A three-day training course on “Child and youth participation as a horizontal approach in interventions against violence against children” brought together representatives of organizations from across the country supported by the INSPIRE fund.
The training took place from June 19 to 21, 2025, in Stara Zagora. It placed special emphasis on the role of children as active participants in the processes of preventing and addressing violence, rather than simply as objects of protection.
During the training modules, participants deepened their knowledge of the scale and forms of violence against children in Bulgaria. In addition, they learned about proven effective practices for prevention and protection based on child participation.
They not only gained theoretical knowledge, but also participated in practical simulations and exercises related to advocacy, institutional communication, and solving real-life cases. As a result, they will be able to apply what they have learned directly in their fieldwork.
The trainers were Kristina Nenova, coordinator of “Child and Youth Participation” at the National Network for Children, and Iliana Kartuleva, activist and member of the youth network “Megafon,” who shared their experience, good practices, and inspiring examples of involving children in decision-making processes.
Thanks to the training, participants will be able to apply sustainable and engaging approaches in their work with children, strengthening their participation in interventions against violence. This, in turn, will increase the effectiveness of the projects they implement and contribute to the creation of a safer, more supportive, and inclusive environment for children in their communities.
The training is the fourth in a series of capacity-building trainings for organizations supported by the INSPIRE fund. The topics cover various aspects of the organizations’ work, providing in-depth knowledge and practical tools for sustainable impact.
The trainings are organized by the National Network for Children, a partner in the INSPIRE project: Improving national support for prevention, intervention, and response to violence against children and empowering victims.
In addition, the NNC will implement a mentoring program aimed at providing additional support to participants. It will cover topics such as communication strategy, advocacy, organizational capacity building, fundraising, and others.
The INSPIRE Fund, part of the INSPIRE project, has provided grant funding to 46 civil society organizations that implement projects to reduce violence against and between children. Of these, 33 are local and 13 are national. The project activities are being implemented in over 150 locations across the country and are expected to reach at least 500,000 people.
The INSPIRE project is implemented by the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF) and the National Network for Children (NNC). It has a duration of three years, with WCIF responsible for providing funding and NNC for building the capacity of the organizations.
The project is co-funded by the European Union.