Plovdiv, October 20-21, 2018
On October 20th and 21st at the Expo hotel in Plovdiv, took place the first two-day youth volunteer training of the “Big Brother, Big Sister” association’s “First encounters” campaign
The campaign aims to create a team of motivated young people who will be working with children and young people from several institutions of closed type in Plovdiv using the peer-to-peer method. Through the prism of the interactive educational methods the volunteers will inform them on topics from the field of health and sexuality education will introduce them to basic human rights and will also work together on prevention of aggression and hate speech. The campaign’s goal is to increase the self-awareness of marginalized young people as far as to underline their emotional and physical world is untouchable and to develop their ability to identify relationships in which violence and risk could potentially arise. The main strategy of the educational program is building self-esteem, equality and empathy through acquiring knowledge, skills and asserting constructive attitudes.
During the first day the participants, who come from different elite schools in Plovdiv, got to know each other and also found out what the idea of the campaign and its goals are. They focused on teamwork and communication skills. Lena Karnalova, Executive Director of the host organization was the facilitator of the training.
On the next day Dr. Radosveta Stamenkova, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) made an introduction in the peer-to-peer education method and made reference to health and sexuality education through the changes that occur during puberty. This was a real Health Information and Health Campaign Day, during which the discussion began with a draft copy of the latest BFPA animated product – a short video on the changes during puberty, supported by the “You and Lidl for a better life” programme.
The “First encounters” campaign is implemented by the “Big Brother, Big Sister- Bulgaria” Association with the financial support of the European Youth Foundation.
The second two-day training will take place on November 3rd and 4th and BFPA has the entire first day filled with topics, related to the basic aspects of health prevention – let’s not forget that December 1st is coming…..
