Small dolls, jars with honey, jam and lutenica, painted or hand-knit souvenirs ... and hundreds of small things that cost a lot. Not money, but time, effort and value.

These little things mean a Lot:

• For every disabled person who has been involved in the making of a small ribbon, souvenir or martenitsa

 "At the Day Care Center I learned to be more responsible, to respect the time, in the past I was more distracted. Now that we are making decoupage of the souvenirs, I have become more skillful with my hands, and even my parents have noticed that and praised me." says Daniel, a participant in the Workshop “Worlds” of the “Maria’s World” Foundation.

•  For every young talented beginner who has little self-esteem but a lot of potential so that the many possibilities appear for him

"She was a little, blond-haired girl with a curious look – she talked a little, smiled often, and was drawing with a verve. All the artists, who led various courses in fine art, sculpture and illustrations with the children fromAtelier "Hug Me", categorically agree on Leah's undeniable talent, that’s why she also received the artistic pseudonym ArtMachine.
From this year, Leah is a student at the School for Applied Arts "St. Luke ", says Milena from " Atelier "Hug Me.

• For every little child, for whom the preservation of nature becomes a very important cause

 "This is a baby sturgeon. This is a slide for baby sturgeons which is put in the water by the good people who do not eat sturgeons …. ", are the words of a 4-year-old boy who watched WWF Bulgaria's DANUBE flows in Sofia 3D mapping screening (#ДУНАВтечевСофия), then painted a family of sturgeons and told his friends about them and the need to be protected.

• For every disadvantaged person who has little skills, but a lot of energy for work

 "Fani is 31 years old, graduated only in 4th grade, she has 3 children and has never worked before. Her enrollment in the “Sewing Workshop”of NAVA Foundation made her dream, feel capable and independent, and helped her find friends and a new environment. After the 6-month training course, she applied with our support for a job in a tailors company and for nine months already she is working tirelessly and is equally contributing to the family budget. She is happy to be a valuable citizen, and most importantly, that she has a profession and will never worry again about her livelihood. "says Maria from the National Alliance for Volunteer Action (NAVA).

In fact, all these little things mean a Lot to all of us.

All of us from the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, we know that civil organizations in Bulgaria achieve many successes which are significant for our society and measurable in the thousands of changed destinies,  preserved animal species and natural goods. That is why part of our mission is to support civil organizations to develop and to be sustainable in achieving their causes. One of the ways to contribute for this is our Program “Entrepreneurship for Non-Profit Organizations”. Thanks to our partners in the program, we have promoted and supported the development of entrepreneurial initiatives with added social value for already 8 consecutive editions. These initiatives bring not only financial sustainability and independence to organizations, but also extend the possibilities for support they offer to the various vulnerable groups they work with.

More than 160 organizations have passed through the Program so far, all of them have acquired new knowledge, skills and mentoring in developing an entrepreneurial model of work. Over 160,000 leva are invested in the best business ideas, as the financial support being only a part of the co-operation that organizations receive when starting their ideas.

A special time for meetings and sharing good stories with entrepreneurial potential is the annual Social Enterprise Bazaar. This year, for its fourth edition, the Bazaar is named „A Little means a Lot“:

• Because behind the Little (and not so little) products you will find at the Bazaar, there are Many and important causes!
• Because the Little gifts that you will make to yourself or to your loved ones will bring a Lot of satisfaction, meaning and hope -  to you and to the organization whose mission you will support with your purchase.

On February 16 and 17, we will turn shopping into a feast because we will be shopping with a cause. Within two days, 13 civil organizations will be at the Sofia Serdika Center to sell not only beautiful and useful things, but such with added social value. The Bazaar is a place for sharing and communication: you will have the opportunity to learn the story behind the products on the shopping stands, to find out more about the human fates and the natural resources on which your purchase will have a positive impact. There will also be time for creativity - we have prepared workshops for making cards, martenitsi and for drawing.

The organizations you will meet at the Bazaar are having a lot of good deeds behind them and even more ahead of them. These are: Bulgarian Foundation Biodiversity, BirdLife Bulgaria, Karin Dom, National Alliance for Volunteer Action, “Zakrila – Lovech” Association, Association for Supporting Persons with Mental Disabilities - Varna, IDEA Association, “Parallel World” Association, I Can Too Foundation, “Concordia Bulgaria” Foundation, “Maria’s World” Foundation, Center for Non-Formal Education and Cultural Activities ALOS, WWF Bulgaria.

During the Bazaar, on February 16, the official award ceremony will take place for the winners in the competition "Best Business Plan of NGO". The 12 organizations taking part in the competition are the ones that participate in this year's edition of the Program “Entrepreneurship for Non-Profit Organizations”. The organizations that have presented the top five business plans will receive financial, expert and mentoring support to start or upgrade their business ideas. We will tell you more about their varied and inventive ideas, and here you can see which organizations are participating in the contest, as well as the winners of the previous edition.

Be with us on February 16 and 17 at the Bazaar „A Little means a Lot“: and shop with a cause!

 

The initiative is carried out within the program "Entrepreneurship for Non-Profit Organizations", which happens with the support of  the “America for Bulgaria” Foundation and in partnership with TELUS International Europe and UniCredit Bulbank.

Media partners of the Bazaar:

With the kind hospitality of: