National Association of the Bulgarian European Clubs

NABEC is a non-governmental voluntary association. It is founded 2000 and unites of more 1500 students and teachers of 82 Bulgarian European Clubs from secondary and primary schools in 22 towns and cities of all country. Mission of NABEC is to implement an extracurricular activity with youths for realizing of European dimension of the education in Bulgarian schools and upbringing in European values. The aims of the Association are to answer to the present needs of qualitative education of Bulgarian new generation and to implement educational goals of EU. The main objectives of the Association are to realize complete, organized and purposeful process, relevant with the European integrating processes and with understanding ways in which the new Bulgarian person should develop it-self; to form European spirit, European self-consciousness and behavior directed to accomplishing social competence and civil activity of young people; to develop of tolerance and mutual respect, to understand the idea for European and global interdependence of the need for collaboration, good will and solidarity; as well as to gain experience of young people in managerial and organizational activities. The main activities of the National Association of the Bulgarian European Clubs express in: meetings, discussions, initiatives on an European subject; celebrations, presentations and exhibitions, dedicated to European cities, personalities, events, nations and etc.; quizs, contests, competitions, games and etc. on an European theme; exchange, mobility, international initiatives; a project work. The basic principles of organization and work of the Association are: spontaneity, voluntary and democratize. The lack of obligatory, freedom of the form of organization and the creative approach, aligned with the age particularities of the youths, their brains and inclination are the main factor for the functioning of these clubs in Bulgaria already tenth year. During the period 2000 – 2010 NABEC realized: 19 successful projects with finance support of the Delegation of the European Commission to Bulgaria. They contribute to strengthen Bulgarian European clubs position like a form of extracurricular work with pupils line the European dimension of education. The most famous are: “The broad possibilities of the European Clubs participating in extracurricular activities” and “The European clubs – meeting for dialogue and realisation of the European dimension in education and upbringing at school” (2000); “Christmas greeting to Europe” (2002); Interactive tests on CD for European integration, intended for students” (2003); “The European clubs – form for building a consciousness of European citizenship” (2004); “ European clubs in Bulgaria and their role for European education of the young people” (2005); “Young Bulgarians and the opportunities of European society”(2006); “Young Bulgarian people for future Europe” (2007); “Everything begin with us”, 2008, “For more sustainable Europe”, 2008, “Education, innovation, work”, 2009, Youth for 2020, 2010. The work on these projects contributed for the increase of the quality of education for realization of education and upbringing in schools in order to change way of thinking, behavior and evaluation of students and teachers. The activity also contributed to form of European self-consciousness and behavior directed to accomplishing social competence and civil activity. It is a complete, organized and purposeful process that is directly connected to integration processes in society and with understanding the ways in which the new Bulgarian person should develop it-self in. NABEC participation in the Program “Europe” was especially successful. It realized two projects, which won first prized in a competition of European Commission - “Making in Bulgaria with support of Europe”, 2002, one in the field – “Democracy and civil society” and the other in the field – “European education”. NABEC realizes one - through the program of the European Counsel, by the action “All different – all equipment”. “The young people in support of understanding and acceptance of the difference”, 2007 NABEC participated in the Third Academic Forum of the Youth European Parliament in Marseille (France) which took place under the patronage of the president of France – Jacque Shirak , the prime minister Lionel Gospen and the president of the European Parliament – Nicol Fonten in August 2001. The Bulgarian participants worked in commissions, where were discussed and accepted resolutions, presented later in Brussels. As a partner NABEC participated in an European educational project for the compilation of a collection of 800 proverbs in more than 20 European languages whose co-ordinator is the European home in Slavenski brod / R Croatia. NABEC realizes a project through the Communication strategy of Bulgaria for join to EU – “Europe for us”. NABEC realizes a project through the European program “Yogh in action” – “For more sustainable Home”, 2010. Very special success of the Association is the participation of 850 students from 19 European clubs from the country in the program of the European Parliament “Euroscola Day”, 2008, 2009, 2010. It gives for the first time the opportunity of Bulgarian youths to take part in the simulated games of the Parliament in Strasbourg each month. Representatives from the seven Bulgarian European clubs participated on the final of this game and took the prizes. Our youths were the presidents of the commission in this simulation of the work of the European parliament. NABEC realized very successful Training Activity - BG- - a grant for either Comenius or Grundvig target groups, with high praises of participants from 12 European countries. NABEC organizes the activities directed to collect and popularize the information at schools for the European Union, about its institutions, its way of working and policies – economic, social, cultural etc., activities annexed with introduction with the main point of the European integration and challenges which Europe has to answer. He realizes different initiatives to introduce the students with different European people, with their rich and various cultures. This way they support the forming of European spirit and European awareness among the young people and its aims to move closer to the European education and to accumulate individual social cultural experience as well which helps the positive building in and the cooperation in the society and in the world. Only when young people have acquired more knowledge and skills they could have clear stand to see their place in the society and join the processes which happen it. The main partners of NABEC are: Representation of the European Commission to Bulgaria, Information Centre of EU in Sofia, International Network of the European Clubs, as well as the Council for the children and youths to the Presidency of Bulgaria and the young organization YES (Youth European for Sureness). NABEC has a Leader team: President, a National coordinator, a Secretary. There are also regional coordinators, which are in the same time Head of youth European clubs. All are voluntaries. NABEC holds joint initiatives with the cooperation of the Information Centre of the European Union in Sofia in form of monthly meetings. With support of the Representation of the European Commission to Bulgaria NABEC was organized every year from 2000 annually National Meeting of the Bulgarian European Clubs, many national competitions for youths – for literature material, poem, for photo on a European theme, for school newspaper – EUROPANORAMA and etc. Every year NABEC organizes celebration for Europe Day, Spring Day and many European events. The prizes of NABEC show the big experience and good work: NABEC won first prized in a competition of European Commission - “Making in Bulgaria with support of Europe”, 2001, in the field – “Democracy and civil society” NABEC won first prized in a competition of European Commission - “Making in Bulgaria with support of Europe”, 2002, in the field – “European education”. For success activities with youth on European theme NABEC won prized in National competition “Europe 2003”. NABEC won a special prized from International Network of the European Clubs as a nonpareil association, working with young people, 2003. European clubs of NABEC received two pewters and prizes in the frames of the European games in program “Euroscola Day”. NABEC has received a special letters from President of RBulgaria –Mr.George Pyrvanov, 2007; a Letter commendation from Ministry of European Integration – Ms.Gergana Gruncharova, 2007 and Letter grateful for successful аnd greatly work with new generation from Ministry of culture – Dr Stefan Danailiv,2008.