In total 11 from the 270 submitted applications won the financing from VivaCom regional grant program, which was launched at the end of 2015. The initiative of the company is held in partnership with the Bulgarian center for not-for- profit law.
The applicants were from non-profit organizations, schools, and community centers from all 27 regions of the country. Vivacom Regional Program aimed to aid the regions in Bulgaria and encourage the small communities. Transperancy in the evaluation process, compliance with the criteria and the impartial selection of the projects was taken care by a jury of 5 that included: Luben Panov (Director to the Bulgarian center for not-for-profit law), Iva Doichinova (journalist), Zahari Karabashliev (novelist and play writer),Chris Giorgiev(founder of the StartUp Foundation), Veselka Vutkova (Corporate Communication Director Vivacom). The final 11 projects were chosen by the jury in variety of areas – community enrichment, book donations for schools and community centers, providing equipment to improve the learning process, educate and raise awareness on important issues and many others.
"As a Bulgarian telecom for us is a great gratification to know that we can assist in the fulfillment of so many interesting projects that will bring about the development of different regions and their communities" shared Veselka Vutkova, a Corporate Communication Director at Vivacom and part of the jury.
The program accepted over 270 projects, 94 of which were submitted from little villages in Bulgaria. Over 100 from the received applications were prepared by schools and 50 from community centers. 20% of all projects were aimed at education and talent development among adolescents.
The projects, which received support are Children's book Foundation (Фондация "Детска книга") – "Readers Relay" ("Читателска щафета"), the goal of which is to educate love towards books in young adults and to encourage reading at national level. "Students 2.0" ("Ученици 2.0") of national community center Future now 2006 ("Бъдеще сега 2006"), which received funding for the creation of suitable environment for the talent development of young adults and children in IT skills, in the region of Smolyan. The mission of the project "Read and pass on" ("Чети и предай нататък") from primary school St. Kiril and Metody – Malorod, is to evolve the love of children towards reading, resulting in knowledge accumulation.
Among the winning project is also the one organized by the Wildlife Society Balkan "Explore the Dragoman marsh" ("Изследвай драгоманското блато") which primary goal is to describe the animals and plant species in the area and to allow children to practice and learn more about them in an accessible and fun way. Another curious project comes from the initiative of Ivan Vazov school "Astroparty – Vurschetz" ("Астропарти - Вършец), which aims at enriching the knowledge and skills of young adults in astronomy. The project of "Aleko Konstantinov – 1919" community center – "Let`s find the treasure" ("Да открием богатството") will enrich and strengthen children's knowledge of history and develop qualities like logic, imagination and creativity. Funding is received also by the project "Informational campaigns and education Loveguide" ("Информационни кампании и обучение Loveguide") by Foundation "Learn", which involves very important topic of our society - education and sexual health of adolescents. The Project "Park "Rakitin" Trudovec village - favorite place for recreation, sport, education and culture" Association "Trudolyubtsi" will help with the installation of sports facilities, the construction of a playground and a complete renovation of the park through voluntary work. "Zahari Stoyanov" 104 school will receive support from the Vivacom regional project also, for an idea focused on career orientation for the children in the school. The "Young, active, creative" Association's project "To save young children from the war on the streets" ("Да спасим младите от войната на пътя") goal is to reduce the total number of accidents and deaths in the village. "Children workshop for cleaning" ("Детска работилница за чистота") of "Ivan Vazov" school – Izvor village, the region of Pernik aims at raising awareness of local residents of all ages about the health damage from improper disposal and burning of waste with the help of the best ambassadors – the children.
One special project, that was highly valued by the jury and will also receive financial support from Vivacom outside the total amount of the grant. "Let`s find Bulgaria through gestures" ("Да открием България с жестове") of "Listen up" Foundation is particularly significant for the deaf residents and guests of our country because it will allow them to make use of qualified guides and specially organized tours of interesting places in Bulgaria. Vivacom will partner with the Foundation in the long-term and help with various initiatives related to the needs of deaf people.
Find more information for each of the projects at
www.vivacomfund.bg