Funding organization: International Rescue Committee Inc. (IRC)
Duration: 01/01/2024 – 30/06/2024

Beneficiaries: Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection, refugees and asylum seekers

General objective: The objective of this project is to address the critical needs of Ukrainian individuals with temporary protection, and other refugees, and asylum seekers in Bulgaria, focusing on providing humanitarian assistance, strengthening social protection and services, delivering psychological support, and combating gender-based violence and trafficking. The overarching goal of this project is to improve the overall well-being, resilience, and integration outcomes of the targeted beneficiary groups.
Activities: The activities will be developed and provided over a period of 6 months from January to June 2024. All activities will be provided in the city of Sofia in CRWB premises (for social assistance and humanitarian donation) and at the Za Dobroto Foundation (psychological support). The activities will be provided to Ukrainian citizens and to asylum seekers and refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Irak, etc, To do so, services are performed by qualified and experienced staff, and provided in Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic and English languages.

Project Goals:

• Provide humanitarian assistance through the distribution of non-food donations to Ukrainian citizens and other beneficiaries, two times per week and ensure the possibility for people in difficult situations to receive appropriate clothing, hygiene supplies, education materials for children and home supplies.
• Ensure social protection and access to services with Ukrainian-speaking social worker, in charge of accompanying Ukrainian beneficiaries throughout social services, such as employment search, children enrollment in school, administrative workload or access to medical services. A special attention will also be given to isolated minors that arrive in Bulgaria alone and face massive risks for their lives, by accompanying them with one dedicated social worker and conducting information sessions about integration in Bulgaria, gender violence and trafficking risks.
• Deliver community-adapted activities for psychological resilience to Ukrainian citizens: with the support of the Za Dobroto Foundation, emotional support groups will be conducted every day for children and parents, to help coping with war traumas, depression and anxious troubles.