Can You Association

‘Can You’ association is a non-profit organisation engaged in education and skills development from early ages. Its main goal is to support individuals psychologically (mentally, emotionally, socially) and physically to reach their full potential, to discover their talents and to develop new skills and key competences. Its team believes in helping kids and youth grow by making them aware of their potential and encouraging them to unleash their talent and skills.

Global Training and Educational Initiatives
Can You’ promotes mobility for individuals—including youth, youth workers, educators, teachers, mentors, and coaches—and provides opportunities for disadvantaged groups in society. We are committed to equality and equal opportunities for all.
Our organization conducts training, workshops, seminars, and informational events worldwide, focusing on future development and self-discovery. We emphasize lifelong learning and its benefits for achieving positive, sustainable outcomes. With extensive experience in the youth sector, we have successfully completed numerous Erasmus+ KA1 projects, and several KA2 small-scale partnership projects centered on entrepreneurship, environmental awareness, skills development, emotional intelligence, coaching, and non-formal education methods. Our team employs a variety of techniques, including problem-solving, interactive learning, mind mapping, role-playing, and learning by doing.

Career Guidance and Entrepreneurship Academy
We offer career guidance and life coaching to assist individuals in finding their career paths. Our Entrepreneurship Academy equips young people and youth workers with the skills needed for professional and business success, focusing on communication, presentation skills, creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and personal development. Our extensive entrepreneurial experience has enabled us to support many young people in developing sustainable business ideas.

Erasmus+ Projects and Social Impact
‘Can You’ is actively involved in Erasmus+ projects that encompass a range of topics, including positive discipline, social-emotional learning, media literacy, and empowerment through art. These projects align with our mission to support the holistic development of individuals by fostering critical competencies and raising awareness on key social issues. Specifically, we seek to empower marginalized groups and we aim to equip youth workers and educators with practical tools for positive behavioral management, enhance emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, and promote critical thinking in digital literacy. Through these initiatives, we raise awareness about the importance of mental and emotional well-being, inclusivity, and cultural understanding. By cultivating skills such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, empathy, and media literacy, we strive to create a more equitable and supportive environment where all individuals can realize their full potential.
Operating on an international scale, ‘Can You’ has established numerous partnerships worldwide. We strongly advocate for equality and cultural diversity, fostering cultural dialogue and exchange. We have participated in various projects across more than 20 countries and collaborate with innovative companies and IT start-ups to promote new educational tools, techniques, and methods.

Vision and Strategic Goals
Our vision includes:
● Increasing youth involvement in social initiatives and educational campaigns.
● Implementing projects and programs at local, regional, and national levels to improve societal well-being, focusing on young people and disadvantaged groups.
● Developing a civil society engaged in culture, education, sports, and information technology.
● Preserving cultural heritage through various projects and promoting the creative expression of folk culture by supporting local initiatives, community celebrations, folk parades and dance festivals that take place in Bulgaria and abroad.
● Strengthening youth participation in decision-making processes and advocating for equal opportunities by influencing policies at local and national levels.
● Enhancing youth capacity through non-formal education and supporting individuals to achieve their full potential.
● Organizing youth exchanges, training sessions, and local initiatives to support and raise awareness of key values.
● Promoting equal opportunities and ensure accessible and inclusive project activities, especially for participants facing barriers to participation.
● Raising awareness about environmental sustainability, by designing eco-friendly projects that integrate green practices, effects from overconsumption, and fast fashion as we aim to encourage participants to engage in discussions about environmental issues and adopt sustainable behaviors.
● Enhancing digital literacy by implementing projects aimed at exploring topics such as fostering critical thinking, ethical use of AI, media literacy, and internet protection.
● Promoting youth participation and civic engagement, fostering active citizenship and involvement in civic life.

ACTIVITIES and EXPERIENCE:
Foundational Experience and Interational Reach
'Can You’ has been organizing transformative experiences and exchanges since its initial initiative in 2013. The organization has been pivotal in supporting the growth and skills development of children, young people, and adults. With involvement in over 30 international projects across more than 20 countries, 'Can You’ has positively impacted over 10,000 individuals worldwide through its diverse range of initiatives.

