INSTITUTE PERSPECTIVES

We have new web page, please take a look to understand more about our mission, capacity and resourses - https://www.institute-perspectives.com/

From June 2022 we have the biggest youth space in Bulgaria. Video here: https://youtu.be/KgWsagTKAUA

INTRODUCTION VIDEO ABOUT OUR WORK AND MISSION AVAILABLE HERE - https://youtu.be/wdKdoCVtju8

In 2022 we won national prize for Bulgaria from European Parlament youth prize for our Summer Academy, video about it - https://youtu.be/PvheFUlE8i4

Institute Perspectives, are member of National Working Group for implementation of EU Youth Dialogue.

Association Institute Perspectives is an educational organization dedicated to the implementation of European integration policies in the Republic of Bulgaria by developing, testing and implementing innovative methods and approaches in the field of social entrepreneurship, intercultural and human rights, non-formal education and the protection of cultural, historical and natural heritage. The organization was founded by University students and was formally set up in 2012, undergoing three development stages.
The first stage, lasting to 2015, during which the students at the University “St. St. Cyril and Methodius “ in the old capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tirnovo together with students from the universities in Varna, Sofia and Plovdiv joined efforts in European project composition. We attracted youths from all over Bulgaria to get involved in Youth in Action and Erasmus+ youth exchanges and training of youth workers. There were established active relationships with local authorities as well as with stakeholders from the European Union.
From 2015 to 2018, the Institute was approved to as an institution for public benefit, engaged in volunteering and in social youth activities: European youth exchanges, training courses, workshops, national conferences, public lectures, debates, information campaigns, TV Shows, press releases and meetings with stakeholders.
From 2018 to early 2020, we have increased our capacity to get involved in scientific research, developing, testing and implementing educational resources in the sphere of non-formal educational, sustainable development education initiatives, focusing on fostering youths role in community life and empowering them to become the change makers in the 21st century, especially in small rural areas in Bulgaria and partner European countries.
Our organization has the capacity to provide educational services to three target groups:
-Young people aged 15-24 in vulnerable groups at risk of social exclusion or radicalization.
-Students from Bulgarian and European Universities for conducting internships in real working environment in social and educational institutions.
-Young adults from 25 to 40 - representatives of ethnic minorities, young adults with Special Educational Needs and youths with mental and physical disabilities.
From 2015 to 2019 we provided opportunities for 320 young people from 15 small towns in Bulgaria to take part in 45 European Youth Exchanges under KA105 projects of the Erasmus + programme. There were organized trainings in 8 small towns in Bulgaria, engaging over 1600 young people for a period of 3 to 21 days.
For developing and running Erasmus+ youths and long-life learning projects and scientific research projects under Horizon 2020 programme as well as INTERREG projects we work in close collaboration with the following institutions:
- Public Youth Council at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Municipalities and the Labor Office Directorates of the towns of Svishtov, Oryahovo and Polski Trambesh for the implementation of the National Plan for the implementation of the European Youth Guarantee 2014 - 2020.
- Agreements for cooperation were signed with the University of Economics in Varna, the Academy of Economics in Svishtov, the Faculty of Education of the University of Economics “St. Cyril and Methodius” of V. Tirnovo and Ca' Foscari university of Venice.
- We are the official and sole partner of High School of economics “Dimitar Hadzhivasilev”, the first trade high school in Bulgaria for the implementation of the Innovative School project for the period 2017 - 2021.
- The organization cooperates with the State Forestry in Svishtov for the implementation of projects in the sphere of environmental protection.
These institutions provide free conference rooms for our events and educational courses altogether 320 joint events as well as convenient spaces for youths initiatives in the towns of Svishtov and Karlovo.
Scientific work - Scientific Journals “PERSPECTIVES” – collection of academic articles in the sphere of education, philosophy, humanities and youths and European integration, published in ten International series - a forum for authors from 15 countries from 3 continents.
-2016 we published a scientific collection "Bulgaria in the 20 years of the 21st century. Aspects for Strategic Development” featuring reports from 16 young Bulgarian scientists from 8 universities.
-In 2017, we developed the first Bulgarian training program for the development of key competences through non-formal learning techniques, which can be adapted in formal educational environment in secondary schools.
-We have elaborated a methodology for minimizing youth unemployment through social entrepreneurship.
- In 2018, we developed the "First Steps to EU Values" methodology, which has been certified for its effectiveness and quality with a Gold Quality Mark Certificate, having fulfilled the quality criteria of the Erasmus +programme - KA205 project - Stop Youth Radicalization (StopR).
- In 2019, we created a practical guide to FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH NON-FORMAL EDUCATION OUTDOORS TRAINING AMONG NATURE.

