AGENCY FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT - VISION

The initiative of Agency for Social Development Vision launched with a Fundraising Exhibition for purchasing of special transport for students in mainstream schools for whom Agency Vision provides social assistance services.

Varna Municipality represented by the Mayor Mr. Kiril Yordanov supported the campaign of Agency Vision to raise funds for the purchase of special transport. Support was also given by Mrs. Blagovesta Yordanova, Director of the Mayor's Office, Minutes and Public Relations, Dr. Zdravko Markov, Director of Social Work and Housing, and private sector representatives.

The mayor of Varna Mr. Kiril Yordanov opened the exhibition and first bought a painting by stressing that he supports the idea of charity to raise funds for the purchase of special transport for people who need it in Varna.

25 watercolor paintings are represented by the famous artist of Varna Petar Petrov in the Art Club VISION HALL. A part of funds will be provided for the purchase of special transport for disadvantaged children.

In Bulgaria only Children's Center VISION JUNIOR provides social assistant and personal assistant services for children with special educational needs studying in integrated conditions in mainstream schools and kindergartens in the city of Varna. Within this activity the center provides support for 120 children and their families. The center also provides opportunities to support children during their out-of-school activities and training. It expands and complements possibilities of working with children. In addition to going to school the children have a chance to attend an after-school program. Thus the conditions for increased social activity, new social contacts and learning new skills are greatly improved, making the integration process much more efficient and successful. The only thing these children need to improve their conditions and their development in the social environment is the purchase of special transport. A few more events of the Agency are planned ahead by the end of the year as part of this initiative. A bank account is opened to raise the necessary funds:

SG Expressbank - Transport Branch
BG88TTBB94001506067847
BIC TTBBBG22

Presentations of creative portraits have become tradition since 2008, and the Art House has already had nearly 15 years history. The aim is to show multiple faces of artists, both creators of various studios to Art House VISION ART and already established names from Varna and the country.

The creator, who was presented to art lovers, is Milena Yalnazova - a diverse creative talent of Art House VISION ART. She has been part of the Art House since its very beginning and also has participated in almost all the clubs and studios: Photo and Video, Art, Iconography and Stained glass, Batik - painting on cloth and silk, Cooking, Literature, Speech and Journalism, Music, Computers and English.

Her works of art - icons, souvenirs, paintings, and others - were exhibited during the event. Three short films made by the author were screened showing her life and her varied work. Some of surprises of the evening were the guests' greetings to Milena, her musical performances and some more interesting things…for art lovers.

Paintings of famous Varna artists were presented in a joint charity exhibition entitled: "Helping Irinka to move freely". The event was organized by Agency for Social Development Vision and the opening took place on September 21, 2010, at 6:00 pm at the Art club VISION HALL, Varna, Chaika Qt., bl.27. The funds raised in the exhibition were available for the treatment of Irinka that has to take place in Israel.

Irina Kazandzhieva has been in a wheelchair since the age of 3 when a grave accident damaged her brain. Now she is 25 years old and both she and her parents strongly hope to find a cure for her disease. The Rehabilitation Centre in Tel Aviv, where Manuela Gorsova was treated after a fatal accident near Ropotamo in 2007 caused by the world champion ice dancer Maxim Staviski, has confirmed that can help Irinka, but it is needed to raise funds for her treatment.

Plamen Monev, Hristo Petrov, Vladimir Andreev, Violeta Boycheva, Velina Grebenska, Katya Georgieva, Mladen Kostadinov, Veselin Smokov and Dimo Valchev are the artists who submitted their works for the good initiative.

The initiative to raise funds is continuing after October 15, 2010. You can support it by text messaging of DMS IRINA to 17 777 at a price of 1.20 lv (incl. VAT).

June 1, 2010, an organized ceremony took place at the municipal enterprise “Sport for all” in Mladost, Varna. It was attended by more than 50 participants, children with special needs, social assistants, parents and others. A special cake, games and entertainment of a different nature and much joy were provided for the holiday treat.

