A short-term European Solidarity Corps volunteering activity, “Mindya Community”, will begin in the village of Mindya on 10 August 2026. The project will bring together eight volunteers: two from Armenia, three from Türkiye and three from Bulgaria.
The initiative is part of BRCK’s projects and is organised with the participation of Mindya Community and E-volution Media. The activities are funded by the European Union.
The volunteers will be based at Freeway Hostel in Mindya. Their programme combines practical community work, intercultural exchange, cooperation with local residents and opportunities to explore the region.
The first confirmed public event will take place at the Mindya community centre, or chitalishte, on 20 August. The volunteers will present the cultures of Armenia, Türkiye and Bulgaria through music, dances, traditional food and short videos. The evening will offer an opportunity for participants and local residents to meet and get to know one another.
Other planned activities include a table tennis tournament for 16 participants, games with local children, a traditional Bulgarian food workshop for making lutenitsa and homemade jam, and the construction of benches and a composter for the village. The volunteers will also help film and edit material from Mindya Rock Fest.
The programme includes visits to Veliko Tarnovo, Tryavna, the Etar Open-Air Museum and Kapinovski Monastery. A possible public event and concert at the open-air cinema stage in Elena is also under discussion. This activity has not yet been confirmed.
The published programme is a working draft. Activities, timings and practical arrangements may change and will be discussed with the volunteers at the beginning of each week. All activities marked with *** are provisional and subject to confirmation.
The current working programme is attached to this publication. Further details about the public events will be announced once they have been confirmed.
