FOR THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE
FOR THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE:
Welcome to
The Training course for mediators
“LOCAL DEMOCRACY, LOCAL AND REGIONAL REFORMS, INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF
THE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES”
If you received this info pack that means you are one of the lucky participants who will
participate on the Training course for mediators “LOCAL DEMOCRACY, LOCAL AND
REGIONAL REFORMS, INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN
THE WORK OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES” and would like to welcome you to the program.
The following pages contain important information about finances (meaning how to get your
travel money reimbursed), the program, what to bring, and what to be prepared for. Please
read carefully.
Should you have any questions, suggestions, problems or proposals, please do not hesitate
to contact us at any time:
e-mail: [email protected]
About International Development Alliance
International Development Alliance (IDA) is a global network of community development associations, leaders and
activists who are committed to issues of the citizens. International Development Alliance is a non-governmental, nonpolitical and non-profit corporation that works to:
 support community development as a key method of addressing issues of poverty, inequality, discrimination, and
exclusion;
 build sustainable peace using community development processes;
 promote quality education, training, research, practice exchange, and support for activists and social workers;
 assist social integration and personal orientation of the citizens in unequivalent social condition and disables.
IDA Network is a European network of the NGO-s, municipalities, founded in 2005. The focus of work welfare
orientation to social development and ever since, the activities and focus have been on empowering local, national and
international NGO-s and authorities. IDA Network has over 120 member civil society organizations, research
institutions, municipalities and 27 chapters located across Europe. Membership is open to any registered association,
organization or institution that is established for social development, social welfare or charitable purposes.
The association is a member of:
 The member of the monitoring committee operative program “human resources development”, European social
fund, ministry of labour and social policy of the republic of Bulgaria;
 Member of the thematic working group to develop the new operational programme “human resources
development” for the programming period 2014 – 2020, European social fund, ministry of labour and social
policy of the republic of Bulgaria;
 Member of the of the thematic working group to develop the new operational programme "science, education
and smart growth" for the programming period 2014-2020, European social fund, ministry of education of the
republic of Bulgaria;
 Member of the national network for non–formal education, Sofia University.
About the project:
Date: 24/05/2015 (7 activity days), arrivals 24/05/2015, departures 01/06/2015
Venue: Sofia, Bulgaria
Participants: 3 participants from Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Poland, Spain, UK, Portugal, Czech Republic, Greece
Working language: English (but it’s also not a problem if you or someone of your group have not a good knowledge of
it).
It is very important that you contact that up to 15 of April, 2015 (via e-mail – please
see “Application form” file) and give us a detailed description of your travel plans to
Romania, in particular, when and where you arrive and by what means of travel. If you
plan on arriving a day earlier or plan on leaving a day later contact us immediately if
you need accommodation for these nights
Summary of the Project:
A basis mediation: The essence of the conflict, Methods for argument solving; Essence of the mediation, Phases of
the mediation procedure, Roles and responsibilities in the mediation, Main communicational skills, Main mediation
skills, Behaviour of the mediator.
The model describes a possible way for interaction among interested sides (youth leaders and mediators on one side;
local authorities on the other) in the area of:
Local democracy, local and regional reforms, institutionalization of the youth participation in the work of the
local authorities:
Local democracy: examination of various types of civil participation – elections, referendum, representation and
support; survey of social needs; plans for local development; common development of projects with the participation
of interested sides;
Local and regional reforms – access to information, decentralization of services and possibilities for delegation of
public services – sharing of experience, recommendation to the local authorities and nongovernmental organizations
in order to improve the common work in the offering of effective services in the society; discussion about the
possibilities for financing and realization of common projects;
Institutionalization of the youth participation in the work of the local authorities – Examination of methods for
creation of local youth structures and organization and/or participation in local consultant and social councils.
Implementation of tools providing for their activity in the Regulation rules for organization and activities of the
Municipal Councils. Expected rights and responsibilities on behalf of the both sides (ex. Procedure for confirming and
registering of social council, procedure for interaction with the local authority, procedure for imports of materials for
the social councils in the Municipal council.