The Children's Centre Vision Junior Team, in the person of Bilyana, Svetla and social assistants, was rewarded with many smiles, joy and gratitude by all participants.

The Agency for Social Development Vision and all children thank:

1. “Kramer” Company for the support that we had in providing the sweet temptation.
2. Kindergarten № 3 “Kid town” which provided fancy dresses for children, turning them into characters from their favorite fairy tales.

We wish more successful future work to all of Vision Junior.

On 23-24 September 2009 NASO participated in the seminar Leaving No Child Behind, which took place in Bansko and which had high in its agenda the topics about the way the structural funds could facilitate the deinstitutionalization process in Bulgaria. The event was attended by representatives of the European and Bulgarian authorities, municipalities and NGOs:
- Carsten Rasmussen- Chair of the seminar- Deputy Head of Unit 12- "Structural and Cohesion Funds in Bulgaria", Directorate General for Regional Policy in cooperation with Bulgarian Authorities (MRDPW and Association of Municipalities)
- Luk Zelderloo, European Association of service providers for persons with disabilities
- Judith Klein, Director of Open Society Mental Health Initiation
- Laura Parker, Managing Director, ARK Bulgaria
- Georgette Mulheir, Director of Operation, The Children's High Level Group
- Sorin Brasoveanu, Director of Social Services, Bacau county, Romania.

The tasks of the Inter-ministerial working group established in Bulgaria were presented by:
- Mrs. Mariana Cordova, Chairwoman of the Inter-ministerial working group, Council of Ministers
- Mrs. Lilyana Pavlova, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and Head of OPRD Managing Authority
- Mrs. Valentina Simeonova- Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy
- Mr Krassimir Popov- Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy and Head of OPHRD Managing Authority

One of the most important outcomes of the seminar was the meeting conducted in between Mr. Krassimir Popov- Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy and Head of OPHRD Managing Authority on one hand, and on the other hand- Mr. Luk Zelderloo and Mr. Georgi Georgiev- President of NASO. During the meeting they discussed the possibilities for NASO to officially join the Inter-ministerial group formed by the representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the State Agency for Child Protection, the Association of Municipalities and the Deputy Prime Minister.  

On 11 Sept 2009 in Budapest, the CVN project final conference was conducted. Agency for Social development Vision was involved as a partner in this project. 

The project implementation began in October 2008. The main objective of the project was to develop proposals for the decrease of discrimination measures against people with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities and autism. As a basis for these proposals we carried out an international research about the anti-discrimination legislation and its implementation in the partner countries- Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Macedonia and Romania.

As a result of the desktop research we found many different problems in the national regulations and we highlighted those parts of the national regulations that are not harmonized with the EU legislation. Specific proposals were formulated in the Policy Paper we compiled and through which the national legislations should develop, in order to enhance the implementation and observation of the rights of persons with disabilities. 

The international partnership established during the project implementation includes national networks which actively represent the users and service providers in their country.  Therefore the aim of the international partnership, with its common voice as an international network is to be such a lobbying force in Eastern Europe that could successfully contribute, at national and international level, for the recognition of the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, autism etc.

Amongst the main activities carried out during the lifetime of the project were:

1. Establishment of partnerships
2. Establishment of informal international network
3. Realization of a desktop research on the international anti-discrimination legislation
4. Virtual skype meetings
5. Implemented 2 discussion and exchange of good practices and anti-discrimination lobby methods fora
6. Lobby planning
7. Preparation of Policy Paper which summarizes the results of the desktop research and formulates proposals based on these results

The most important conclusions of the Policy Paper are:

1. The national level anti-discrimination legislation should be examined specifically focusing on the target group in the case of EU-member countries concerning whether they comply with the EU directives or not.
2. The EU-member countries have to put more emphasis on ensuring that the EU directives would appear in all fields of law and that they could be implemented when adapting the EU-level anti-discrimination legislation in their own national legislation.
3. In favor of enforcing the rights of the target group, the concept of disability should be standardized. 
4. Regarding the target group it is in crucial importance that the requirement of accessibility and reasonable accommodation would be adapted and implemented in the national legislation. Furthermore, it is also necessary to state and support with the appropriate system of sanctions that the violation of these means is discrimination.

