🇧🇬 ESC Volunteering in Bulgaria 🕊️ Human Rights Education and Youth Work 🎯 Fight Hate Speech, Sofia 🇧🇬
Are you passionate about human rights, democratic values, and countering hate speech — and ready to take that passion into schools, workshops, and campaigns across Bulgaria? This ESC individual volunteering project in Sofia is looking for 2 motivated volunteers to join an 8-month placement focused on human rights education and non-formal learning with young people. You will work directly with over 2,000 young Bulgarians, facilitate workshops and trainings, and contribute to campaigns promoting tolerance, solidarity, and critical thinking — including hands-on work with an innovative board game called BARABAR. Flights and health insurance arranged by the host. Deadline: 15 March 2026.
🇧🇬 Did You Know? Sofia is one of the oldest capital cities in Europe, with a history of continuous habitation stretching back over 7,000 years. Despite its ancient roots, it has a thriving civil society and NGO scene — making it one of the most active cities in the Balkans for youth activism, human rights work, and social change initiatives.
What Will You Do?
🏫Visit schools and youth spaces across Bulgaria to deliver workshops, trainings, and campaigns on human rights, tolerance, and solidarity — reaching over 2,000 young people
🎲Facilitate sessions using BARABAR — the organisation’s innovative board game designed to promote intercultural understanding and counter hate speech among young people
🗣️Develop and strengthen your skills in public speaking, presentations, critical thinking, and reflection — all applied in real youth work settings
✊Contribute to counter-narratives against far-right and nationalistic propaganda through non-formal education methods and gamification
🌍Work within a multicultural environment, helping young Bulgarians become more open, tolerant, and ready to engage with diversity
📣Organise and support events and campaigns promoting democratic participation and human rights values at local and national level
💡 Did You Know? The No Hate Speech Movement — which forms the ideological backbone of this project — was launched by the Council of Europe to mobilise young people against online hate speech and discrimination. It has since grown into one of the most widely recognised youth-led human rights campaigns in Europe, active in over 45 countries.
Accommodation, Food & Travel
🏠You will be accommodated in a fully equipped apartment in Sofia, close to the organisation’s office, a community centre, and a park — you may share a room with another volunteer of the same gender
🍽️A food allowance and monthly pocket money are provided in line with ESC programme rules
🚌A city transportation card is included — getting around Sofia is fully covered
✈️Flights to and from Sofia will be arranged by the host organisation — health insurance is also provided
Training & Learning
📚Task-specific training on Human Rights and Non-formal Education — provided by experienced trainers within the organisation
🇧🇬Bulgarian language course — included for all volunteers to help you integrate and communicate in your new environment
Who Can Apply?
✊You have a strong attitude towards democracy and human rights — and believe that fighting hate speech is a cause worth standing up for
🌍You are curious about other ethnicities, nations, traditions, and customs — and comfortable working in a multicultural setting
🏫You are outgoing, know the NGO world, and want to actively visit schools and youth spaces to spread human rights education
💡Previous volunteering experience or local-level activism is a plus — design, training, or IT skills are also welcome
📋No prior experience is strictly required — motivation, openness, and commitment to the cause are what matter most
Activity Dates & Key Information
Eligible Countries
🇦🇲 Armenia, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇩 Moldova, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇺🇦 Ukraine
Application Link
⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the opportunity organiser.
2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The organiser is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.
3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including eligibility criteria, conditions, or deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.
4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the organiser.
💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official organiser or programme website before applying.
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