Policy/legal framework

Закона за младежта THE YOUTH ACT, Article 18, paragraph (1) states that the state and the municipalities encourage and support the implementation of youth activities and services, which are expressed in:  

Encouraging non-formal learning to broaden the knowledge, experience and skills of young people for their inclusion to the values of civil society, science, culture, arts, entrepreneurship, healthy lifestyles, sports, road safety and the prevention of anti-social manifestations of young people;

Main inclusive Youth-Work programmes and target groups

• National Program for Child Protection 2017
• National Program for the Prevention of Violence and Child Abuse
• National Youth Program (2016-2020) for 2018
• Program for Implementation of Youth Activities under Article 10a of the Gambling Act 2018
• Национален план за изпълнение на Европейската гаранция за младежта 2014-2020 (National Plan for Implementation of the European Youth Guarantee 2014-2020)
• Програма за развитие на спорта за всички (Program for the Development of Sport for All" for 2018 )
• Програма „Развитие на студенския спорт (Program "Development of the Students' Sport")
• Програма на мерките за закрила на деца с изявени дарби от държавни и общински училища през 2018 г.    (Program of Measures for Protection of Children with Proven Gifts from State and Municipal Schools in 2018)
• Национални програма през 2018 г. на Министерство на образованието и науката (National programs in 2018 of the Ministry of Education and Science)

Youth work providers in the field of social inclusion for young people

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, in compliance with the Youth Act, has set up a Национална информационна система за младежта (National Youth Information System) in which were registered as youth organizations these organizations that meet the requirements of the Youth Act. But the Ministry does not have accurate information on how many of them work primarily on the social inclusion of young people. Most of them work on projects targeting young people at risk and disadvantaged young people.

Youth mediators act as intermediaries between inactive youths, subject to the Program and the institutions that provide appropriate social, health, educational and other services that effectively complement the mediation services provided by the Labour Offices Directorates.

In order to promote the active behavior on the labor market of the inactive persons, including discouraged persons, Roma mediators are also appointed, whose task is to shorten/terminate the period of unemployment of people without work and to direct them towards realization in the labor market by motivating them to look for work and to work, to study, including to be educated, to register with the Labour Offices. To achieve these goals, the Roma mediator works in neighborhoods with population of a predominantly Roma ethnic background.  

Training and support for youth workers engaged in social inclusion programmes

There are not legal possibilities offered to youth workers to validate professional qualifications at universities, higher education institutions and training institutions.There is not established Youth-work foundation or Institute of Youth work funded by the country's public authorities.

In the Master program "Youth Activities and Sports" at the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" are studied modules addressing the socio-pedagogical and psychological aspects of the youth groups, the management of youth activities, European policies and programs in the field of youth and sport, and project development and management, cooperation between public administration and non-governmental organizations.

Internships are being organized in various state and educational institutions for youth activities and sport, where students share experience and learn skills in a real work environment.

Program graduates can work as civil servants, to hold different management and expert positions in public administration, public service organizations, non-governmental business and non-profit organizations, national and international organizations, and others, to be heads, experts, consultants and trainers under projects in youth management, physical education and sports.  

As of 2008/2009 academic year, at the Faculty of Pedagogy with the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" a new specialty was opened in the Bachelor's degree program called Неформално образование Non-formal education. It aims to prepare staff with university degree for the needs of the intensely developing field of complementary and alternative educational services for children and adults provided by specialized state, private and non-governmental organizations outside the official (formal) educational system (schools, colleges, universities, etc.) providing educational degree.  

Financial support

Funding under the national programs is provided from the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria. European projects are respectively funded under EU programs.

Quality assurance

 The main mechanisms in place to monitor and ensure the quality of the implementation of these programmes are done by the high level authorities implementing them and the National authorities for National audit for the financial part.