The complete text of the Policy Paper will be available very soon on the websites: www.naso.bg and www.easpd.bg.

In the period 1-4 September 2009 in Grand Hotel Dimyat, Varna the Third Forum of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities in Bulgaria was conducted.

The forum was organized by the National Alliance for Social Responsibility (NASO), Agency for social development VISION, with the support and the partnership of the Flemish authorities and the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), along with the participation of the Bulgarian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

The third edition of the first event of its kind, on national level, being a part of the EU project SNOWBALL and EASPD's program.

The forum was attended by more than 130 participants representing municipalities, organizations, service providers for persons with disabilities in Bulgaria, employers, organizations and institutions related to the issues of persons with disabilities.

A contribution to the success of the event was the special participation of the Embassador of the Kingdome of Belgium in Bulgaria- Mr. Marc Michielsen, a delegation of Belgium experts, representatives of the Flemish Authorities and NGOs from Flanders, as well as a great number of representatives of Bulgarian NGOs, municipalities, socially responsible corporations and other structures.

Amongst the guests were: Mr. Luk Zelderloo- Secretary General of EASPD, Ms Bistra Valchanova with the European Commission, Ms Nina Sherbetova- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Mr. Jos Theunis- Flemish Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Dancho Simeonov- Regional Governor of Varna, Mayors of Bulgarian municipalities.      

We received congratulatory letters from Mr. Totyu Mladenov- Minister of Labor and Social Policy and Mr. Mincho Koralski- Executive director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

The event was also attended by representatives of the Agency for Social Assistance, the Agency for the Persons with Disabilities, the State Agency for Child Protection, the National Council of Disabled People and the National Association of the Municipalities in Bulgaria.

The program and the proper conditions created an opportunity for an active involvement in the plenary sessions conducted, which covered the following topics:

1. Current issues, financial crisis and its impact on the disability sector
2. State support for development of services for persons with disabilities in Bulgaria and Flanders
3. European funding possibilities
4. Flemish experience. The role of the Government in financing the sector. Competences, possibilities and limitations of the Flemish Authorities. Constitution of cooperation between the Flemish Authorities and NGOs. Local Authorities in Belgium at the same level as NGOs; quality of t services issues
5. Management and financing of services in Bulgaria and Flanders
6. Needs of the persons with disabilities and quality services provision

Several extremely interesting discussions were questioned during the workshops, on the following topics:

1. Government policy. Different models of care and support
2. Models of good practice in Flanders. Results. Analysis of the concrete types of services in Flanders
3. Day care
4. Residential care
5. Ambulant care and support at home (non residential)
6. Users participation on service level
7. Quality of care and control on governmental level
8. Processes of organization
9. Life Long Learning and vocational training strategies (VOT) for front line workers and Human Resources management

A new moment was the presentation of the new national organization of the service providers for persons with disabilities- the National Alliance for Social responsibility. A huge part of the participants expressed their desire to become members of the new national organization with confidence in the success of the organization's future activities.

At the special gala dinner the national VISION awards were bestowed and the 10th anniversary of the Art House VISION ART was celebrated.

Within the loaded and dynamic program the participants in the third forum of service providers for persons with disabilities in Bulgaria 2009, had the opportunity to enjoy a boat trip, to see the facilities of the new Children Centre VISION JUNIOR, to attend the Art Club VISION HALL where a general exhibition was opened and a medley premiere was held of Emy Hadzheva's book "Invitation for a dance", both events being dedicated to the 10th Anniversary of the Art House VISION ART.

All participants had the opportunity to conduct individual meetings with experts and partners from Bulgaria and abroad.