The Burgas International Youth Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Municipality of Burgas, and 20 organizations from the city and across the country, including youth representatives from the United Nations, marked International Youth Day in Burgas with a variety of activities aimed at youth development, health, and meaningful leisure time.
The events took place in the Sea Garden on August 10th from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The celebration began with an exhibition of youth organizations that had the opportunity to present their activities. The participants prepared interactive workshops, demonstrations, and games for the young people and guests of the city. More than 20 organizations from 10 cities across the country took part in the exhibition.
Visitors had the chance to participate in interactive challenges, workshops, and enjoy board games. For sports enthusiasts, a beach volleyball tournament was organized.
The fastest and most curious participants in the “Treasure Hunt” competition and the winners of the beach volleyball tournament, organized by the Burgas International Youth Center, were awarded by Deputy Minister Petar Mladenov and the volleyball legend of Burgas, Ivan Stanev. The celebration concluded with a DJ party featuring popular Bulgarian performers from the Deep Zone Project.
August 12th has been declared International Youth Day by a United Nations General Assembly resolution on December 17, 1999. This decision followed recommendations from the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held in Lisbon from August 8th to 12th, 1998.
Over the past two decades, various topics have been explored in connection with the annual celebration of International Youth Day, including mental health, intergenerational solidarity, safe spaces for youth, civic engagement, and sustainable development.
Here’s a brief overview of the organizations that participated in the youth village and some of the activities they presented:
- Burgas International Youth Center provided overall organization and, together with Burgas Free Tour, mapped out the exciting Treasure Hunt, which guided participants to activities that offered knowledge and skills from other organizations. They also held a beach volleyball competition.
- Youth Ombudsmen of Stara Zagora and Burgas explained and advocated for students’ rights in their respective cities.
- National Youth Forum is a national youth council of Bulgaria uniting over 30 youth organizations. The chairman, Atanas Radev, congratulated the participants, guests, and organizers of the event, stating, “What we sow in youth and young people, we will reap in maturity.”
- Demetra Association supports victims of violence.
- NGO “The Power of Youth” organizes various educational programs, cultural events, and new festivals aimed at creative expression and promoting skills for social and professional development among the youth in our city. They brought trampolines, and a coach led energizing exercises.
- Charitable Foundation “Good” supports and assists Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Bulgaria from the war.
- Green German is a student environmental organization at the Goethe German High School.
- Burgas Open Space (B.O.S.) dedicates its efforts to supporting and developing young talents, enthusiasts, and amateurs in our region and country. They presented an Upcycling exhibition, an interactive workshop for making necklaces using materials found in nature, and a game about proper recycling – “Plums for Junk.”
- Coworking Family Burgas is a network for partnerships with local communities, circular economy, sustainable fashion, and sustainable living.
- Burgas Free Tour shows that our city hides secrets we never suspected. They provided interesting facts about our city intertwined in the Treasure Hunt and volunteers to assist (and challenge) those who embarked on the adventure.
- Astika Foundation, a volunteer organization with various activities, offered dominoes with artistically painted stones.
- “Center for Active Youth – Together We Can” is a non-governmental organization focusing on active participation, diversity and inclusion, volunteering, and sustainable development. Their team presented activities such as painting reusable bags with lemon slices and stencils, and the board game Terra Futura – a strategic card game where you build your land of tomorrow.
- Bulgarian Youth Delegates to the UN Kostas Karakashyan and Alexander Yanev also encouraged the activities of the organizations.
- Bulgarian Red Cross Youth – Burgas (BRCY-Burgas) has over 550 members and volunteers aged 14-29. They work in organized clubs focusing on First Aid, Ecology, Health Education, Active Social Inclusion, and Promotion of Humanitarian Values. They brought some of their training equipment and gave visitors the opportunity to experience the irreplaceable skills of saving human life and health.
- Association “FAR” is a non-governmental organization offering non-formal education for youth and adults.
- The Student Council of Burgas State University “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” presented interesting chemical experiments and introduced us to a smart robot.
- Greenburg aims to promote green culture and youth eco-engagement in the Burgas ecosystem.
- Representatives of the Fantasy, DnD, and LARP community explained details about their hobbies and presented their specific safety weapons.
- Youth Center Vratsa reminded us of the importance of closeness by giving out free hugs. They also brought copies of their Participatory Arts handbook and presented their activities at the youth center through interactive activities.
- Youth Center Pernik solved problems and searched for solutions in the urban environment. They held discussions with the youth about the European Youth Goals and gathered their opinions.
- Youth Center Montana presented a board game with an environmental focus – “Eco Adventure.”
- Youth Center Stara Zagora held a mini-quiz related to the center’s activities.
