What we do
Our association’s core mission is to promote integration through education, socialization, and inclusion. We design programs that blend modern formal and non-formal educational approaches, creating supportive environments where vulnerable groups can grow and realize their full potential. We collaborate closely with local specialists and professional educators to deliver tailored programs that address the specific needs of our beneficiaries—both at the individual level and within grassroots communities.
Running projects
MOVE TOGETHER LAB – Move. Connect. Together.
MOVE TOGETHER LAB is a six-month movement, sport and social inclusion programme implemented by Arms Wide Open Association with the financial support of On AG through its global social impact programme Right To Run.
The project brings together 40 young people aged 13–18 and women aged 18+ from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, including local Bulgarians, refugees and migrants, unaccompanied refugee minors, and people who face barriers to accessing organised sport and physical activity.
At the heart of the programme is the Movement Buddy System. Participants are paired and brought together in mixed groups where movement becomes a tool for building trust, mutual support and new friendships. The focus is not on athletic performance, but on creating an accessible and safe environment where everyone can move and participate regardless of their experience, fitness level or background.
From September 2026 to February 2027, participants will take part in 24 sport and movement sessions, including basketball, roller skating, running and walking, strength, balance and coordination exercises, dance, improvisation, partner work and creative movement practices. Activities will take place in parks and outdoor sports spaces across Sofia and will move indoors during the colder months.
The programme also includes four Movement Buddy adventures in Vitosha Mountain – to Boyana Lake, Kamen Del Peak, the Golden Bridges and along the Galunka Eco Trail. The hikes combine physical activity with nature exploration, orientation, teamwork and mutual-support challenges.
The project will culminate in February 2027 with MOVE TOGETHER – A Practice of Trust, a public participatory performance and workshop exploring trust between people. Through partner movement, balance, leading and following, and giving and receiving support, participants will share what they have developed throughout the six-month journey and invite the audience to find their own Movement Buddy and take part.
MOVE TOGETHER LAB uses movement as a universal language – a way for people who might otherwise never meet to connect, build trust and begin moving together.
Project period: September 2026 – February 2027
Location: Sofia and Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria
Participants: 40
Financial support: On AG On AG / Right to Run Right To Run
Implemented by: Arms Wide Open Association
Youth Council “Safe Circle”
The Youth Council “Safe Circle” is an internal youth structure of the “Arms Wide Open” Association, created to encourage active youth participation and support young people in their integration and personal development.
Safe Circle is the first youth structure in Bulgaria established and led by young people with refugee backgrounds, who aim to support other refugees, migrants, and youth at risk. The council creates a space for mutual support, development, and intercultural dialogue.
The mission of Safe Circle is to empower young people by providing access to resources, non-formal education, and opportunities to participate in youth initiatives that build skills, promote tolerance, and foster active citizenship.
The creation of the council builds on the experience of the youth group “Petichka” – a program of “Arms Wide Open,” which engaged 134 young people by mid-2025. Participants took part in educational, cultural, and social initiatives, trips, and training activities, as well as exam preparation, including individualized support.
As part of the program, three young people completed internships within the organization, where they developed and led educational activities and contributed to the organization of youth programs.
The Youth Council “Safe Circle” builds on this experience by creating a sustainable environment in which young people not only participate but also lead initiatives and drive meaningful change.
Right to a Voice: Legal Empowerment and Artistic Self-Defense for Refugee and Migrant Women Against Violence
The project is implemented by Arms Wide Open Association with the financial support of the Bulgarian Fund for Women under the Values Programme 2026, within BIRDS in BG 2 / the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme.
Right to a Voice is a 12-month project aimed at strengthening the legal empowerment, support and confidence of refugee and migrant women, as well as women at risk of domestic and gender-based violence in Bulgaria.
The project combines legal support, psychological support and artistic practices, because knowing one’s rights is only the first step – women also need the confidence, support and practical tools to exercise and defend them.
