"The effect of these activities is extremely positive for young people with special needs. They have a strong need to communicate, develop their abilities and be accepted as they are," shared professionals from social services in Blagoevgrad who took part in the closing event.
They highlighted that creative activities, combined with supportive environments and meaningful interaction, help young people develop confidence, discover new strengths and build relationships with others. Following the success of the initiative, professionals from social services in Blagoevgrad and their colleagues from Caritas Sofia have already started discussing future joint activities within upcoming projects of the For Tomorrow Foundation.
According to Petya Petrova, psychologist and trainer at the For Tomorrow Foundation, the project achieved its main objective by providing youth workers with practical methods that combine environmental awareness, artistic expression and sound therapy.
"Through interactive learning and hands-on activities, youth workers acquired innovative approaches that can support the motivation, confidence and emotional wellbeing of young people with special educational needs. These tools can be adapted and used in different communities to create more inclusive opportunities for young people," said Petya Petrova.
She added that every new project confirms the importance of non-formal education models based on practical experience, shared living and active cooperation between people from different countries and backgrounds.
"Projects like ECO ART INclusion show that inclusion is not only a principle — it is a practice. When people have the opportunity to learn from one another, create together and recognise each other's strengths, lasting change becomes possible," she said.
The project demonstrated that the combination of ecological awareness, artistic methods and inclusive education can provide youth workers with effective tools to support young people with SEN while also strengthening cooperation between organisations across Europe.
By bringing together international youth workers, young people with special educational needs, families and professionals, ECO ART INclusion created a space where diversity was not simply acknowledged but celebrated — proving that creativity, empathy and collaboration can open new pathways towards a more inclusive society.
About the Project
ECO ART INclusion – Ecological and Artistic Tools for the Employment and Social Inclusion of Young People with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is an international training course implemented under the Erasmus+ Programme.
The project aims to equip youth workers with innovative non-formal education methods that combine eco-art, creative practices, theatre, music and sound therapy to support the social inclusion, personal development and employability of young people with special educational needs.
The training brought together youth workers from Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Spain and Türkiye, creating opportunities for intercultural exchange, professional development and the sharing of good practices.
Through experiential learning and direct interaction with young people with SEN, participants explored practical approaches that can be transferred to their local communities and organisations.
About For Tomorrow Foundation
For Tomorrow Foundation is a Bulgarian non-governmental organisation based in Blagoevgrad, working to create opportunities for personal development, social inclusion and active participation of young people.
Through educational programmes, international partnerships and community initiatives, the foundation develops innovative approaches that support young people, youth workers and vulnerable groups.
The organisation is committed to building more inclusive communities by promoting non-formal education, intercultural dialogue, creativity and equal opportunities for all young people.
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During creative workshops, youth workers and young people with SEN worked together with natural materials, creating artworks that reflected their imagination and personal experiences. The activities encouraged cooperation, patience and mutual understanding, while demonstrating how art can support confidence-building and emotional expression.
Participants also explored theatre as a tool for inclusion. By creating masks, costumes, stage designs and short theatrical performances, they discovered how role play and improvisation can help people overcome hesitation, express emotions and reveal their individual potential.
For young people with special educational needs, such activities provide more than a creative experience. They create opportunities to participate actively, make choices, communicate with others and experience the sense of achievement that comes from creating something together.
The Power of Music and Sound
Sound therapy was another important component of the programme. Under the guidance of sound therapist Mihaela Mihaylova – Or'Fa, participants explored different musical instruments, experimented with sounds and rhythms, and took part in individual and group musical improvisations.
The sessions showed how music can support relaxation, emotional balance and connection between people. Without the pressure of performance or evaluation, participants were encouraged to listen, respond and express themselves freely.
Together with Mihail Dimov and Zlatina Toleva from Theatre of the Senses – Sofia, participants also took part in music improvisation activities focused on self-expression and creative interaction.
The approach reflected one of the key messages of the project: inclusion is created through shared experiences where every person has the opportunity to be heard and valued.
