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.

From March 20^th to 31^st , 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. 

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:

• older than 21 years and with no age limit,
• with or without special educational needs;
• motivated to actively take part in all activities;
• motivated to cooperate with people with special educational needs;
• ready to contribute to the program with its own input.

Activities:

• TRAINING SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS
• NON-FORMAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND GAMES
• ECOLOGICAL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
• SUSTAINABLE ART TECHNIQUES - HANDCRAFTING, CLAY WORK, RECYCLED ART
• LOCAL FESTIVAL WITH THE COMMUNITY - MUSIC, DANCE, THEATHER
• MINDFULL ART AND SOUND HEALING IN NATURE
• ON-SITE VISIT OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE
• PRACTICAL WORK WITH YOUTHS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
• CROSS-CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE

APPLY HERE until 20.04.2026.

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:

• the basic principles of permaculture;
• how to build a compost bin, a treehouse, and a permaculture garden;
• how green skills support the social and labor market inclusion of people with SEN;
• how to engage in intercultural exchange and teamwork;
• how to be active drivers of social and environmental change;
• how to apply and disseminate the successful practices learned during the project.

Participant Profile:

• Young people with or without SEN aged between 18 and 30
• With an interest in psychology, education, and nature-based activities
• Motivated to work with people with special educational needs 
• Willing to contribute to the activities and share their knowledge and skills
• Willing to disseminate and build on what they have learned

APPLY HERE until 1.03.2026