On 12 and 13 August, the city of Pernik became a vibrant space for meetings, ideas, music, sports, and discussions about the role of young people in the development of the local community. The occasion was International Youth Day, celebrated on 12 August, and the programme brought together youth organisations, institutions, experts and, of course, many active and inspired young people.
Mundus Bulgaria was happy to be part of the programme and to participate in the Youth Fair, an initiative focused on sharing good practices, promoting youth participation, and creating new opportunities for young people in the region. We also had the opportunity to present materials developed through some of our previous projects, including non-formal education resources, a handbook on non-formal education, materials exploring sport as an educational method, and our You(th)Play game. The game attracted a lot of interest, with many participants taking the opportunity to try it out and play together.
At the end of the event, the materials we brought were donated to local youth organisations and the International Youth Center in Pernik. The resources will be available for youth workers and trainers to use in their future activities, extending the impact of the projects beyond the event itself.
For us, taking part in the event was both valuable and inspiring. We had the chance to meet many young people, as well as parents and children, who shared their experiences, ideas and needs. We also connected with organisations working in the youth field and exchanged good practices and experiences that we hope to build on in our future work.
This year’s celebration was particularly special as, alongside the festive programme, it also marked the 18th anniversary of the establishment of the Youth Policy Advisory Council of the Municipality of Pernik, as well as the city’s candidacy for European Youth Capital 2029.
We would like to thank the Municipality of Pernik, the International Youth Center – Pernik, and all the organisations and young people who contributed to making these two days so meaningful and inspiring!
