On 19.01.2023, a “ground breaking” was held under project No. BGLD-3.002-0006-C01 “Creation of a center for integrated social and health services at one stop in Stolipinovo quarter” with the beneficiary Municipality of Plovdiv, which is financed under the Program “Local development, poverty reduction and improved inclusion of vulnerable groups”, through the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021. Total value of the project BGN 2,310,451.09 – BFP. Program operator Ministry of Education and Science.
The event was attended by Mr. Georgi Tityukov – Deputy Mayor “Sports, Youth Activities and Social Policy” Municipality of Plovdiv, Mr. Erol Sadakov – Deputy Mayor of “Iztochen” District, Mrs. Veselina Boteva – Director Directorate ” Social policy”, Municipality of Plovdiv, Dr. NadyaTaneva – director of the Social Assistance Directorate – Plovdiv, Asen Karagyozov – chairman of the Roma Foundation, Nedka Vasileva – Petrova – project manager, representatives of the building’s designers, construction supervision, representatives of municipality of Plovdiv, participated in various stages of the preparation of the investment project, the project team, experts from the municipal administration, citizens, representatives of the media.
The building is being built in the Stolipinovo quarter at 61 Kalina Street and has a developed and built-up area of 474 square meters. According to the contract signed with the construction company EMT STROY, the activities will be completed in 180 calendar days.
“This is another project in the social sphere that the municipality of Plovdiv has won. I thank the governing body – in this case the Ministry of Education and Culture, who evaluated our project on merit. Out of 23 proposals, 8 were approved, with ours ranked second. Thanks to the project partners – Roma Foundation and Fornation Norsensus Mediaforum – Norway, thanks to the project manager Nedka Petrova – for her efforts fighting the bureaucracy to make this project happen. I wish the construction company sunny days and no surprises that are not recorded in the underground cadastre, so that they can hand over the building on time and it can be used by the people for whom it is intended.” With these words, Mr. Georgi Tityukov opened the event.
The chairman of the “Roma” foundation – Asen Karagyozov shared that the project is innovative for Bulgaria. He praised the municipality of Plovdiv for the good practices in the social sphere and expressed confidence that the project will be multiplied in other cities in the country.
The head of the project, Nedka Petrova, stated that the goal is to create conditions for prevention and improvement of the population’s attitude towards education and health needs. “The center will also provide accompanying services, such as providing food for the most vulnerable groups, there will be music and art classes, Bulgarian language classes. 13 people will work here – health and educational mediators, social workers, music pedagogue, art specialist.” said Mrs. Petrova.
“There are branches of many institutions in the neighborhood. The idea is not only to support them when they come with a specific problem, but for the specialists to consult and guide them so that they do not wander around the institutions. The idea is to get the population to recognize the institutions as a benevolent place,” added Dr. NadyaTaneva.
