At the end of April, the solidarity project “Mindya Post Reunion”, implemented by BRCK Association – “Dream for Romance, Flowers and Space” with the support of the European Solidarity Corps, came to an end. The project focused on young people, the local community in the village of Mindya and the Veliko Tarnovo region, with an emphasis on culture, media, active citizenship, ecology and intergenerational connection.
The main idea of the project was to continue and build upon local initiatives already started in Mindya, while creating more space for participation, expression and sharing. Within the project, young people from the local community worked on activities combining journalism, volunteering, cultural life, cooperation with local institutions and the promotion of European opportunities for young people.
One of the most visible results of the project is the development of Mindya Post — a local printed publication reflecting life in the village and the region. Through it, events, initiatives, interviews, stories, local challenges and topics important to people from different generations were presented. The newspaper became a kind of bridge between young people, older residents, newcomers to the village and local organisations.
Another key result is the creation and development of the Mindya Community website — an online space for information, stories, events, nature, culture and community life in the village of Mindya: https://mindya-community.org. The website complements the printed publication and allows the content created within the project to remain accessible after the project’s official end.
During the implementation period, the project included various field activities: meetings with local people, work on publications and interviews, coverage of events, ecological initiatives, volunteer activities, summer cultural formats, presentation of opportunities under Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, as well as partner initiatives with the local community centre “Razvitie 1893” – Mindya.
The project gave participants the opportunity to develop practical skills in writing, editing, photography, design, digital tools, event organisation and teamwork. At the same time, it showed that small settlements can be active spaces for culture, creativity, volunteering and civic participation.
For BRCK Association, the project represents an important step in its long-term work with local communities, young people and volunteers. “Mindya Post Reunion” does not end only with a final report — it leaves behind content, partnerships, new ideas and a foundation for future initiatives in Mindya and the wider region.
The media products created, the Mindya Community website and the experience gained will continue to be used and developed in future activities of the organisation. Our goal is for Mindya to remain a living place for meetings, ideas, culture, nature and community action — a place where young people can participate, create and see real meaning in their involvement.
The “Mindya Post Reunion” project has come to an end, but its direction continues: more voice for local people, more opportunities for young people and more visibility for life in small communities.
Useful links:
Mindya Community: https://mindya-community.org
European Solidarity Corps: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity_en
Erasmus+: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/
