Factors including the crisis in Syria have led to a significant rise in the number of people seeking asylum in Bulgaria in recent years. Upon registration of their request for asylum, these individuals and families are accommodated in one of Bulgaria’s reception centres while they await the outcome of their application. Life in these reception centres can be very isolated and depressing. Significant administrative hurdles prevent most asylum seeker children from enrolling in school, and the refugee camps are in quiet parts of the town, with no integration activities provided by the State. In 2014 and 2015 there has been zero National Integration Programme. 

The goal of the project is to give asylum seekers the opportunity to learn new languages, acquire new skills, learn more about life in Bulgaria, and to have positive interactions with Bulgarian citizens. In addition, it encourages volunteering and skill development among Bulgarians. The project's team recruits, trains and supports volunteers of all ages.

The three reception centres for asylum seekers in Sofia have a total capacity of around 2000. All activities are open to all residents, around a third of which are children.

Every four months, the team recruits a new cohort of volunteers who commit to dedicating at least two hours per week to lead and participate in the lessons and other organised activities. Whilst the minimum time commitment from volunteers is two hours per week for a four month period, many of the them invest more of their time each week or continue to volunteer for months, or years, beyond the initial agreement.

Working alongside the State Agency for Refugees, the team creates a weekly timetable of activities to be delivered in each of the reception centres in Sofia. The diversity of activities depends on the interests and availability of the volunteers and the demand from the asylum seekers. 

Since the beginning of the project in 2010, more than 300 volunteers have participated, and the team currently has more than 60 active volunteers who dedicate their time to the project each week. The activities are well-received by the hundreds asylum seekers, and sessions often have to be divided into two to accommodate excess demand.

In December 2014, the president of Bulgaria gave the team an award recognising The Refugee Project as ‘Volunteer Initiative of the Year’ in Bulgaria.

For each group of volunteers, the team undertakes mid-term and final evaluation, using a variety of techniques, including feedback sessions with all of the volunteers and online surveys.

The greatest success of the project is that it has been running continuously for five years with very limited funding. The reliance on volunteers to run the project allows the team to continue to deliver activities and makes the model sustainable.

Building sustainable relationships with other organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers in Bulgaria, such as the UNHCR, Council for Refugee Women, Bulgarian Red Cross, Refugee Support Group can also be considered as a success. This has extended the reach of the campaigns and allowed the team to work in partnership to deliver the respective activities in an efficient manner.

The project’s main resource is the time of the volunteers. However, the team also seeks and receives funding and in-kind donations for materials, excursions and activities from a variety of organisations and individuals.