Jan 31, 2012 | by Areté Youth
Areté Youth Foundation welcomes Daniela Adamova as the new Director of Operations for the Bulgaria office. Adamova, who previously worked in the Peace Corps Programming and Training Department since 1999, is excited about Areté's initiatives and believes that the key to success in working in a multicultural environment is to keep an open mind and create a positive learning atmosphere.
She says, "I would like to quote Elbert Hubbard: 'Initiative is doing the right things without being told.' Instead of telling Roma youth what to do, Areté helps them realize the importance of education, or the benefits of participating in a camp or joining the Roma Professional Network."
Adamova was drawn to Areté by her belief in the culture of giving back. "I was given many opportunities in life, and it's time for me to give back by encouraging Roma youth to focus on educational pursuits and to realize the importance of social and professional networks," she said.
As youth development program assistant with Peace Corps, Adamova worked with many Roma NGOs, youth leaders, and volunteers.In 2005 she witnessed how volunteers and Roma youth leaders were empowering young Roma students at the camp "Forward Together."At the camp, she was inspired by the different perspectives and the great motivation of the participants.
Adamova's professional background includes teaching in one of the biggest Roma neighborhoods in Bulgaria, membership in a regional development association, and four years of elected service to the City Council in her hometown, Laki.
Adamova's areas of interest and expertise are team-building, facilitation, ongoing learning, teaching foreign languages, and NGO and youth development. She holds a degree in pedagogy and a diploma for teaching English from Plovdiv University. She is also a certified diversity trainer and a language proficiency tester, and holds a certificate for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
In her free time, Adamova enjoys traveling, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
Aug 22, 2011 | by Areté Youth
Arete Youth Foundation is currently seeking an office manager for its Sofia, Bulgaria office. Please see the details below for information.
Вакантна позиция: Офис мениджър
Организация: Младежка Фондация „Арете” - България
Срок на договора: 1 година
Място: София
Начало: Октомври 2011
Възнаграждение: Предлага се конкурентно заплащане според квалификацията на кандидатите.
Информация за Младежка Фондация „Арете” - България:
Мисията на Младежка Фондация „Арете” е да подкрепя израстването на лидери от средите на уязвими общности. В изпълнение на своята мисия Фондацията организира и финансира инициативи, които събират и мобилизират младежи, подпомагат изграждането на професионални мрежи и оказват съдействие на млади хора за получаване на висше образование. Дейността на Младежка Фондация „Арете” се подкрепя от фондация „Америка за България” и частни донори, които оказват помощ на младежи от уязвими групи на Балканите.
Описание на длъжността:
Офис мениджърът организира административната дейност и оказва техническа помощ при изпълнението на следните основни програми на Младежка Фондация „Арете”:
1. Привличане на повече младежи завършили средно образование към летни школи за млади лидери;
2. Създаване на онлайн информационен център за млади лидери;
3. Създаване на формална Мрежа от роми специалисти в различни професии от България и Европа.
Задължения и отговорности:
· Организира административна дейност на Фондацията, вкл. поддръжка на офис и разплащане на текущи разходи;
· Оказва техническа помощ на Изпълнителния директор и на програмните директори при осъществяването на техните функции;
· Координира установяване на професионални контакти с академични институции, бизнес и професионални организации при изпълнението на отделните програми на Фондацията;
· Координира информационния поток между Изпълнителния директор и програмните директори; между програмните директори и регионалните мениджъри; както и контактите с партньорски организации по места;
· Осъществява ежедневна комуникация с партньорите на Фондацията в социалните мрежи;
· Организира пътуванията на Изпълнителния директор в страната и чужбина (резервация на хотели, организация на делови срещи).
Изисквания към кандидатите:
· Минимум една година опит в извършването на подобни дейности;
· Работа с компютър и отлично владеене на английски език;
· Умения за работа в екип.
Документи за кандидатстване:
· Автобиография (CV)
· Мотивационно писмо (до 1 страница)
Срок за кандидатстване: 12 септември 2011
Документи за кандидатстване да се изпращат до Румян Русинов на адрес: rumyan@areteyouth.org
Apr 04, 2011 | by Areté Youth
Areté Youth Foundation board member Brian Murray recently visited the organization’s Bulgaria office to get to know the team members there, understand their progress, and learn how the U.S. team can support the Bulgaria office.
To date, the team – whom Murray described as having a great mix of experience, youthful energy, and ambition – has been focused on building the right relationships with past participants of the camps, partners and Roma professionals. They are in start-up mode, so everyone is getting their hands dirty and taking responsibility for shaping the initiatives.
“It is a very exciting, yet challenging, time to be in the office,” Murray said. “I’m hoping that this start-up energy will challenge the whole team to discover new and innovative ways to implement programs.”
The Bulgaria team’s efforts are groundbreaking. No one has set out to create a Roma Professional Network before, but Murray is confident the staff will be successful because Arete has a strong base of more than 3,000 Roma university students and graduates to work with. Murray said he was most impressed with the team’s ability to coalesce support among others in the community.
“They have done a wonderful job of reaching out to many different groups – academic, governmental, and NGOs – to develop a strong network to propel them forward,” he said.”Given this great start, Jodi and I will have to continue to find new ways to support and strengthen the team on the ground. I see this as a great problem to have.”
Mar 14, 2011 | by Areté Youth
Tano Bechev, Program Manager of “Role Models for Tomorrow” Program of Areté Youth Foundation, Bulgaria, traveled to Budapest March 3rd and 4th to participate in the international conference, “Roma and Minority Youth: Pathways to More Inclusive European Youth Structure.” The conference took place in the European Youth Center and was organized by the Roma and Youth Initiatives Programs of the Open Society Foundation. During the conference Mr. Bechev had the opportunity to meet and establish connections with more than 25 participants representing Roma youth organizations from different countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and Albania. “There were very heated discussions among the group about the barriers to the inclusion of Roma and minority youth in European youth structures and policy making, ” said Benchev. He added, “It is very important to consider what needs to be changed in institutional organizations to fast-track better inclusion and participation of Roma and minority youth. It was very disappointing that there were no Roma representatives and organizations within the European Youth Forum.”
The YFJ is an independent, democratic, youth-led platform which represents 98 National Youth Councils and International Youth Organizations from across Europe. The YFJ works to empower young people to actively participate in society to improve their own lives, by representing and advocating their needs and interests and those of their organisations towards the European Institutions, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
Mr. Benchev had the opportunity to meet with their President Mr. Peter Matjashich and shared his concerns about the 12,000,000 Roma living in Europe who are not represented within their structure. Mr. Matjashich said that they have very strict criteria for becoming a member organization but that he is open to collaborate and work towards Roma youth inclusion”.