Cultural Promotion and Folklore Festival
An active supporter of the Vitosha International Folklore Festival (IFF), 'Can You’ plays a key role in this annual event held in Sofia, Bulgaria. The festival promotes regional folk dance from Bulgaria and introduces audiences to global folklore through the participation of amateur dance ensembles from around the world.

Non-Formal Education and Training Techniques
'Can You’ employs non-formal education as a transformative tool for social and economic development. The organization utilizes various techniques and methods to help individuals expand their comfort zones and increase self-awareness and confidence. Key training topics include entrepreneurship, personal development, coaching, organizational psychology, leadership, emotional intelligence, and skills development.

Entrepreneurship Academy and Skill Building
The Entrepreneurship Academy established by 'Can You’ helps individuals turn their business ideas into sustainable ventures. The academy focuses on vital skills such as communication, presentation, teamwork, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and leadership. 'Can You’ also has extensive experience in developing soft skills like active listening, effective questioning, direct communication, action planning, and accountability.

Career Guidance and Professional Development
'Can You’ offers career guidance programs with coaching techniques to assist individuals in finding their career paths. The organization organizes national career fairs in major cities to help young people explore educational, volunteering, and internship opportunities.

Mentoring and Volunteer Support
The organization is involved in mentoring young people on various topics and organizes workshops to train mentors who support volunteers in European Solidarity Corps (ESC) initiatives. 'Can You’ boasts a large network of volunteers who support its activities and actively participate in hosting and sending volunteers abroad, being an active ESC member.

Support for Disadvantaged Groups
'Can You’ is committed to working with disadvantaged groups, ensuring they have equal opportunities to engage in societal activities and various mobilities such as youth exchanges, trainings, and volunteering projects. The organization initiates campaigns to support these groups and provide them with access to diverse opportunities.

Youth Training and Coaching Expertise
With extensive experience in coordinating and hosting youth projects, 'Can You’ excels in training youth workers, leaders, and educators. The organization has developed multiple programs under the Erasmus+ Programme, focusing on coaching methodologies and non-formal education techniques. 'Can You’ has successfully supported numerous trainers and educators in using these methodologies to enhance competences, realize personal values, and achieve their goals.

Erasmus+ trainings and partnerships
Can You' is deeply involved in Erasmus+ projects that aim to build competencies in in emotional intelligence, critical thinking, media literacy, social justice, environmental awareness, and community engagement. Through workshops, training courses, volunteering opportunities, cultural exchanges, artistic and creative projects, 'Can You' strives to foster inclusivity, empower individuals, and enhance their personal and professional development.

Our topics of interest and expertise include:

• Social-emotional learning (SEL) and Personal Development
• Media Literacy, Digital safety, and Critical Thinking
• Raising Awareness About Environmental Sustainability and Green Entrepreneurship
• Gender Equality and Social Justice
• Community Building and Placemaking
• Integration and Empowerment of Minority Groups
• Promoting Mental Health and Well-being
• Promoting Equal Opportunities and Inclusivity
• Promoting Youth Participation and Civic Engagement
• Active Citizenship, Democratic Values, and Youth Participation

Our target groups include:

• Young people up to the age of 18 who benefit from various educational activities, workshops, and mentorship aimed at improving academic success and personal development.

• Youth (18-30): Young adults who have moved beyond formal education into the workforce or further studies, participating in training programs, workshops, and volunteer opportunities for growth and development.

• Youth workers: Educators, trainers, volunteers, and professionals engaged with young people, who receive support and training to enhance their effectiveness and skills.

• Marginalized groups: Individuals from ethnic minorities, refugees, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community members, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who are supported through programs designed to address their unique challenges and promote inclusion.

• Personnel from NGOs, youth organizations, and non-profit organizations: Staff and volunteers within the non-profit sector, who gain access to training, capacity-building workshops, and networking opportunities to boost their professional capabilities and impact.