As part of the project, multilingual legal resources will be developed in Bulgarian, Ukrainian/Russian and Arabic. The programme will also include six legal information sessions, group consultations and individual legal support. Topics will include domestic violence, rights within marriage and cohabitation, separation, parental rights and child support, migration status and temporary protection, as well as practical steps for seeking institutional protection.
A distinctive part of the project is its creative empowerment programme, featuring the laboratories Impro Theatre: Lost Rights, Performance Lab + Simulation: End of Democracy, Self-regulation & Voice, and Rights Manifestos. Through theatre, movement, voice work and visual art, participants will explore personal boundaries, freedom, dignity, belonging and their ability to respond when their rights are violated.
To enable mothers to participate fully, parallel activities and support for their children will be provided by a psychologist during the sessions.
The project will culminate in a public conference and an interactive performative exhibition at RCCA Toplocentrala, where the personal and collective Rights Manifestos will enter into dialogue with the wider public, civil society organisations and institutions.
The project’s information and awareness activities are expected to reach more than 200 women, while at least 60 women will participate in the intensive artistic and empowerment programme. The multilingual resources and the community support network developed through the project will remain available beyond the project period.
Right to a Voice is about the right to know. The right to be heard. The right to seek protection. And the confidence to use your own voice.
“Safe Reporting” – A Practical Standard for Safe Reporting When Working with Children in Migration
Arms Wide Open Association is implementing the project “Safe Reporting” – A Practical Standard for Safe Reporting When Working with Children in Migration, aimed at developing a practical tool for civil society organisations, professionals and volunteers working with children seeking asylum or granted international protection, with a particular focus on unaccompanied children.
The standard will provide practical procedures, checklists and templates for risk assessment, safe reporting, documentation and follow-up of reported violations, protection of personal data and whistleblowers, work with interpreters, and effective interaction with competent institutions. The tool will be developed with the expert involvement of the Foundation for Access to Rights (FAR), validated through consultations with relevant organisations, experts and institutions, and made publicly available for use and adaptation by other organisations.
The project is implemented with the financial support of the Bulgarian Fund for Women under the ReAction Programme, within Project No. 101184271 — BIRDS in BG 2, co-funded by the European Union.
Previous projects
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DETACHED OPEN AIR: Transit Zone Sofia
Funded by: Sofia Municipality – Summer Programme 2026
DETACHED OPEN AIR: Transit Zone Sofia is an interactive documentary performance exploring migration, return, memory and belonging. The outdoor spaces around Toplocentrala are transformed into a symbolic transit zone — between departure and return, between the familiar and the unknown, between the place we leave behind and the place we begin to call home.
The project is built around real human stories — those of Bulgarian emigrants who have spent years abroad and have returned or are considering returning to Bulgaria, as well as people from different countries who have chosen Sofia as their new home.
Collected through documentary interviews, these personal stories are transformed into an interdisciplinary artistic experience combining documentary theatre, contemporary dance, visual and textile installations, audio stories, archival materials and video.
Audiences move freely through the space, encountering fragments of individual lives shaped by departure, love, loss, identity, belonging and return. Rather than approaching migration through statistics or political narratives, DETACHED brings attention to the people behind them and to the intimate experiences that shape our relationship with place.
At the heart of the project lies a simple yet universal question:
Where does home begin?
Concept and production: Arms Wide Open Association
Curator: Simona Halacheva
Choreography: Roman Blazhkiv and Vladimir Gruev
Research and dramaturgical materials: Anna Hakman
The project was implemented with the financial support of Sofia Municipality – Summer Programme 2026, in partnership with Toplocentrala Regional Centre for Contemporary Arts.
Democratic Manifestos – Women’s Voices on Freedom, Belonging and Human Rights
“Co-Funded by European Union Riza Project”
What do freedom, democracy and the right to have a voice look like through the eyes of women who have experienced migration, loss, starting over, and building a new sense of belonging?
