Projects

Doves

Lyulin art-charges on playgrounds

 

 
"Values, Virtues, Integrity" Foundation successfully implemented the project "program "Amateur creativity'22" (for the restoration and development of organizations in the field of amateur arts). From the beginning of September 2022 to the end of October 2023, a total of 14 outdoor art workshops were held in the largest residential complex in Sofia. Residents and guests of the neighborhood of all ages participated in attractive art activities in decoupage, trash art, painting on glass and silk, acrylic and watercolor work, ebru (painting on a liquid surface and making an print on paper), finger painting with oil paints, creating dolls and relief paintings from wool, textile panels, t-shirt design etc. With the best of the production from the creative workshops, a final exhibition was organized in the Lyulin Cultural Center (from 15.09 to 13.10 2023), and at its closing, the authors of the exhibited works had the opportunity to take them as a souvenir and decoration of their homes. A brochure was published on the project (in paper and electronic version) showing the creative processes and their results (can be seen here) and a virtual exhibition was created (here).
Doves

"WE SPEAK THROUGH OUR SHADOWS" PROJECT

 

 
From December 2021 to October 2022, "Values, Virtues, Integrity" Foundation implemented the project "WE SPEAK THROUGH OUR SHADOWS" under the program "Amateur Arts 21" (support for private organizations in the field of amateur art) of the National Fund "Culture". The project held 20 art workshops, based on the Shadow Theater method, with residents of two neighboring family-type accommodation centers for children and youth in the Bulgarian capital's peripheral residential area "Lyulin 8". As a result, a theatrical show was created, which was presented at three public performances in Sofia, Bankya and Pravets. At the project closing event, the short version of the performance was performed once again and a video film with an extended version of the spectacle, created with footage from the rehearsals, was screened, which can be seen here and here.

Ebrumania

 

From April to October 2021, with the support of the Sofia City “Culture 2021” Program , “Values, Virtues, Integrity” Foundation implemented the EBRUmania Project. The aim of the project is to intensify the creative communication of citizens living in the peripheral region of the capital of Bulgaria, and in crisis and post-crisis period to help them overcome the social and psychological consequences of the limitations and challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, via gathering and expression through an attractive and unifying art form with which they can safely express themselves and expand their social contacts. The project envisages 6 outdoor creative workshops on the ancient and modern art of Ebru (painting on water and taking a print on various surfaces) with residents of all ages and guests of the "Lyulin" residential complext. A public exhibition of the most successful works from the project art activities was organized at the LYULIN Cultural Center and also the art product were uploaded in a virtual exhibition.

Art in the Panel Complex

 

From June to October 2020, with the support of Sofia City “Culture 2020” Program, “Values, Virtues, Integrity” Foundation implemented the project “Art in the Panel Complex”. The project conducted six outdoor painting workshops for people of all ages living in “Lyulin” residential district (mostly in panel apartment buildings of the type “dormitory”). A representative exhibition was organized with the art production from the workshops on the occasion of the Day of Sofia at the Lyulin Cultural Center, after which the paintings went to their authors to ennoble the internal architectural and social environment in this peripheral district of the capital of Bulgaria.

Shadows of Change in the Municipality of Lesichovo

 

From March to September 2020, "Values, Virtues, Integrity" Foundation implemented the project "Shadows of Change in the municipality of Lesichovo” under Subprogram 2 (National Youth Initiatives and Campaigns), Thematic Area 4 (Activation of young people in small populated placess) of National Youth Program (2016-2020). The aim of the project was to unite and activate the youth community in this rural municipality, creating prospects for personal and social development through creative expression. The project activities included an introductory focus group with the local young people, three trainings with them on "Career Start", "Effective Communication" and "Coping with Stress in COVDI-19", seven art-workshops on the Shadow Theater method, summer camp for assembling a socially engaged performance on topics important for young people from small settlements, and performances of the produced shadow theater show in the SPA resort town of Velingrad and the municipal center Lesichovo.

Dragons are Here!

 

Dragons are here! Is an international youth exchange financed by Erasmus+ program that took place in Enez, Edrine, Turkey. As partner in this project VVIF sent 6 young people and one group leader. The focus of the project was to discover the mythological roots, fantasy literature and their connections in the cultures of the participating countries and to support participants to develop necessary high-level competencies such as creativity, critical thinking and other key skills.

