NGO Academy
The most valuable lessons are those we learn while walking in someone else’s shoes – even if they’re a different size…
More than 50% of people in Bulgaria consider UFOs to be a more familiar subject than the activities of NGOs. Civil society organizations remain in the shadows, often becoming a target of political propaganda.
At the same time, the generation that will soon take over the country’s agenda shows little interest in issues such as civil society, democracy, and human rights. The Convo decided to change this by making NBU students part of the civic sector and challenging them to think like it – even if only for three days.
After a series of inspiring presentations on the social responsibility initiatives of some of the largest companies in our country, students from various humanities fields were divided into five teams. They had to face one of the biggest challenges even for civic associations themselves. Together with mentors from The Convo, the teams had to come up with original and effective fundraising campaigns for some of the most active non-governmental organizations in Bulgaria – the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, the Cedar Foundation, the Institute for Market Economics, and the Sofia Platform.
The results impressed not only the jury, which consisted of business representatives under the patronage of NGO Portal, but also the organizations themselves. The grand winners also received a financial award, with which they were able to realize their idea – one that came to life only a few months after the NGO Academy.