Democratic Manifestos is a documentary and participatory exhibition created as the final public outcome of Human Rights Booster – an educational and artistic programme by Arms Wide Open Association dedicated to human rights, equality, dignity, empowerment and the democratic participation of refugee and migrant women.
The exhibition presents visual and textual works created by 40 refugee and migrant women living in Bulgaria. Through photography, personal stories, symbols, movement and short messages, the participants transform their lived experiences into “Democratic Manifestos” – public statements about the world they want to help create and the kind of society they want to live in.
Their stories speak about home and its loss, freedom, identity, motherhood, care, justice, solidarity, and the right to be heard and seen. Behind each figure is a real woman and a real life journey – leaving home, crossing borders, living between languages and cultures, creating new connections, and gradually building a new sense of belonging.
Democratic Manifestos does not portray women as passive recipients of support. On the contrary, it places them at the centre as authors of their own stories, rights-holders, and active participants in society.
The exhibition creates a space where the personal meets the public. Visitors are not simply invited to observe the artworks, but to reflect: What does it mean to have a voice? When does a place become home? Who has the right to belong? And what does democracy look like when we see it through the personal experiences of people whose voices often remain outside the public conversation?
The exhibition was presented at RCCA Toplocentrala in Sofia from 4 to 6 July 2026, continuing our long-term work with socially engaged art and its potential to create spaces for encounter, dialogue, and greater visibility for diverse communities.
Human Rights Booster and the Democratic Manifestos exhibition were co-funded by the European Union through the RIZA Project.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union.
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Human Rights Booster
/18-21 June 2026/
“Co-Funded by European Union Riza Project”
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Human Rights Booster is an empowerment programme for refugee and migrant women living in Bulgaria. Through non-formal education, creative expression, and community-building, the project supports women in understanding their rights, strengthening their confidence, and becoming more active participants in social and civic life.
The programme brings together women from diverse cultural and national backgrounds in a safe and supportive environment where they can learn, share experiences, and build meaningful connections. Participants explore topics such as human rights, equality, non-discrimination, democracy, social inclusion, and civic participation through interactive workshops, discussions, movement-based learning, social theatre, and storytelling.
A key element of the programme is the creation of Democratic Manifestos – personal visual and written statements through which participants express their experiences, values, hopes, and visions for a more inclusive and democratic society. These works are presented to the public through exhibitions and community events, helping to amplify the voices of refugee and migrant women and promote dialogue within the wider community.
Human Rights Booster reflects Arms Wide Open’s commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and equal opportunities. By combining education, creativity, and participation, the programme helps women develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to advocate for themselves, support others, and contribute to stronger, more inclusive communities.
„AWO“ Summer School vol.4
/June-August 2025/
For the fourth consecutive year, we organized a Summer School for the children of Sofia.
Our goal was to create a safe and supportive environment where children had the opportunity to learn new things, explore Sofia’s cultural and historical heritage, get to know one another, and discover their talents through music and dance.
The program included visits to the Sofia Planetarium, the Zoo, the Earth and Human National Museum, Kvadrat 500 Gallery, the Sofia Fire Safety and Civil Protection Directorate, and more. Art workshops were also part of the program at no additional cost. Once a week, we organized day trips to Vitosha Mountain. Children received lunch every day, provided by Beryozka stores.
The school ran every weekday from June 16 to August 31 at the Sredets Cultural Center and brought together 124 children from 10 different nationalities, promoting friendship, understanding, and cultural exchange.
We worked with children of all backgrounds from 1st to 4th grade.
ONLINE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS FOR WOMEN /November 2024-April 2025/ Funding Organization: Urgent Action Fund
In the spring of 2024, a mother reached out to us with a request to issue a letter of recommendation for her son, who had been attending our programs. Through this contact, we learned about her difficult personal situation—after surviving domestic violence, she was granted permission to see her 2-year-old daughter only once a week and was engaged in a difficult legal battle for custody rights.
Through crowdfunding efforts, we managed to raise the necessary funds to cover the legal fees for her defense. This case prompted us to reflect on how we could better support and protect women facing similar challenges in the future.