Cultural Hub: Handicrafts for Intercultural Learning

 

“Cultural Hub” is an international youth exchange coordinated bycooperation of Municipal Directorate of Büyükçekmece and its local volunteers and with the inclusion of  partners from 4 European countries - Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia and Poland. The project is financed by Erasmus+program of European Union. In the exchange that took place from 15 to 26 April 2019 participated  7 young people  from Bulgaria, leaded by VVIF’s director Ralitsa Rumenova.

Be Happy in Life

 

"Be Happy in Life” is a KA-204 Erasmus+ Project with a leading partner Istanbul Health Directorate, Turkey. Partners in the project are “Values, Virtues, Integrity” Foundation and four more organizations from Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Slovenia. The project target group is caregivers (both family members and professionals) to people with disabilities. The project will be implemented between January 2019 and December 2020.

Support for Getting out of the NEET Circle

 

“Support for getting out of the NEET circle” is a bilateral project between “Values, Virtues, Integrity” Foundation and the leading Polish organization Towarzystwo Edukacyjne "Wiedza Powszechna".  The project, cofounded by the European Social Found in the framework of the Knowledge Education Development Operational Programme (PO WER – Priority Axis IV “Social innovation and international cooperation”, Measure 4.3 “Transnational cooperation”), took place in the first quarter of 2019. A visit of a six-member Polish group in Bulgaria on the theme of the project (young persons who are no longer in the education system and who are not working or being trained for work).was conducted and four videos stimulating the access of NEETs to the national and European markets were latter on created (two by the Polish and two by the Bulgarian partner).

Europe on Our Canvases!

 

From February to September 2019, the "Values, Virtues, Integrity" Foundation  implements the project "Europe of our canvases," funded by Culture209 Program of Sofia City Municipality. The project is in partnership with 55th “Petko Karavelov” school in and features creative workshops with the pupils, preceded by lectures on European values, traditions, practices, and landmarks. Through various art-methods such as canvas, glass and silk painting, as well as creative work with wool, the participants artistically interpret the theme and create art-works that will be shown publicly to the numerous members of the school community at an exhibition scheduled for the beginning of the next school year.

"S.P.A.M." (Smart Phones Are Mind-blowing)

 

"S.P.A.M." (Smart Phones Are Mind-blowing) is a project for strategic partnership under the Youth sector of Erasmus+ Program with leading organization Aparaadi Youth Center (Tartu, Estonia) and partners "Values, Virtues, Integrity" Foundation (Sofia, Bulgaria) and Grunnskolinn School (Porshofn, Iceland). The project goal is to reduce the overuse of smart devices among children and youths (8-19 years old). Until the end of 2019, the project will hold four transnational meetings on specific topics, connected with the project theme. The project will raise young persons’ awareness of how many valuable hours they lose every day while staring at the screens and will teach them fun and educative games they can play together as an alternative to smart devices, so they can balance their screen and real life discovering/learning time.

 “Multicultural art, vol.2”

“MulticulturalArt, Vol. 2” is the foundation’s first a KA1 youth mobility project financed by the Erasmus+ Program and coordinated by the International Center for Southern Europe, Italy. The other project partners were “Values,Virtues,Integrity” Foundation (Bulgaria), UNITED SOCIETIES OF BALKANS ASTIKI ETAIREIA (Greece), ASSOCIATION INTERCULTURA (France ), CoAction Youth Group (Turkey) and  OPPORTUNITY GLOBAL (U. K.). The project started with an advance planning visit in Florence (April 21-22, 2018) and ended with one-week youth exchange (July 1-9, 2018) in the framework of which the Bulgarian group conducted a workshop on Bulgarian embroidery patterns and participated in a flash-mob in the streets of Pistoia. 

 

 "Together Against Cancer"

In the last 4 months of 2018, "Values, Virtues, Integrity" Foundation implemented the project "Together Against Cancer" in partnership with the Association of Women with Oncology Diseases "Strengths I Have To Struggle" - Samokov. Six creative workshops were held with representatives and sympathizers of the association and members of their families. The participants created over 20 paintings of oil, sold at a charity auction at the end of the year. The collected donations, commensurable with the funding received from the project’s donor (the Public Board of Telus International – Bulgaria) will support the cause and activities of the association in the next 2019.

