AmCham-BCAF Autumn Volunteer Days launched on October 12
The American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (AmCham) and the Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation (BCAF) launched the 2013 Autumn Volunteer Days on October 12, the 12th campaign in the sixth year that the initiative is being run.
The 2013 autumn campaign, in the traditional spirit of volunteerism, is to promote socially and environmentally beneficial volunteer work and is to have a special focus on education. The campaign continues until October 25.
An opening ceremony was held at the National Military History Museum, hosted by AmCham executive director Valentin Georgiev and BCAF executive director Elitsa Barakova.
After the ceremony, volunteers began work on cleaning the museum’s yard, one of the 24 projects taking place simultaneously in Sofia, Pleven and Stara Zagora.
All of the projects involve cleaning and improving the facilities of cultural, social and health institutions, natural parks, weeding, painting and planting, joining creative workshops to produce souvenirs and other items and helping at animal rescue centres.
The day saw 246 registered volunteers turn out:
AIMS Human Capital at the “Dechitsa” Foundation; the American College of Sofia at Vitosha National Park; the Anglo-American School of Sofia at Habitat for Humanity International; Astra Zeneca Bulgaria at the Zoo Garden; Balkan Star Automotive at the Balkani Wildlife Society Preservation Centre in Dragoman and at the Dechitsa Foundation; the Bulgaria Economic Forum at the animal rescue facility in Bogrov; CMS Cameron McKenna at the Zoo Garden; ContourGlobal Maritsa East at the Day Care Centre for Elderly People with Mental Disabilities; DHL Express at Vitosha National Park; IBS Bulgaria at the Dechitsa Foundation; Japan Tobacco International Bulgaria at the Boyana Church; the Kempinski Hotel Zografski Sofia at the National Museum of Military History; Mentormate, also at the military history museum; MobilTel at the St Vrach Day Care Centre for Special Children, at the animal rescue centre in Bogrov, at the botanical garden, the zoo, the military history museum, Vitosha National Park and the Eyes on Four Paws Foundation; the NCOTEX Group, also at the Eyes on Four Paws Foundation, Quadrant Beverages at the Botanical Garden; Schneider Electric Bulgaria at the zoo garden and Sensata Technologies at the military history museum.
The initiative “Professionals at School” will be held from October 14 to 25 2013.
The concept is to bring successful professionals into the classrooms to share their experience with the students and help them in their career choices.
The initiative is taking place at more than 23 schools in Sofia, Varna, Bourgas, Svishtov, Stara Zagora, Rousse, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Lukovit and Teteven.
(Photos: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