In 2023, we launched a Viber group for mothers who gave birth in Bulgaria. Based on the data we collected, approximately 10% of women in such “mixed” families (with Bulgarian spouses) reported experiencing domestic violence.
This initiative aims to provide accessible online legal consultations to women in vulnerable situations, empowering them with information, support, and pathways to justice.
"MASTER ART CLASSES “eqUAlity”
/November 2024-February 2025/
Funding Organization: Bulgarian Fund for Women
The program offered a series of master art classes led by Ukrainian and local professionals with many years of experience in their respective fields. Over the course of three months, we conducted weekly creative sessions for children, youth (ages 15–29), and adults.
The initiative aimed to develop personal and social skills, while also providing a safe space for communication, interaction, and growth. The target group included approximately 40% Ukrainian refugees and 50% local residents interested in either professional or amateur development in the fields of vocal, performing, and visual arts.
By bringing these groups together, the program sought to foster inclusion and smooth integration in a safe, supportive, and non-discriminatory environment.
The program concluded with an interactive exhibition-concert hosted at the space of our partners, RCCA “Toplocentrala”.
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PROJECT “TEAM CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING” /July 2024 – September 2024/
Funding Organization: Bulgarian Fund for Women
For the first time, we received targeted support aimed at strengthening the development of the Association’s team, increasing organizational capacity, and preventing burnout.
A total of 16 training sessions were conducted for the core team, including teachers, specialists, and experts involved in the Association’s various programs — a team consisting of 33 people. We also held our first-ever team-building event.
By organizing targeted trainings, we ensure that the organization continues to operate at an optimal level in delivering meaningful, relevant, effective, and high-quality programs to our beneficiaries — a key priority.
Thanks to the opportunity for both group and individual development sessions, we succeeded in motivating and uniting the team in a new and meaningful way. Each team member was given space in a safe environment to share their experiences, concerns, difficult situations, ideas, and challenges they had encountered, while also encouraging mutual support and shared learning.
IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION “FACEBOOK CHOREOGRAPHY” /March 2024 – October 2024/
Funding Organizations: The CIVICS Innovation Hub and Porticus Amsterdam C.V.
The Russian art collective Mira Zimka and Ukrainian director-choreographer Roman Blazhkiv, in collaboration with Bulgarian artists and performers, presented the first joint Russian-Ukrainian performance in Bulgaria since the beginning of the war. The production explores the complex dialogue between two nations involuntarily drawn into a global conflict.
Social media—serving as a metaphor for our globalized society—offers a lens through which to reflect the breakdown of communication, ongoing destruction, and increasing censorship on both sides. The project draws directly from the words and experiences of individuals on both sides of the conflict, who find themselves trapped in a state of powerlessness and trauma.
Art cannot end wars. But with this work, we sought to lay the groundwork for an impossible but necessary dialogue—here and now—beyond the distorted and censored narratives of social networks and media.
"Integration, cultural and educational center for refugees and migrants “Arms Wide Open”
/January 2024-April 2025/
Funding Organization: EEA and Norway Grants 2014–2021
The Integration Centre is a collaborative initiative between the Arms Wide Open Association, Sofia Municipality – Oborishte District, and the Norwegian company Prios Kompetanse, supported by the EEA and Norway Grants 2014–2021.
The Centre is specifically designed to meet the needs of refugees, third-country nationals seeking or receiving protection, displaced persons from Ukraine, as well as members of the local community.
Its mission is to provide a comprehensive range of services, including social support, counseling, legal assistance, and welfare resources, all aimed at supporting successful integration into Bulgarian society and helping individuals build a dignified and stable life in the country.
"Arms Wide Open" Summer School vol.3
/July-August 2024/
Funding Organization: EEA and Norway Grants 2014–2021
From July 8 to August 30, 2024, the third edition of the Summer School took place, becoming a tradition and an example of a successful and innovative integration project. The program was spread over 8 intensive weeks or 40 days, and included 121 children. It was carefully designed specifically for each age group, taking into account its characteristics, interests, and needs.