 

 “ETHNOCULTURAL PALLET”

The project "ETNOCULTURAL PALLET: innovations in the work of “Slanchitse/(Sun)” Kindergarten in support of the educational integration and socialization of children and parents from the community", funded under the competition procedure 33.16-2017 by the Center for Educational Integration of Children and Students from Ethnic Minorities, was implemented in partnership between  the kindergarten in the village of Kalugerovo, Lesichovo municipality, Pazardjik district and "Values, Virtues, Integrity" Foundation. Within 12 months (October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018), a series of training, art-making, and cooperative activities (including a parents club and a Summer creative camp) were held in and out of the kindergarten, to promote the adequate socialization of the children, with the active and committed participation of their parents and teachers.

"Art at the Top of the Fingers"

In 2016, as an official partner of the Center for Independent Living Association, the Foundation took part in the implementation of the "Art on the Fingertips" project under the “Culture” Program of Sofia City Municipality. Within 4 months (February-May), the art-facilitator of the Foundation held eight creative finger-painting workshops for people with and without disabilities of all ages, who together created 23 paintings of collective authorship, which were presented at a joint exhibition in the City Mark Art Center in Sofia on May 5, 2016 in connection with the European Day of Independent Living. More information (including photos from the project) is available via the following open Facebook group

"The Mountain Gives Birth to Volunteers"

Between December 2016 and February 2017, the Foundation carried out a project called "The Mountain Gives Birth to Volunteers" under Subprogram 2 (National Youth Initiatives and Campaigns), thematic area 1 (Youth Volunteering and Participation in Volunteer Initiatives) of the National Youth Program (2016-2020). The Foundation’s team worked with members of the informal Youth Parliament in the town of Samokov, organizing an opening roundtable discussion based on the "World Café" method, three one-day volunteer training events, one three-day volunteer campaing planning workshop, a press-conference, and a concluding youth initiative in the town of Samokov. More information and photos from the project can be found on the page of Youth Parliament – Samokov in Facebook

"Tserovo - for youth feats ready!"

From December 2016 to February 2017, the Foundation also implemented the project “Tserovo – ready for youth feats!" under subprogram 2 (National Youth Initiatives and Campaigns), thematic area 4 (Activation of young people in small settlements) of the National Program for the Youth (2016-2010). The project engaged local young people from the village of Tserovo, municipality of Lesichovo, region of Pazardjik, and weekend commuters from the regional town in endeavors aimed at making the village a better place to live. In just three months the project team held a series of joint creative, sports, and entertaining activities, trips and visits in and out of the village, a seminar in the resort town of Velingrad, and a joint youth initiative - creative holiday in the village. More information (and photos from the project activities) is available on the Facebook group with the same name as the project

"COLORFUL"

From the beginning to the end of 2017, as an official partner of “Big Brother Big Sister – Bulgaria” Association of Plovdiv, the Foundation implemented the project "COLORFUL: group finger painting for disadvantaged children and younths in Plovdiv and improvement of the public environment around the Maritsa River and Stolipinovo district), won from the first call for new projects of “Plovdiv 2019” Municipal Foundation within the initiative PLOVDIV - EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2019. Under the project were implemented 20 finger-paining workshops in “Olga Skobeleva” Complex for Social Services, “Nayden Gerov” High School in the Roma quarter of Plovdiv, and “Geo Milev” Primary School”, as well as training of volunteers and three exhibitions and happenings in the city. More information on the development of the project is available at the project’s Facebook page

"Together we create at the Lyulin’s Crimea"

From April to November 2017, the Foundation worked on the project "Together we create at the Lyulin’s Crimea", funded under Area 4 "Community Culture", Program 9 "Active Participation" of "Culture 2017" Program of Sofia Municipality. Within the framework of the project (until the end of November 2017), a series of creative oil painting group workshops took place with the participation of children and youths from the two neighboring family-type accommodation centers for children and young people without disabilities "Paisiy Hilendarski" and "Sofroniy Vrachanski", located on"Krim" Street in “Lyulin” quarter of Sofia and a large public exhibition of their joint work was organized in Lyulin Cultural Center at the end of the project.