MEET NADYA: FROM JOB-SEEKER TO THRIVING SOCIAL WORKER

Nadya Koteva, a dedicated social worker, has embarked on a successful new career at a Health Recovery Center. Her journey is a powerful example of how targeted training and community support can open doors to new professional opportunities—at any stage of life.

Nadya is one of the participants in the training programme under the Sinclusive project, organized by SofiaLab. She completed the full programme, progressing from the introductory course on personal skills and motivation in November 2024 to the final course on digital skills in November 2025.

After losing her job about a year earlier, Nadya registered at the local Labour Office in a small town near Sofia. She recalls that labour offices in smaller communities often provide limited opportunities for training or reskilling, while available job openings are frequently filled even before they are officially announced. Based on her experience, discrimination against women aged 50+ remains widespread and visible.

Nadya discovered the SofiaLab courses on Facebook. Joining the first course on personal skills and motivation gave her the “confidence and self-esteem” she needed to apply for a position at the Recovery Center. Learning alongside people facing similar challenges created an inclusive and supportive environment that she found both motivating and empowering. Nadya says the course helped her “build confidence, communicate better, and present herself and her strengths” more effectively during the job interview. She received an offer immediately after the interview.

Now, six months into her new role, Nadya describes her work as deeply “energizing and rewarding,” despite the inevitable challenges. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the SofiaLab programme and to begin a new stage in my career. Beyond the new skills, the most important result for me is the belief in my own abilities and the strength to move forward independently.”

Nadya’s story is equally inspiring for the SDA and SofiaLab teams. Her only suggestion for improvement is to extend the duration of the courses. To date, more than 100 participants have successfully completed the programme, and Nadya is among those who have confidently re-entered the labour market.

For more information about Synclusive and its upcoming activities, visit https://synclusiveproject.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and X.       

OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE SDA AND SOFIALAB SYNCLUSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM

On November 21, 2025, the Sofia Development Association (SDA) and Young Talents 50+ proudly celebrated the successful completion of their training program within the Synclusive project. Over 100 participants have now enhanced their digital and professional skills, positioning themselves to find better opportunities in the labor market.

The program, which began in November 2024, offered a series of free courses focused on personal skills, motivation, and green and digital skills. These courses were designed for job seekers or career changers, particularly women and men over 50. The goal was to improve their professional capabilities in areas such as communication, job search strategies, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity (including data protection and working with public digital services), and more.

In addition to the training sessions, the program included meetings with employers to further support participants in their job search efforts. We are pleased to share that several participants have already secured new positions as a result of the program.

This initiative is part of SDA and SofiaLab's ongoing efforts to enhance employment opportunities for people over 50 in Sofia, with a special focus on women. This demographic faces a range of challenges in the labor market, including discrimination based on age and gender, as well as a lack of targeted programs to improve qualifications and retention in the workplace. There is a growing need for personalized, affordable, and flexible training and support programs for individuals over 50.

We are inspired by the enthusiasm and willingness to learn demonstrated by our participants. Their stories motivate us to continue developing successful learning formats and building communities of like-minded individuals. We will also be meeting with employers and labor policy experts to share insights from the program and explore new initiatives.

Stay connected with the SDA page for updates on the project, as well as access to research, analyses, and best practices from international project partners on the inclusion of vulnerable groups in the labor market.

For more information about Synclusive and its upcoming activities, visit https://synclusiveproject.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and X.       

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS SEMINAR: "A STRONGER VOICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN EUROPEAN CITIES AND REGIONS"

On 8 November 2025, an offsite seminar of the Committee on the Committee on Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) of the European Committee of the Regions was held in Sofia under the title: "A Stronger Voice of Young People in European Cities and Regions: The Role of Young People's Participation in Society and the Economy".