The main aims of the project are associated with the widespread recognition
of the value of Non-formal education and promoting active youth participation
and citizenship, and in particular:
 To encourage the “independent acknowledgment” of informal education
through trainings on social and multicultural mediation-international
acknowledgment of the competencies and acquisition of the corresponding
legal capacities and qualifications;
 To give the specific skills and knowledge about “civil mediation” to youth leaders and workers, working in the
spheres of: local development, “good management”, civil rights, partnership;
 To advocate for on-going consultation mechanisms involving youth NGOs and for their inclusion in decision making
processes on issues related to education, job opportunities, social responsibility and intercultural understanding
activities;
 To develop active collaboration among local NGOs, LAs, EU institutions through the creation of sustainable
networks of youth mediators for exchange of good practices and ideas.
Accommodation:
As a matter of ease and efficiency, rooms are assigned to you prior to your arrival and with
man and women separated. All participants will be accommodated in National Training Centre
of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
Notes: The accommodation shall start with the arriving of the group on the 24.05.2015.
The newly established in National Training Centre of the Bulgarian Red Cross. The Training Centre is located 20
minutes from the downtown of Sofia and is located in a beautiful pine area in the foothills of the Lozen mountain. Its
location makes it very suitable for all types of guests who intend either to rest near the town or attend business
meetings and conferences. National Training Centre of the Bulgarian Red Cross has:
 Hotel with a hundred places;
 Conference center with six rooms equipped with modern audiovisual equipment for training;
 Restaurant with summer terrace;
 Sports and entertainment center with billiard room, fitness room, sauna, tennis court, mini soccer
pitch and basketball shooting archery, equipped sites for paintball and Airsoft.
Food:
IDA undertakes the accommodation and food expenses (from 24.05.2015 - dinner till
01.06.2015 - breakfast). All participants are to have their meals at the hotel restaurant.
The first meal covered by the project will be dinner at the training centre Restaurant.
Notes: Please, feel free to inform us in case you have any special requirements, in terms of
food (vegetarian), commute or other, so we can take this into consideration in advance and
make your stay more comfortable and pleasant.
How to get to the hotel:
National Training Centre of the Bulgarian Red Cross, Lozen
Village of Lozen
31 Polovrag Str.,
Phone: +359 2 992 68 84
http://www.redcross.bg/school_bases/lozen.html
Transport:
Once you arrive in Sofia, IDA will provide transportation for all participants to the National
Training Centre of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
Please keep in mind that we can recover 70% of your tickets only when you use the cheapest and most
convenient option available or when there is just one option (for ex. during the night).
Public transport
Tickets are purchased in the respective vehicle. The price of a ticket (for city transport) is 1.00 lev (BGN). Buy
ticket and for you baggage (the price of the ticket – 1.00 lev (BGN)!!!
Bus ticket:
Metro ticket:
Taxi
In case you decide to use a taxi, it will be on your personal expense. You can use taxi:
OK Supertrans
+359 2 973 21 21
Eurolease
+359 2 91 888
Radio CB taxi
+359 2 9 12 63
The price of the km is 0,90 leva (BGN). The price from the airport is around 8-10 leva (BGN) - 4-5 Euro. The price
from the Central Railway and Central Bus Station is around 10-12 leva (BGN) - 5-6 Euro.
Attention! Do not let you accosted by pirates taxi drivers!
!!! If you have any questions on your way to National Training Centre of the Bulgarian Red Cross, you can
contact Zina Lyubenova – +359 (887) 584 054
If you arrive in Brasov after 23:00, we will contact you to inform you about how to reach National Training
Centre of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
What costs are covered, what do you need to pay?
IDA will buy all plane tickets for the participants with route - the closest (by place of residence) Airport – to
Airport Bucharest.
Participants will be sent tickets with flight information.
!!! Participants should recover 70% of the value of purchased tickets to the organizer (IDA)
during the training course.
Participants must purchase a two way from the city in which they live to the nearest airport. Transport costs will
be returned only upon presentation of shipping documents (boarding pass for airplane, purchased round-trip
tickets for bus, train, etc., tickets for local transport).
Participants are therefore required to arrange their journeys in the most economical manner possible.
Irrespective of the means of the transport used, participants will be reimbursed on the basis of the least
expensive route between their place of residence and the town in which the course is held. If for personal or
professional reasons participants start their outward journey from a place further away from the town in which
the course is held than their place of residence, or if the return journey is to a place further away from the town
in which the course is held than their place of residence, the reimbursement of travel expenses shall be confined
to the expenses that would have been incurred from the place of residence. Return tickets must be purchased
before the start of the journey. The IDA will only reimburse travel expenses incurred according to the rules given
below. The IDA will not reimburse insurance expenses. Electronic tickets will only be considered as acceptable on
proof of payment and on presentation of the boarding pass for the outward journey.
