, Pazardjik. Dimitar Dimitrov, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy presented the award and congratulated the emotional young actors.
Toon Streppel, Head of Information Office for Bulgaria, European Parliament presented the project Volunteers in the Hospital of Big Brother Big Sister Foundation, Plovdiv. The volunteers received their award from Vladimir Kissiov, Chairman of Tulip Foundation, who encouraged them to continue and expand their activities.
The awarded projects received 2006 Project of the Year plastic especially made for the occasion by Georgi Chapkunov as well as accompanying certificate and donation of 500 leva as additional funding to the awarded project.
The awarded projects were selected among 37 projects implemented around Bulgaria which were praised by the people who nominated them. The nominated projects represent an impressive variety of social activities and are aimed at positive change in people’s life and the opportunities and quality of life of certain groups or communities in disadvantaged position. Nine of the nominated projects are being realised in small towns, 13 projects are being implemented in cities and big towns, 9 projects are based in Sofia and 6 projects are implemented by local organisations in villages around the country.
The nominated projects have been evaluated on the basis of: achieved results, sustainability of the project activities, financial efficiency, participation of the target groups and the local communities, innovation the services and the possibilities for implementing the project in other areas of the country.
The competition was open to civil organisations that in 2006 have implemented a project aimed at improving the living conditions, possibilities and quality of life of certain groups or communities in disadvantaged position. Projects implemented in towns, cities and villages were welcome to take part regardless of the project budget, source of funding, scale of operation, type of activity or beneficiaries.
