Dianа Nedeva, Professional Fellows program alumna, participated in the Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar (Alumni TIES) on the topic of refugee and migration issues in Zagreb, Croatia, February 22-26, 2016. Forty European alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs participated in the seminar, after which they were provided with an opportunity to develop specific action plans to address refugee and migrant challenges in their local communities.
Diana presented the project, “Women and Children – Integration and Empowerment.” The project aims to support refugee/asylum seeker women and their children in the process of integration and becoming independent through creative workshops and afterschool programming. It was one of the six projects submitted by alumni participants following the seminar that has been approved for funding.
Diаna Nedeva works for Caritas Bulgaria. As a volunteers coordinator Diana works on one of the biggest long-term projects in Bulgaria with volunteers – The Refugee Project.
For more than four years, The Refugee Project has worked with hundreds of children and adults living in the reception centers for asylum seekers in Sofia. Volunteers organize Bulgarian, English and computer lessons, sports and games, music, cookery and art activities, parties and excursions.