Learning Through Nature and Community
The training programme extended beyond the workshop spaces and into the surrounding natural environment. Participants visited Polska Skakavitsa Waterfall, one of the region’s remarkable natural landmarks, and took part in activities aimed at connecting environmental awareness with artistic expression.
As part of a community initiative, participants enhanced the eco-trail near Dolni Rakovets by creating artistic elements from natural materials. They also transformed the area around the village’s mineral-water lake into an open-air creative space, demonstrating how public places can become environments for learning, interaction and inclusion.
These activities strengthened the connection between sustainability, creativity and social responsibility — three themes at the heart of the ECO ART INclusion project.
Inclusion in Action: Working Together with Young People with SEN
The practical impact of the training became especially visible on 29 June, when 15 young people with special needs from Caritas Sofia joined the project activities.
Together with their support workers and the international participants, they took part in an eco-art workshop led by Aneliya Kirilova from the social enterprise Made with Love in Pernik. Using natural materials, they created colourful eco-art panels while sharing ideas, working collaboratively and discovering new ways to express themselves.
The workshop was not only a creative activity but also an opportunity for meaningful social interaction. It showed how inclusive environments can bring together people with different backgrounds and abilities around a shared experience.
A Celebration of Talent and Possibility
The closing event of the project took place on 30 June in Bachinovo Park, Blagoevgrad, with the support of the Municipality of Blagoevgrad. Nearly 50 participants joined the event, including young people with special educational needs, their families, social workers and professionals from day-care centres, supported housing services and family-type residential centres for young people with disabilities.
The event brought together all the elements explored throughout the training: art, music, nature and human connection. Participants created eco-art panels from natural materials, experimented with musical instruments and experienced sound therapy as a tool for creativity, communication and emotional wellbeing.
One of the most inspiring moments of the day was the collective musical improvisation led by Mihaela Mihaylova – Or'Fa and Mihail Todorov, a young artist with special educational needs whose story reflects the transformative power of support and opportunity.
Mihail has published two poetry collections, composes music and has founded his own music label, Sunrise Dreamers. Through his artistic work, he demonstrates that disability does not define a person's potential — access to opportunities, encouragement and inclusive environments can help talents flourish.
Mihail is currently preparing a new large-scale creative project involving different artists, including established performers, continuing his journey as an advocate for creativity and inclusion.
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For ten days, the quiet village of Dolni Rakovets in western Bulgaria became a vibrant international learning space where youth workers and young people with special educational needs (SEN) learned, created and lived together. Organised by the For Tomorrow Foundation under the Erasmus+ Programme, the training course ECO ART INclusion introduced participants to innovative educational approaches that combine eco-art, theatre, music and sound therapy to promote inclusion, wellbeing and employability.
Rather than learning about inclusion in a classroom, participants experienced it first-hand.
Youth workers from Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Spain and Turkey worked side by side with young people with SEN, exchanging ideas, challenging stereotypes and discovering practical methods that can be transferred to their own organisations and communities.
Throughout the programme, nature became both a classroom and a source of inspiration.
Participants experimented with clay, wool, recycled paper and natural materials, transformed everyday objects into works of art and discovered how creative activities can strengthen communication, confidence and emotional wellbeing. Theatre workshops encouraged self-expression through masks, costumes and improvisation, while sound therapy sessions demonstrated how music and the human voice can help participants connect beyond words.
One of the most memorable moments of the programme was the celebration of Enyovden, one of Bulgaria's oldest summer traditions. Participants welcomed the sunrise, learned about the symbolic ritual of collecting "silent water", gathered medicinal herbs and discovered traditional techniques for producing natural herbal essences. The experience offered international participants not only a glimpse into Bulgarian cultural heritage but also another example of how nature can become an educational resource for inclusion and wellbeing.
