FSCI and Experian’s shared commitment to vulnerable young people has been recognised at national level in Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s National Alliance for Volunteer Action held a celebration event for participating organisations in December. There Experian, who developed a Youth Mentoring Programme with FSCI to support residents in FSCI’s House of Opportunity Programme in early 2018, received a special award from the President of Bulgaria!
“I am extremely proud that from 49 nominations, our Youth Mentor Programme with FSCI won the Volunteer Initiative of the Year award”’ said Betti Valcheva, of Experian. “Congratulations to the amazing mentors from Experian Bulgaria, who for almost two years have shared time, skills and very special emotions with the wonderful young people from House of Opportunity”.
Boryana Madzhova, FSCI’s House of Opportunity Programme Coordinator, was delighted with the award, “We’re really excited! We attended the event not expecting anything, and we came away with such encouragement! We love working with Experian and are very glad that their commitment to the young people is now being recognised for the impact it has not just on the lives of the residents in the House of Opportunity, but also on those who come alongside to mentor them. This shows what a business focused on making a meaningful impact on social issues can achieve”.
This award is an amazing way for FSCI to end its 10th Anniversary year, explains Tedi Koleva, FSCI Director, “We held a birthday celebration for FSCI earlier this year, where we were reminded about all the wonderful supporters that we have had over the last decade. This award shows that by working together, businesses and NGOs can move things to the next level and have a remarkable impact on the lives of vulnerable young people, offering them friendship and opportunities that would not be possible without this sort of collaboration. It is humbling that the work we are doing is getting this recognition – we want to thank Experian, our supporters and the young people in the House of Opportunity for making this such a success”.
If your company or organisation would like to speak to us about engaging with our programmes please get in touch.
Bulgaria: Teodora Koleva, t.koleva@fscibulgaria.org
SE Europe and UK: Chris Mould, chris.mould@fscinet.org