Each week had a theme around which the activities were planned, including Bulgarian language lessons and art workshops.
The goal of these themes was to unite all the children from the school and provide an opportunity for collaborative work across mixed age groups.
The activity is carried out under the project DFPO-1.008 “Cultural and educational center for integration of refugees and migrants “Arms Wide Open” from the “Fund for Bilateral Relations” of the Financial Mechanism of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021, in partnership with Oborishte District, Sofia Municipality and Prios Kompetanse.
“ARMS WIDE OPEN” CHRISTMAS RELAY /December 2023-March 2024/
Donation campaign through Platformata.bg
The most meaningful gifts are often not what’s under the wrapping, but the gesture itself. And just as often, giving can be as joyful as receiving. That’s why we launched a particularly heartfelt initiative: to give both children and people in need the joy of receiving and the fulfillment of giving.
We reached and brought joy to:
- 15 children from the “Karapuz” early childhood group at Open Arms
- 32 young people from “Blagoveshtenie”, a Caritas center for social rehabilitation and integration of people with disabilities
- 80 Ukrainian refugee children supported by the Volunteer Center in Pomorie
- 224 children (including 62 unaccompanied minors) at the Registration and Reception Center in Harmanli
- 50 children aged 4 to 20 from the Complex for Social Services for Children and Families in the town of Roma
Bulgarian language courses for students/February 2022-June 2023/
Funding Organization: Bcause Foundation
The preparatory courses in Bulgarian language and literature were designed primarily to support students in preparing for the compulsory exams and external assessments in Grades 4, 7, and 10. A total of 22 students took part, divided into different groups based on grade level.
The most intensive work was done with 7th-grade students, who faced the particularly challenging task of mastering a broad selection of Bulgarian literary texts while also learning to write retellings in a foreign language. This dual demand required both deep literary understanding and strong language proficiency.
Beyond classroom instruction, the program placed special emphasis on helping both students and parents understand the importance of external assessments and how to approach them with confidence and preparation.
In 2023, the Grade 7 exam results ranged from 35 to 70 points, with an average score of 55.04 points.
English language course/November 2022-June 2023/
Funding Organization: Bcause Foundation
The program was tailored to the individual abilities and goals of each participant, offering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. It reached 30 people aged 16 to 45, organized into two separate 3-month courses. The training was led by a local teacher from 19 Elin Pelin Secondary School and an English-speaking teacher from the First English Language School.
The main objective was to help participants develop their verbal and written communication skills in English and expand their vocabulary. A key focus was preparing students for job interviews requiring English proficiency, language exams, and other practical situations where strong English skills are essential.
Bulgarian Language Course
/December 2022-March 2023/
Funding Organization: Sofia Development Association
The A1-A2 level courses were developed by the expert team at the “Kristina Progress” educational center, who have become not only advisors but also true friends to our students. The program engaged 52 participants, divided into six working groups, each meeting twice a week for a duration of six months.
The course was designed to provide practical knowledge that would help the trainees navigate both their professional and everyday lives in Bulgaria. In collaboration with the Sofia Development Association, we organized workshops focused on key skills such as business Bulgarian, CV writing, job search strategies, understanding employee rights and responsibilities, and employer obligations, among other essential topics.
These sessions were tailored to equip the participants with the tools they need to succeed in the workplace and integrate seamlessly into Bulgarian society.
Psychological support/November 2022-February 2023/
Funding Organization: Bcause Foundation
This program was designed for women aged 18 to 35 and provided a supportive space for healing and personal growth. Over the course of three months, participants took part in both offline and online sessions in small groups of 7 to 12 people, creating a safe and trusting environment.
The main goals of the program were to help participants recognize and cope with symptoms of PTSD, and to address the cumulative trauma caused by war, the possible loss of friends and family, separation from loved ones, sudden relocation to Bulgaria, and the many challenges of adapting to a new life. The sessions also focused on overcoming loneliness and the emotional impact of being isolated from family, as well as on rebuilding and strengthening each participant’s personal identity.