"Inclusion cannot be taught only through theory. It must be experienced," says Dimitar Urdev, Chair of the For Tomorrow Foundation. "When youth workers and young people with special educational needs live, create and learn together, barriers disappear naturally. This is the kind of experience that changes attitudes long after the project has ended."
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Young people from eight countries - Bulgaria, Albania, Moldova, Spain, Turkey, Croatia, Poland, and North Macedonia - will gather in the village of Dolni Rakovets. Over the course of 10 days, they will live together, work, and acquire skills in the areas of intercultural communication and the social and labor inclusion of youth with special educational needs. Among the project participants will be people with various special needs. The project’s goal is for participants to learn ecological and artistic techniques through interactive training sessions and hands-on activities; when combined with sound therapy, these techniques help boost the motivation, self-confidence, and well-being of people with special educational needs.
Volunteers with an interest in and knowledge of non-formal education, the arts, and nature will gain new knowledge and skills that they will use as tools for meaningful communication with people with special needs and for their successful social inclusion. “Our efforts are focused on people with special educational needs and their effective socialization. We are working hard with young people from different countries to turn them into ‘agents’ of positive change and to improve the social climate for achieving the employment and social inclusion of people with special educational needs,” said Dimitar Urdev, Chairman of the “For Tomorrow” Foundation.
The goal of the Blagoevgrad-based “For Tomorrow” Foundation is to create and test new models of non-formal education based on practical work and the shared living experience between volunteers from different countries and their peers with special educational needs. As part of the project, the youth workers in training will organize public events to present and put into practice what they have learned, and to have the opportunity to interact with more young people with SEN and their families.
The youth exchange “ECO ART Inclusion - Ecological and Artistic Tools for the Labor and Social Inclusion of Youth with Special Educational Needs” will demonstrate in practice how various art forms and contact with nature support emotional expression, the development of social and cognitive skills, reduce stress, encourage the development of inner potential, personal qualities, and talents, boost motivation, and make the social inclusion of people with special educational needs achievable.
The volunteers in the project will work with clay and recycled materials, receive training in dance, sound and music, set design, and acting skills, visit some social service facilities in Blagoevgrad, and have the opportunity to communicate and interact with young people with special educational needs. “Through this exchange of experience and information, we aim to strengthen the unique network of nongovernmental organizations and volunteers that we have been building for several years now, in order to promote positive environmental and social changes that support the employment and social inclusion of people with special educational needs,” said Borislav Slavchov, coordinator and trainer for the “For Tomorrow” Foundation’s projects. “All interested social service organizations in Blagoevgrad, as well as families with children with special educational needs in the region, are invited to see the results of our project. Our hope is that more people will become familiar with the non-formal education models we are creating to engage with young people with SEN, so that we can disseminate them and make the social inclusion of these young people more accessible and successful,” Slavchov added.
The work of the team at the “For Tomorrow” Foundation in Blagoevgrad is focused on improving the quality of life for people with special educational needs and integrating them into society as equal members. The “For Tomorrow” Foundation promotes the exchange of information, best practices, experience, awareness, and support for families so that they can foster their child’s development despite the medical and social challenges the child faces.
The activities under the Youth Worker Training Program – Eco Art Inclusion, organized by the “For Tomorrow” Foundation in Blagoevgrad, are part of a youth mobility initiative
under Project No. 2025-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000299745 - SM-PDA-T-3, funded by the EU under the Erasmus+ program.
]]>From May 23 to June 1, 2026, the village of Dolni Rakovets hosted the international youth exchange “Green Skills,” organized by the “Za Utre” Foundation in Blagoevgrad. Sixteen young people from Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Serbia participated in the project, including seven young people with intellectual disabilities. The initiative was implemented with the support of the Erasmus+ program and aimed to develop practical green skills, promote volunteering, and create opportunities for social and labor inclusion.
For ten days, the participants lived, learned, and worked together, acquiring knowledge and skills in the fields of sustainable agriculture, permaculture, and eco-construction. The young people participated in hands-on activities such as building a composting system, creating a permaculture garden, producing eco-friendly bricks from natural materials, and constructing a miniature model of a treehouse.
