For a fifth successive time representatives of the civil organizations from all over the country, ministries, agencies, municipal authorities and businesses as well as many guests who came to express their recognition to the people who are socially responsible from their own communities.
The ceremony was opened by Ivo Prokopiev, Chair of Economedia and the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria and Maria Petkova, director of Tulip Foundation. Ivo Prokopiev presented the work of the jury and the evaluation criteria applied top the nominated project – achieved results, sustainability of the project activities, financial efficiency, participation of the target groups and the local communities, innovation of the services and the possibilities for implementing the project in other areas of the country. He announced the nine short-listed projects among which the three awarded projects for 2009 were selected.
Following the tradition the members of the Jury – representatives of leading business companies, media and diplomats announced and gave away the awards to the three organisations realizing the three best projects.
HE Karel van Kesteren, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Sevda Shishmanova, member of the Board of the Bulgarian National Television presented the first awarded project - Development of Comprehensive Community-Based Mental Health Services in Sofia, Municipality Slatina. The services provided at the centre contribute to the social integration of people by ensuring supportive environment for creation and development of their social skills and habits and help them to overcome the negative emotional, psychological and social impact of the psychical disorder. The project is implemented by Foundation Global Initiative on Psychiatry – Sofia. The team of the foundation went to the stage to receive the award and to express gratitude to Tulip Foundation for supporting the renovation of the building of the Complex for Community-Based Mental Health Services in Sofia.
The project “Desegregation of Roma Education” realised by Association Organisation Drom in Vidin was presented by Frank Bauer, President of America for Bulgaria Foundation and Anna Zaharieva, Executive Director, FairPlay International AD. The project activities bring together children and parents from Roma and non Roma background and support the integration of the Roma community into Bulgarian society. They also encourage tolerance and acceptance of European values. Donka Panayotova, chair of Association Drom received the award stating that it is an appreciation for the work and the efforts of the entire multiethnic team of the association.
Daniela Petkova, Chef executive director, POC Doverie and Ivo Prokopiev, Chair Economedia and CEIB announced the third awarded project - „Care for the Children” run by Naya Association in Targovishte. The project is aimed at raising the information and the awareness of children and young people in Targovishte as well as bringing together the resources of local organisations and institutions aimed at prevention of sexual violence against children. Svetla Sivcheva, chair of Naya Association, received the award and being very excited shared that she has been dreaming about this award for three years now since another project of the association has been among the nominated.
The award Project of the Year 2009 is a plastic especially made for the occasion by Georgi Chapkanov, certificate and incentive grant from tulip Foundation.
The awarded projects were selected among 29 projects implemented all over the country, which were praised by the people who nominated them.. The projects were nominated by other civil organisations and partners; journalists and media, municipal Child protection department, donor organisations, municipalities, Social Assistance Directorates; volunteers; deputy regional governor; counsellors and members of the project team. The nominated projects present an impressive variety of social activities and are targeted at positive change in the opportunities and quality of life of certain groups or communities in disadvantaged position. Nine of the nominated projects are implemented in various towns in the country and another four - in cities. In Sofia are realised ten projects and six are implemented by local organisations in villages. One of the projects is realized in 5 cities in the country.
Civil organizations that are currently implementing a project aimed at improving the living conditions, possibilities and quality of life of certain groups 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.
The nominated project are being 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.
The ceremony was made possible with the support of the MATRA Programme of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and New Moment New Ideas Company with the media partnership of the Bulgarian National Television, the newspapers Capital weekly and Dnevnik, Radio Star FM.
Bulgarian National Television, Central News
Bulgarian National Television, Morning Programme
Project of the Year 2007
Project of the Year 2006