„Arms Wide Open“ Summer School vol.2
/July-August 2023/
/July-August 2023/
Funding Organization: Cargills Bulgaria
An innovative Summer Integration School for refugee children, this program has supported nearly 200 children from Ukraine and the Middle East (including Iraq, Iran, and Syria) over two consecutive years, along with their parents.
The initiative creates a safe and inclusive environment where children can access education, socialize, and adapt to their new surroundings. It offers equal opportunities for development through Bulgarian language learning, psychological support, and activities that foster integration and a sense of belonging. Beyond supporting children, the program also assists parents by providing reliable care during the summer holidays and encouraging their continued involvement in their children’s growth and education in Sofia.
Thanks to this intensive and holistic approach, around 80% of participating children successfully transitioned into Bulgarian schools, entering with confidence and readiness for the school year ahead.
„Arms Wide Open“ Summer School vol.1
/July-August 2022/
A total of 96 children participated in the program, including 80 school-age students. The core focus was the intensive study of the Bulgarian language to help prepare participants for the upcoming school year and support their smooth integration into the local school system.
The project was delivered by a dedicated team of around 30 professionals, including primarily Ukrainian teachers, young facilitators who led group activities, Bulgarian philologists, and volunteers. All team members were fairly compensated for their work and played a key role in supporting the children’s learning and development.
By the end of the program, approximately 50 children were successfully enrolled in local Bulgarian schools, entering the academic year with intermediate-level proficiency in Bulgarian and increased confidence in their ability to adapt and thrive.
Project „sMysl“ for Ukrainian refugees in Blagoevgrad/June-August 2022/
Funding Organization: Bcause Foundation
A three-month program in Blagoevgrad offered Bulgarian language courses, art workshops, and speech therapy to more than 50 refugee children and adults from Ukraine. The initiative aimed to support both linguistic integration and emotional well-being through creative and educational activities.
The courses were led by qualified teachers with extensive experience in local schools and at South-West University. Notably, the speech therapist and one of the art instructors were Ukrainian refugees themselves, bringing both professional expertise and personal understanding to the program.
Project to the call for proposals "We can"- help for Ukrainian youth
/November 2022-February 2023/
Funding Organization: Bcause Foundation
“Arms Wide Open” develops activities and projects that address the specific needs of refugees and displaced people who have found protection in Bulgaria. After going through the complex and often painful process of adaptation, many are now ready to take the next steps toward full integration.
This project provides targeted support through Bulgarian language courses, access to education, labor market orientation, psychological assistance, and opportunities for socialization. We work in close collaboration with local organizations, companies, institutions, volunteers, and engaged citizens to build a strong, supportive network for those starting a new life in Bulgaria.
"Karapuz" full-day nursery for children 4-7 years old
/July 2022-February 2024/
Funding Organization: Cargills Bulgaria
Full-Day Childcare Center “Karapuz” for children aged 4 to 7, aimed at supporting Ukrainian mothers and their children in their adaptation, orientation, and development in Sofia.A total of 50 children have attended the center, with 7 enrolling in Bulgarian first grade and 5 joining local kindergartens in 2023.
The center was self-sustaining, with parents actively involved in its organization. We emphasized both formal and non-formal education, offering instruction in both Bulgarian and Ukrainian languages.
The main educators were Ukrainian refugee teachers, whose own children also attended “Karapuz.”
Bulgarian Language Course
/November 2022-February 2023/
Funding Organization: Sofia Development Association
A joint course by SofiaLab and Arms Wide Open, co-funded by the European Commission’s AMIF program, was designed for 30 participants and included 48 hours of instruction, starting at Bulgarian language level B1.
The course was conducted online, with six additional workshops and a financial literacy module complementing the main training.
Participants were Ukrainian refugees from across Bulgaria who already possessed basic Bulgarian language skills.