Foundation "Solidarity Works"

"SolidarityWorks" is a voluntary, self-governed, community-based organization without political or religious affiliation. Our main goal is to promote, encourage, and support the sustainable development of individuals and communities through solidarity and collective action for social change. Furthermore, we aim to support and expand equal access to education and opportunities for development, and work to overcome the impact of inequality and violence, as well as reduce it. We are working to achieve expanded solidarity, collaboration, cooperation, and communication between and among different sociocultural groups and generational cohorts. As an organization led and predominantly consisting of young people we are confident in the potential of young people to affect change, and are dedicated to creating opportunities for young people to create diverse network, develop their skills and intercultural competencies, explore diverse leadership and civic engagement pathways, as well as support those who work with them. We actively support and encourage young people from our communities to develop their ideas and access funding to realize them. We are active within the Erasmus+ programme both as a hosting and sending organization for youth worker mobility and youth exchanges. We also have experience working on international projects funded by “Europe for Citizens” Program and ESC. The foundation builds on the experience of an informal group ("Ученическо благотворително дружество към НГДЕК") we ran as High School students, whereby we organized two youth exchanges in Bulgaria under the former "Youth in Action" program (in 2009 and 2012). We achieve our goals by: - empowering individuals, marginalized groups and other collectives - supporting equal access to education and opportunities for development, and work to overcome the impact of inequality, as well as reduce and eliminate it - encouraging and supporting solidarity and cooperation between individuals and communities - developing the capacity for collective action toward social change - empowering local communities development by increasing cultural heritage preservation - encouraging individuals and groups to explore possibilities and limits using the practices of artistic self-expression and the adoption of an attitude of sincerity, open-mindedness, curiosity and understanding of differences - conducting advanced sociocultural research We believe that solidarity is the key to global sustainable development. The exchange of good practices and ideas, the expansion of multicultural understanding, and the joining of forces allow us to learn from our mistakes, to see the status-quo from a different perspective, and to create solutions that overcome the limits of nationality and geographical boundaries. Shared experiences change our attitudes and naturally awaken our solidarity. They are an opportunity to grow, learn and change together. Within this context, the principle of intersectionality as an approach for studying and challenging power, as it manifests, is produced, and is reinforced institutionally and structurally, has been identified as a key program strategy for the foundation. We have two locations where we run our main activities- both situated in small, depopulated villages amidst vast natural landscapes. Our Center for Learning, Sharing and Exchange is located in the village of Drugan, 10 kilometres away from the town of Radomir. The Center’s facilities include a 2-story house with shared sleeping arrangements for 20 individuals, 2 bathrooms and 2 additional outside toilets, a dining hall with kitchen and a library with a variety of books in 5 languages. The Center also has a spacious garden with multiple areas equipped with comfortable garden chairs and tables that can be used for relaxation, hanging out or group work on shared projects. The Center has a large area utilized as an outdoor classroom, however, we are also allowed to utilize a training room, a large room with