On 5.12.2017 youth exchange with a contract № 2016-3-BG01-KA105-035230 coordinated by our organization was distinguished as a good practice. Our project was given the highest score for quality of project realization among more than 120 projects financed by the Bulgarian National Agency.

For the period from September 2017 to June 2021, we’ve put into effect an innovative project in collaboration with the State Professional Trade School ‘Dimitar Hadzhivasilev’ for integration of the methodology of the non-formal education and the principles of the youth work into the formal education system. Our association is the only official partner of the school where the innovation is held. We are the first NGO in Bulgaria to conduct such partnership with a state school under all of the national education standards. The current project is a step towards validation and recognition of non-formal learning as a basic form of education recognized by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Through our activities we contribute to the objectives of the EU Strategy 'Youth – Investing and Empowering', through the provision of support for youth volunteering, by developing more voluntary opportunities for young people, making it easier to volunteer by removing barriers, raising awareness of the value of volunteering, recognizing volunteering as an important form of non-formal education.
All our activities that implement the methods of non-formal learning are consistent with the recommendation of the EU Council in 2012 for the validation of non-formal and informal learning.
Our initiatives support the objectives of the strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, Europe 2020 aimed at promoting the recognition of non-formal learning. Leading to the acquisition and recognition of competences required for further education and successful realization on the labor market for young people.

ABOUT OUR HISTORY:

The “Institute Perspectives” is one of the fastest evolving NGOs in Bulgaria, working mainly on the development and implementation of youth potential. The founders of the “Institute Perspectives” originally established a student philosophy club on 27th March 2012, headquartered in Philosophy Faculty of the “Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo. Since then, four new student clubs have been founded in Varna, Ruse, Plovdiv and Sofia. As a result of the various activities carried out by the above-mentioned student clubs, their founders decided to establish a non-profit organization. Its goal is to facilitate broader-scale and various initiatives, which help the youth to develop their potential in Bulgaria and in the European Union. On 27th August 2015, the Association “Institute Perspectives” was established as a completely legal non-governmental, public-profit organization with economic activity rights.
We have official cooperation agreements with Academy of Economics “D.A. Tsenov”, Varna University of Economics, State High school of Economics “Dimitar Hadzivasilev” and The High School “Dimitar Blagoev”. In these education institutions, there are more than 27 000 young Bulgarians from 14-29 years of age. And for each of our youth exchange or training courses in Bulgaria and abroad, we share the current opportunities for participation via our official website. Furthermore, we have good relations with Youth House of Veliko Tarnovo. These five institutions provide us with free conference rooms for our events and educational courses. During the last 4 years, with these 5 institutions we have organized more than 120 common events, such as conferences, public lectures, debates, information campaigns, International scientific Journal, Education courses, TV Shows, etc. Moreover, we have helped and encouraged them to create and develop projects of Erasmus+. We have sent employees and students from these institutions to youth exchanges.
The members of our board are young people up to 30 years old, however for the better implementation of our initiatives, we invited 20 academics and experts of the national level. We have combined the youthful zeal with wisdom and responsibility of adults for the sake of the development of Bulgarian society. Our Association has 5 departments and 6 clubs in the country. For our initiatives, the Institute relies on the support of 200 young people from Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse and Sofia. Since 2012, we have sent our representatives to more than 35 Erasmus+ youth exchanges and training courses. We have included more than 250 young Bulgarians in activities of European education programs like Erasmus+, Youth in Action and Europe for citizen. 90% of them participate for first time in European education initiatives. In Bulgaria, we have big problem with NEETs’ group. In our country, we have 167 670 young people who aged from 16-24; and they neither study nor work. Therefore, our association try to involve them in social activities through European and national educational initiatives. From July 2016, we have accepted and involved interns from France, Poland and Spain in our main office in Svishtov. One of their tasks is to work with young people and show them the wide range for self-development through European programs. We are the only organization that works with NEET’s in our municipality. Through involving young people from NEETs to European youth exchanges, we show them that EU can support their development and future. In addition, in the past 3 years, we have published 10 books with scientific works and essays of young people from 15 countries in the world. In our issues, more than 200 young people published their ideas and impression about the world. Following is the link of all the published books that you can refer here ->
http://www.institute-perspectives.com/resursi