More than 100 representatives of 59 civil society organisations from across the country took part in the second annual meeting of the organisations supported under the two funds of the “Rights and Values” project. The event was held on 16 May in Sofia and brought together active civil society actors working on initiatives that promote democratic values, equality, solidarity, and citizens’ participation in public life.
The official opening was delivered by the executive directors of the three organisations behind the project: Georgi Stoychev, Open Society Institute – Sofia Foundation; Iliyana Nikolova, Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation; and Asya Kavrakova, European Citizen Action Service (ECAS). In their opening remarks, they emphasised the power of cooperation, shared knowledge, and the sustainable impact of the civil society sector, especially in the context of the challenges facing Europe.
A key highlight of the programme was the so-called “World Café”—an interactive working session during which participants were divided into small groups to discuss key topics such as: the role of education in promoting values; European solidarity in times of crisis; mobilising local communities; working with institutions in contexts of tension and pressure; and others.
The work on these topics not only created opportunities for exchanging good practices and ideas, but also encouraged participants to look beyond everyday challenges and seek innovative solutions for strengthening the values on which the European Union is built.
Participants also took an active part in a discussion titled “Upholding EU Values: How Can Civil Society Organisations Maintain Momentum in Difficult Times?”, which offered an in-depth analysis of issues such as: the main sources of resistance to EU values and how these affect the work of civil society organisations; how to act as bridges rather than walls to citizen inclusion; what we have learned and how we will apply it in our organisations going forward; and what the next bold step we can take together should be.
An exhibition featuring materials, products, and videos created within the supported initiatives was also presented during the event. This gave participants the opportunity not only to exchange experience, but also to draw inspiration from the results achieved and the impact generated in different regions of the country.
The annual meeting proved to be a valuable platform for learning, networking, and building a shared vision for the future. For participants, it brought new ideas, partnerships, and the confidence that sustainable change begins with small but meaningful actions—together.
