The pilot phase in Bulgaria brought together 7 mentors and 7 mentees from diverse social, educational, and professional backgrounds in the small town of Kuklen. The initiative was implemented in collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bulgaria and its associated partner, the National Association for Social Cooperation and Partnership (NASCP).
The mentoring group included women aged 21 to 65 with a wide range of professional experience, including teachers, a choreographer, a financier, a librarian, a factory worker, and a student. Their educational backgrounds varied from secondary education to university degrees in pedagogy, social management, and economics.
The mentees, aged between 25 and 35, included both women and men, many of whom were unemployed due to health-related challenges. All participants had officially recognised disabilities, assessed under the Bulgarian TELK system, including visual impairment, bipolar disorder, diabetes, oncological conditions, and mental health conditions.
Participants were matched in one-to-one mentoring pairs and also took part in shared creative activities throughout the programme, which ran from 1 November 2025 to 15 January 2026. During this period, three art workshops were organised using eco-friendly and sustainable materials. The handmade products created during the workshops, including scarves and postcards, were later sold at a charity bazaar. The proceeds were reinvested in NASCP initiatives that support people with disabilities.
