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1. Historical developments
2. National definition or undertanding of Youth Work

Historical developments

The development of youth work in Bulgaria has been shaped by the country’s broader historical, political and social transformations.

Its origins can be traced back to the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, when youth-related activities were organised mainly through community-based cultural and educational institutions such as chitalishta (community cultural centres), established under the Chitalishta Act. These institutions provided spaces for informal learning, cultural participation and civic engagement, and continue to play a role in youth-related activities today.

During the socialist period (1944-1989), youth activities were predominantly state-organised and centrally coordinated. Youth engagement was channelled through mass organisations, most notably the Dimitrov Communist Youth Union (Komsomol), which functioned under the political framework of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Youth work during this period was not recognised as a distinct field but was integrated into the state system for ideological education, socialisation and mobilisation of young people.

Following the democratic changes in 1989, the dissolution of state-controlled youth structures led to a fundamental transformation of the youth sector. The 1990s were characterised by the rapid emergence of independent youth organisations and non-governmental actors, supported in many cases by international donors and programmes. Youth work developed in a decentralised and project-based manner, with a strong emphasis on civic participation, human rights and non-formal education.

A key step towards institutionalising youth policy was the adoption of the Youth Act (Закон за младежта) (promulgated in State Gazette (SG) no. 31/20.04.2012, effective 20.04.2012 and was last amended and supplemented in SG no. 61/02.08.2022, effective 02.08.2022), which provided a legal framework for youth policy in Bulgaria and formally recognised the role of youth organisations and youth activities. Although the Act does not provide a comprehensive legal definition of youth work as a profession, it establishes important principles and support mechanisms relevant to its development.

Since Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union in 2007, youth work has increasingly been influenced by and alined to the European policy frameworks. Participation in programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps has contributed significantly to the development of non-formal learning practices, international cooperation and capacity building within the youth sector.

More recently, the National Youth Strategy 2021-2030 has further strengthened the policy focus on youth work by identifying it as a key area for development. The strategy emphasises the need for improving the quality, accessibility and recognition of youth work, as well as for enhancing coordination between stakeholders and supporting the professional development of youth workers.

National definition or understanding of Youth Work

In Bulgaria, there is no single, comprehensive legal definition of youth work formally fixed in the national legislation. The Youth Act (2012) does not explicitly define youth work as a distinct concept or profession. Instead, it refers more broadly to “youth activities” and “youth policy”, which encompass initiatives aimed at supporting the personal, social and civic development of young people.

According to the Youth Act, youth activities include organised initiatives and actions targeted at young people, implemented by public authorities, municipalities, youth organisations and other stakeholders (article 17). These activities typically cover areas such as participation, volunteering, information, personal development and social inclusion. Within this framework, youth work is implicitly understood as the practice through which such activities are delivered, primarily using non-formal and informal learning approaches.

A more explicit understanding of youth work can be derived from strategic policy documents, particularly the National Youth Strategy 2021-2030 (Национална стратегия за младежта 2021-2030). The Strategy recognises youth work as a key instrument for supporting young people’s development and participation and emphasises its role in fostering skills, competences and active citizenship. It also highlights the importance of non-formal learning, youth empowerment and the creation of supportive environments for young people.

At the operational level, youth work in Bulgaria is commonly understood as a set of organised or semi-organised activities with and for young people, carried out mainly outside the formal education system, and based on principles such as voluntary participation, inclusiveness and learner-centred approaches. It is typically implemented by youth workers, volunteers and youth leaders within youth organisations, youth centres and community-based structures.

In the absence of a formal legal definition, the understanding of youth work in Bulgaria is also influenced by European policy frameworks and documents, including the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2027) and the Council of Europe’s approach to youth work. These frameworks contribute to shaping a shared understanding of youth work as a practice that supports non-formal learning, participation and inclusion.

Overall, youth work in Bulgaria is recognised at policy level as an important field of practice, but its definition remains implicit and largely derived from broader concepts related to youth activities and non-formal education rather than from a specific legal provision.

Currently, a definition and other aspects of youth work are being discussed and will be introduced through amendments to the Youth Act. (see Chapter 10.8 Current debates and reforms)