About us
Our story
Arms Wide Open was established in April 2022 by a group of volunteers of different nationalities and professional backgrounds who have been actively involved since the first days of the war in Ukraine in a range of initiatives and organizations to help refugees in Bulgaria.
The association employs people of different religious affiliations, cultural identities and nationalities, including those from conflict countries. These differences influence the work process, mainly in the perceptions of people external to the organization, but from our experience so far, we have proven that these differences mainly bring advantage and contribute to the common cause.
Our Believes
Our Mission
The organization's mission is to include refugees, people at risk, and disadvantaged people in Bulgarian society, giving all equal opportunity.
Empowering people – to take initiative for their own and community development is a core principle of our work. Our activities foster a sense of belonging and initiative among beneficiaries, local citizens, and volunteers, making them active participants in implementing activities and decision-making processes.
Our Vision
Integration requires a joint effort by all parties; the process is two-way, involving both the refugees and the host country's local citizens and institutions.
Our objectives
Through our programs and activities, we aim to support the empowerment of individuals and the community itself. This includes increasing the self-confidence of the people we work with, enhancing their decision-making abilities and capacity to take control of their lives, know and assert their rights, and actively participate in their development.
Our programs aim to combine contemporary approaches in formal and non-formal education and create an environment where vulnerable target groups can develop and achieve their potential.
Refugees, in their journey of adaptation, should not have to renounce their cultural identity. The host community, with its willingness to meet needs in a culturally sensitive manner, plays a crucial role in creating a welcoming environment. In the best case, this can lead to the emergence of an open society of continuity, where people can form a community that embraces diversity.
This two-way process is the basis of our activities, with the aim of creating dialogue, getting to know each other, eliminating prejudice, combating discrimination, supporting mutual continuity and integration, and promoting tolerance.