The peak of the civic engagement during the academic year is always felt at most during the Civil Society Forum (formerly NGO fair), organized by the AUBG Career Center. This is the time when students talk to organizations that have not been in their scope of attention. Or when they stand behind the signs to represent the ones they are already engaged with. It is also the time when the AUBG campus becomes the Bulgarian civic engagement center for a day, bringing changemakers together so that they could exchange ideas, experience, and deepen the collaborations.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Professor Evelina Van Mensel, who was part of the forum as a representative of the OSUN opportunities. “It was especially easy to get into a conversation with everyone there. It felt like a real gathering of people who just wanted to do good in the world.”
We got on the wave of this mutual feeling and asked some of the organizations: “What does it take to be a changemaker.” The answers gave a glimpse of the diversity of the Civil society world.
- “Expertise, passion, commitment, and faith. The only thing that works in the long-term is you being consistent with your efforts although in times it is hopeless. Ultimately, when you put enough effort and enough of your time, it works.” – Petia Goolamallee (’04), Trust for Social Achievement
- “It’s an opportunity to receive something different from your ordinary job. From the voluntary job you receive different feelings and emotions in your effort to reach something bigger than working on simply just for yourself.” – Stefka Popova, Bulgarian Organization of Voluntary Blood Donation
- “A lot of time and efforts.” – Niki Dunev, Active Historical Map Foundation
- “Lot’s of courage but also imagination. Courage to take action. And the imagination to start something trivial and tackle it in a non-trivial way.” – Yavor Kiryakov (’12), University for Kids
- Hard work, dedication, but you also need to have the emotional intelligence to know how to put things into perspective. – Zlatina Krandeva, Tuk-Tam
- I believe that everyone can be a changemaker. You really need to be passionate about something and find a team around you that can support you in this. Maybe find an organization that is already working in this field and contribute with your passion, skills, and interests to change lives. – Aleksandra Mircheva, Bulgarian Center for Not-for-profit Law
- “Change is risky, you don’t know if society wants to accept the change so being able to take the risk is what it takes.” – Petya Dimkina, eAcademiaBg
AUBG is grateful to the commitment of the Civil Society Sector in Bulgaria. Thank you for being present and setting the example for the whole AUBG community.
- Active Bulgarian Society
- Active historical map foundation
- America for Bulgaria Foundation
- Association Euni Partners
- Bulgarian Center for Not-for-profit Law
- Bulgarian Organization of Voluntary Blood Donation
- Culture and green growth
- eAcademiaBg
- European Youth Parliament
- Foundation for Access to Rights
- Friends of the Arab World Association
- International center for development of education and training
- NaChe Academy
- OSUN at AUBG
- PMI Bulgaria Chapter
- TimeHeroes
- Trust for Social Achievement
- Tuk-Tam
- U.S. Ambassador’s Youth Council Bulgaria
- University for Kids