The project was implemented in partnership with the organizations “Zelena Doba” from Serbia and “Natural Perspective” from North Macedonia. The collaboration between the partners demonstrated that international youth exchanges can successfully combine environmental education and social inclusion. The main goal of our youth exchanges is to develop and test models for the social and labor market inclusion of young people with special educational needs, which can subsequently be used by other organizations as well,” said Borislav Slavchov, an organizer and trainer with the “For Tomorrow” Foundation.
In addition to practical skills, participants gained valuable experience in teamwork, intercultural communication, and mutual support. Volunteers from the three countries worked side by side with young people with special educational needs and had the opportunity to overcome stereotypes and prejudices through direct communication and collaboration.
As part of the program, the young people also took part in a volunteer initiative at the Institute for Ecological Construction in Dolni Rakovets. They worked on landscaping the area, creating compost, designing a permaculture garden, and building demonstration ecological facilities.
Among the highlights of the project were the cultural evenings of the three partner countries, which gave participants the opportunity to learn about the traditions, history, and culture of their neighbors. To mark May 24, the young people carved Glagolitic letters from wood and learned more about the work of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the significance of the Bulgarian alphabet for the Slavic people. “The young people with special educational needs demonstrated their potential and proved that they can successfully work, learn, and develop alongside their peers. The practical skills they have acquired will be useful for their future social and labor market integration,” added Borislav Slavchev.
The “Green Skills” project was implemented with the support of the Radomir Municipality and the mayor’s office of the village of Dolni Rakovets. The initiative is part of the “For Tomorrow” Foundation’s long-term mission to create sustainable models for non-formal education, volunteering, and social inclusion of young people with special educational needs.
The “Za Utre” Foundation – Blagoevgrad works to improve the quality of life for people with special educational needs and to ensure their full participation in public life. The organization promotes the exchange of best practices, supports families, and creates opportunities for the development and fulfillment of young people.
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From March 20th to 31st , 2026, the “For Tomorrow” Foundation held its first project of the year - “Mindful Sound” - in the village of Dolni Rakovets, Bulgaria. Sixteen youth workers from nine countries - Turkey, North Macedonia, Lithuania, Spain, Croatia, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria (including two young people with intellectual disabilities) - were trained in diverse and innovative techniques aimed at the social and professional inclusion of young people with special educational needs.
The participating NGOs were: Bungai Asociacion, Spain; Creatorium, Norway; Back to Nature, Turkey; Prirodna Perspectiva, Macedonia; Eutopia, Croatia; Tavoeuropa, Lithuania; Łódzki Dom Kultury, Poland; True Health, Romania and For Tomorrow Foundation, Bulgaria was the host organization.
The training course was attended by professionals with extensive experience working with young people with special educational needs, and the lead trainer was Mihaela Stoykova—Bulgaria’s first certified sound therapist. She guided the volunteers through the secrets of using various vibrations, musical instruments, sounds, and movements to achieve relaxation, emotional regulation, and sensory balance. The young people worked and lived alongside their peers with special intellectual needs and had the opportunity to put what they had learned into practice. The volunteers applied their new knowledge during their visits to the Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration for Children and Youth with Disabilities in Sofia, part of the Caritas Bulgaria network, and the "St. John of Rila" Center for Social Services in Blagoevgrad.
On March 30, at the City Art Gallery in Blagoevgrad, the project participants held an open demonstration of Sound therapy. The hands-on workshop showcased interactive methods and allowed young people with autism and various special needs to interact with musical instruments and experience the beneficial effects of sound, music, and movement. The sound techniques they learned were warmly welcomed by the youth with special needs and their parents, who shared that sound therapy truly provides emotional and psychological support for more active social inclusion and self-expression among children and youth with intellectual challenges.
