A project has been launched in collaboration with an orphanage for Roma children and a foundation in Bulgaria called "Avocado". A fund will be created for higher education for the children. After the age of 18, they are no longer under the protection of the government in the country and they have to move from the orphanage. Most people end up in misery with begging, stealing, drugs and prostitution. What may be of security and self-confidence after the years in the orphanage, gradually gets little or no nourishment…
The aim of the fund is to make it available for an education in art - not only painting but also music and other art studies. Finding a way in life through art is in accordance with understanding. Because it gives us contact with the emotions, and true understanding depends on this contact. The mechanisms in the brain appear to be designed this way. Art will then be a good tool for being able to take advantage of the possibilities of a holistic life where self-care and empathy are equal, or put another way: two sides of the same coin. Artists from Nordland took part in the first event. Espen Tversland from Brønnøysund, Anne-Britt Ravnå from Mosjøen, Lill-Anita O. Svendsen from Leknes, Bård Vatnan from Korgen, Randi Størseth from Trondheim, in addition to Catrine Gangstø and two children from Bindal - a total of 8 pieces.
This was financed through EEA funds and administered by the "Avocado" foundation. It is relatively new and run by young people who are employed in the gas industry, but who feel a nagging uneasiness about the ever-increasing difference in living standards for different groups. This is a trend we have noticed in many countries - more and more young people want to work in companies that take a significant social responsibility, or they have the drive to start their own businesses in addition to the well-paid job, as is the example with « Avocado »
We had an unforgettable week in Dolna Banya with real, original and not least unexpected ingredients where lots of humor and lots of seriousness took place! We are very pleased that Peacepainting was able to help trigger public funding for this very interesting initiative.
We wish "Avocado" good luck!
Peacepainting held workshops for Romani children in Bulgaria in cooperation with the non-profit foundation AVOCADO. The foundation AVOCADO is a non-profit NGO based in Sofia, Bulgaria and aims to develop society by enhancing local communities.
The project "Inclusion of vulnerable groups through the integration of young people in the arts" was implemented with financial support from the EU program for NGO BULGARIA, and was realized on the 24th -29th of March 2015. More information about the program can be found here: www.eeagrants.org and www.ngogrants.bg
Upon completion of the project, where 8 guests from Norway and 8 representatives from Bulgaria participated, a painting workshop was conducted with children from the orphanage "Home for Children Without Parents K. Liapcheva" in Dolna Banya.
The project was aimed to provide awareness of social problems and offer development opportunities for youth. Vulnerable children were also given the opportunity to develop their potential and gain new horizons for development through the integration of art.