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Innovative practices in Bulgaria
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Background

Before the practical realisation of the project, the citizens of the village, and most of all the young village generation, did not have access to new technologies. The only computer club, which could be used by the people in the village, was in the city centre of the municipality, away from the village of Pchelin. Among the initiatives of the children from the village, supported by many citizens, was the idea to organise computer trainings to provide basic skills among them in the field of computer use and functioning. The lack of such opportunities, providing basic skill in the area of new technologies, has also been one of the needs among the parents of these children and many citizens. In general the social status of the local population is rather low and the people did not have practical possibilities to attend such qualification and training courses out of the village.

Practice

Among the first activities within the project implementation has been the overall refurbishment and reconstruction of a room in the Prosveta community centre of the village. Safety installation was also at place. Then the hall was fully equipped with 6 computers (2 of them provided within the project and 4 contribution from the Municipality of Kostenets), printer and scanner. Young people took part on a voluntarily basis in the project activities and helped the renovation of the computer room.

Starting from February 2006, 4-month computer training has been organised. Both children and their parents took part in the training, which was focused on improving the computer skills, knowledge of MC Office, Internet; additional aspect of the training was put on how to create a CV and motivation letter, which helped the employment possibilities for the people. 50 participants, who took part in the training course, were awarded certificates of achievement. The Municipality of Kostenets provided financial support and ansured a new and modern furniture for the computer room, which turned into one of the most attractive places in the village for the young people. The long-term training offered a variety of necessary skills and knowledge, which are integral part of the basic requirements related to the successful employment process; its main objective was to ensure equal start and up-most utilisation of the job opportunities, while at the same time providing useful free time utilisation of the young (in a learning environment). Another added value of the project has been the overcoming of the social isolation of the people from the village.

Through the project activities, many children were given the chance to learn more about the computer world and get familiar with computer application programmes; to build on their existing skills and be involved in learning activities through entertainment.

Partners in the project implementation were the Municipality of Kostenets, the mayoralty of Pchelin, private company M. Grozdanov . Active support and voluntary contribution to the project activities were committed also by Megan Bratfield, Peace Corps Volunteer.

The project was funded under the Improvement of the Social Environment Programme of the Foundation for Local Government Reform/Charles Steward Mott Foundation and was finalised in June 2006.

For the local community of the village of Pchelin this has been the first contact with the computer possibilities and usage. A licensed computer training company provided computer course education to 47 people; more than 20 people were trained individually. 75 % of the trainees had successfully finished the courses.

The computer room within the community centre ensures sustainability regarding the project future continuation of providing access to computer and learning environment. Through the created within the project technical conditions many new initiatives for access to computer training and computer administrative services could be provided to the people of the village.

Results

Active involvement of the children and adults from the village of Pchelin has been ensured within a variety of learning and capacity building initiatives. The children achieved new skills and knowledge in the area of computer use, which increased their self-confidence and competitiveness in the long-term. The pilot project of the community centre was supported by the local community and visibly increased the positive image of the community centre Prosveta , the municipality and the village management. The attitudes and confidence of the local community regarding the possibilities for realisation of their own ideas and initiatives, grew strongly.

The local capacity for successful promotion, development and implementation has been increased.

Contacts:

Tatyana Lazova,

Prosveta Community Centre,

Village of Pchelin

Municipality of Kostenets

Tel.: (07147) 247

[email protected]

Innovator:
Publication Date: 02 August 2006
Nominations: 1


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