Here is what else was included in the training program of the “Mindful Sound” project:
- March 22 – Topic: “Connection with Nature – Sound and Autism. An Introduction to Sound as a Universal Human Language and Its Impact on the Nervous System.” By the lake in the village, participants engaged in voice-opening exercises, visited the church in the village of Dolni Rakovets, and explored the acoustic resonance within it. Participants were introduced to the basic principles of rhythm, vibration, and the predictability of sound when working with people with autism.
- March 23 – Sound practice in nature – in the forest near the village, the volunteers dedicated the day to an experience with their eyes closed, focusing on mindfulness and connection with nature; This was followed by a sound journey with singing bowls, a gong, and other instruments, engaging all the senses, and in the evening there was a cultural evening featuring Turkey and Romania.
- March 24 – During the visit to the Caritas Center in Sofia, workshops were held on clay modeling, dough kneading and baking sweets, and painting cardboard Easter eggs; at the “Orfea” Center, the young people participated in a group activity on telling a musical story, and the afternoon concluded with a sensory tour of Sofia led by professionals from the Sensory Theater, Sofia.
- March 25 – The young people learned how to control their voices and sing together, explored the subtle tones of the chakras, and in the evening enjoyed traditional food, music, and dance from Croatia and Spain during a cultural evening featuring of both countries.
- March 26 – The day began with a grounding practice by the lake and listening to singing bowls filled with thermal water from the lake. Mihaela Stoykova demonstrated an interesting device that can capture and play back the impulses and energy of plants in the form of music. The day concluded with a cultural evening dedicated to Lithuania.
- March 27 – A training session was held to present and discuss methods for social inclusion and unlocking the potential of youth with special educational needs; A variety of techniques were demonstrated that can be applied in sound interventions and work with youth with special educational needs. The day was dedicated to Poland, Norway, and Macedonia, which presented their history, national cuisine, music, and traditions.
- March 28 – Bulgaria’s cultural evening was held at the village hall in Dolni Rakovets. The villagers actively participated in the celebration by bringing homemade local specialties, and the group “Kemindzhi” – featuring Mihaela Stoykova on vocals and Stefka Raicheva on percussion – performed Bulgarian folk songs and invited the young people to join in a traditional dance.
- March 29 – Final discussions, sharing and reviewing what was learned, an evening with representatives of the Sensory Theater – an improvised performance using neon lights
- March 30 – a visit to the “St. John of Rila” Center for Social and Professional Rehabilitation, Blagoevgrad, and an off-site presentation at the City Art Gallery in Blagoevgrad of a sound story—a demonstration of sound therapy that helps reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and enhance communication skills. Young people with special educational needs who experience sensory overload or difficulties expressing emotions experienced firsthand the calming effect of sound therapy, which, through a gentle and nonverbal approach, maintains emotional balance and creates a sense of safety.
As part of the “Mindful Sound” project, the youth volunteers learned how to use the new tools in their work with people with special educational needs, how to promote their development through creative and sensory activities, how to support their independence, and how to help them express themselves more freely, build confidence, strengthen their motivation, and reach their full potential. They improved their skills and capacity for working with youth with intellectual disabilities.
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We will combine methods like music, painting, sensory theater, handcrafting, clay work, etc. afterwards, we will practice how to apply these tools to support individuals with special needs, helping them strenghten their motivation, confidence and sense of well-being. Throughout the project, youth workers will have the opportunity to practice the techniques with direct individual and group work with youths with special needs, who will be participants of the project.
Participants Profile:
Activities:
APPLY HERE until 20.04.2026.
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The “Green Skills” project explores how organic gardening and permaculture can promote social inclusion, community building, and cooperation among people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. A key focus is working with youth with special educational needs (SEN), using nature and gardening as tools for learning, connection, and personal development.
Interaction with nature and gardening activities support mental health, reduce stress, and create a supportive environment for developing skills and confidence. The project provides a safe and inclusive space where youth with SEN actively participate in all activities.
Participants will learn:
Participant Profile:
APPLY HERE until 1.03.2026
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