Means of transport:
1. Please check carefully, using the information on the following page, the means of transport authorised for travel
from your country of origin to the town in which the course is held.
2. Then refer to the following information:
RAIL/BUS: by the most direct route
- for distances up to 700 km, 2nd class train
- for distances beyond 700 km, 1st class train or 2nd class plus couchette.
CAR: the participant will be refunded a lump sum based on 2nd class rail fare.
If two or more participants share the same car the refund shall be made to the
person in charge of the vehicle, with an increase of 20% for each passenger.
If the plane ticket is cheaper than the train ticket then participants may take the plane oncondition that they are
able to provide proof of both fares.
Cost of the local transport incurred through changes from one means of transport to another and fares paid for
travel between home and railway station or airport, and vice versa, will be refunded on a flat-rate basis according
to the second class public transport fare on the relevant route, irrespective of time of day or the means of
transport actually used. Taxi fares will not be reimbursed, except in the event of arrival between 10 pm and 7 am,
in which case an original receipt must be presented.
Note:
 Please, use the cheapest transport available.
 The reimbursement of the travel expenses is valid only under the condition of 50% attendance at the training
course.
Method of travel expenses reimbursement (when you buy tickets)
!!! According the terms of the 'Youth in Action' programme transport costs are distributed as
follows: 70% at the expense of the organizer and 30% at the expense of the participant.
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The sum will be paid out immediately after the end of the course.
Please, purchase only two-way tickets.
When purchasing bus tickets for international destinations, please ask for a report slip. Your bus ticket must
consist of three slips (one for the trip to the destination point, one for the trip from the destination point and
one report slip);
If by any reason you decide to leave the training course earlier, we are not obliged to reimburse your travel
expenses.
Currency information:
Bulgaria is still a largely cash economy. Visitors should exchange cash at banks or
Change Bureaus. Some Change Bureaus charge commissions on both cash and
travellers' check transactions that are not clearly posted. Old, dirty or very worn
denomination bank notes are often not accepted at banks or Change Bureaus. The
Bulgarian national monetary unit is the Lev (BGN), divided into 100 stotinki.
At the present rate of exchange 1 USD is approximately equal to 1.45 BGN, and 1 Euro is approximately equal to 1,95
BGN.
Bulgarian money:
http://www.bnb.bg/NotesAndCoins/NACCoinsCurrency/index.htm?toLang=_EN
http://www.bnb.bg/NotesAndCoins/NACNotesCurrency/index.htm
Note:
 We strongly advise you to exchange currency ONLY IN BANKS;
 Upon your arrival you will have the opportunity to visit in an organized manner Bulgarian Bank and to
exchange your currency.
 The work hours of any bank in Bulgaria are every weekday form 8:00 to 16:30 hours.
What to bring with you:
 Materials about the intercultural evening (traditional snacks, drinks, dances, songs, role-plays, presentations,
games, etc.);
 Materials (videos, presentations, photos, etc.) – whatever you think it is good to present your organization, if
you have one;
 Different types of clothes – on April is a bit cold, so bring some clothes for the cold weather;
 Medicines – especially if you need to take some specific medicines;
 Project ideas – we will have sessions to develop new joint projects so bring as many ideas as you can;
 … and lots of good mood, motivation and smiles.
!!! Don’t forget to keep and bring us all of your travel documents, tickets, boarding passes, and all the
other papers you have used in your travel!
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
IDA Office
Phone: +359 2 851 08 93
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.idanetwork.eu
Contact: Zina Lyubenova – Project Coordinator - +359 (887) 584 054
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our office.
If you think the travel instruction section of this document contained way too much details, send an e-mail with the
subject “way too much detail” to: [email protected]
Please join us in
project group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/779476888788848/
We look forward to meeting you and to a wonderful the training course.
With Best Regards,
IDA team
DO NOT FORGET TO PRINT THIS OUT AND TAKE IT WITH AND NOT LOSE IT UNTIL YOU’VE ARRIVED IN YOUR
ROOMS IN THE HOTEL”!!!
Even then, keep it as souvenir