(Part 2: Council of Refugee Women, Sofia, Bulgaria)
At the Prague Integration Center, we strive to continuously improve our services. We also seek inspiration abroad, where, thanks to the Erasmus+ program (2024-1-CZ01-KA122-ADU-000240058), we can visit organizations that also work with foreigners. Through job shadowing, we have the opportunity to gain new ideas for developing our services, establish new partnerships, and share examples of good practice with each other.
Our first trip was to Italy, specifically to the Dedalus organization, which focuses on comprehensive work with young people. During our second trip, we visited the Council of Refugee Women in Sofia, Bulgaria, which provides assistance primarily to refugees.
Initial interview
If a foreigner wishes to use the services of the organization, they must undergo an initial interview with a social worker. During registration, the recipient fills out a detailed form that comprehensively maps their situation, family and health status, work skills, and current needs. If the foreigner and the social worker do not speak the same language, a cultural mediator is also present at the interview to interpret for both parties and ensure smooth communication with an intercultural dimension. The aim is to gain an in-depth understanding of the foreigner’s situation so that the services provided are tailored as closely as possible to their needs.
Cultural mediation
Similar to the Integration Center Prague, CRW also has an experienced team of cultural mediators who interpret for clients in state institutions. These are mainly healthcare institutions, schools, and government offices. In more complex situations, a social worker with in-depth knowledge of the law also attends the meeting and can act on behalf of the client in the event of a violation of their rights. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the vast majority of officials and doctors have no problem with interpreting over the phone, which means that cultural workers are able to handle a high number of clients. Intercultural workers provide interpretation from Arabic, Ukrainian, and Russian, but the organization also has volunteers who speak Persian and Kurdish.
Women’s empowerment
One of the most interesting aspects of CRW is its comprehensive work with women and the process of their empowerment. It starts with a call for applications to the program, which is shared on social media and through community channels. An initial interview is conducted with interested women to assess their motivation and what topics they are interested in. The applicants are then divided into groups according to their thematic focus, which meet twice a week. Under the guidance of a coordinator, the groups discuss predetermined topics related to integration, intercultural differences, the rights and obligations of foreigners, the specifics of the Bulgarian system, and share useful tips and language aids.
Meetings are primarily held in person, but participants also have the option of joining online, which is particularly welcomed by women who are caring for small children. The groups have their own WhatsApp chat, where they can clarify information discussed at the meetings, answer questions, or help each other fill out forms. The goal of the empowerment program is to educate refugee women in various areas, strengthen their integration, skills, and self-confidence, and thus increase their chances for further career development. Women are also encouraged to pass on the knowledge and skills they have acquired, thereby becoming leaders and role models for other women in their own communities. The most active graduates of the program are subsequently more involved in the running of the organization, e.g., as volunteers or employees.
Humanitarian aid
Not far from the main building, the organization also operates a humanitarian warehouse where recipients can pick up an aid package once a week. These packages usually contain clothing, shoes, toys, strollers, household items, or hygiene products (food is not provided for operational reasons). Donations are collected through regular online campaigns that reflect the current needs of families and socially disadvantaged individuals.
Material assistance is provided not only by individual donors, but also by local manufacturers and international companies. When sorting and distributing items, the organization often works with volunteers from the Bulgarian public and foreign communities who want to support the organization in its activities in this way.
We would like to thank the Council of Refugee Women for their warm welcome and many interesting ideas, and we wish them every success in their activities!
“Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the House of Foreign Cooperation. Neither the European Union nor the grant provider is responsible for them.”