The forum brought together representatives of European and local authorities, civil society organizations, entrepreneurs and youth leaders from all over Europe, who discussed policies and initiatives for more active inclusion of young people in social and economic processes. The initiative for the hosting of the Bulgarian capital is the representative of Sofia in the Committee of the Regions, Tsvetelina Simeonova-Zarkin.

Sevdalina Voynova from ASR was among the speakers at the event, together with the Chairman of the Committee Heike Raab, the Deputy Mayor for Finance of Sofia Municipality Georgi Klisurski, the Member of Parliament Nikolay Denkov, the Member of the European Parliament Hristo Petrov, young entrepreneurs, representatives of civil society organizations. Sevdalina took part in the panel on fostering youth innovation and entrepreneurship through specially designed support systems – from programming and vocational training academies to mentoring programs and incubators.

WE SUPPORT LIFELONG LEARNING FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

After the successful first edition and the great interest, Sofia Development Association (SDA) and Young Talents 50+ launched the second edition of the digital skills course for people over 50 years old on 7 November 2025.

The course is free of charge and is held within the framework of the Synclusive project, funded by the Horizon Europe program. It is intended for people over 50 years old from Sofia, unemployed or employed, and aims to improve their professional skills in the field of digital technologies: working with artificial intelligence, using cloud services, cybersecurity (protection of personal data, devices and working with public digital services). Online consultations are also available between the in-person sessions. In addition, meetings with employers are organized within the course to support the job readiness and employability skills of the participants.

The trainings are part of the activities of SDA and SofiaLab, aimed at improving the employment of people 50+ in Sofia, with a focus on women. As a result of the previous trainings, some participants have already managed to find a new job.

Follow SDA’s page for project news and access to research and analysis on the topic, as well as good practices from the international project partners for labor market inclusion of vulnerable groups.

THE NEW CLIMATE SHELTER IN SOFIA TRANSFORMS A NEGLECTED URBAN SPACE INTO A COMMUNITY HUB

A neglected municipal courtyard in Sofia’s Draz Mahala neighborhood has been transformed into an urban climate shelter – a place that offers rest and coolness during the summer heat, while revitalizing one of the city’s more vulnerable areas. The pilot project by the Sofia Development Association, under the Be Ready project of the Interreg Danube Region Programme, co-funded by the EU, turned 350 square meters of unused municipal land into an attractive green space co-designed with local residents.

Located near Lion’s Bridge – one of the city’s busiest and most heat-exposed transport arteries – the climate shelter responds to a pressing urban challenge: the growing impact of urban heat islands. The area is home to a significant number of vulnerable citizens and disadvantaged groups, including elderly people, low-income households, and migrants.

The transformation began in May with a workshop that brought together residents, students, artists, NGO representatives, and migrants to shape a shared vision for the space and define its community needs. What followed was a dynamic collaboration that engaged over 130 citizens and the Sofia Development Association team in volunteer activities and artistic interventions.

Through joint effort, the site was cleaned up, all sealed surfaces were replaced with permeable ones, and a shaded relaxation area with a water mist cooling system was built. In a neighborhood where there is only one public drinking fountain per 50,000 residents, the installation of a new one is a major benefit. With expert guidance from the University of Forestry and ecologists from Serdika District, climate-resilient trees and plants were planted, along with a small community herb garden. The climate shelter also includes other ecological features such as composting, a rainwater collector, an insect hotel, and birdhouses.

Young artists and designers from Studio Vazel brought the space to life with visual art and installations that tell stories and engage visitors in environmental care.

The climate shelter has been warmly welcomed by local residents, offering a new space for relaxation, amenities such as blood pressure measurement, board games, opportunities to work in the herb garden, and to host small community events. The pilot project was carried out with the support of municipal councillors from the Sofia Development Association’s Board of Directors and the district administration, and was highly praised for its innovative approach, inclusive design, and effective use of municipal property for public benefit.

The project proved the feasibility of the urban acupuncture concept – creating small, smartly designed “pocket parks” that bring relief where large-scale investments are not possible.

Be Ready is an Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union.