For the second consecutive year, CEDAR foundation was one of the ten co-organisers of the Social Work Day Forum. The event is being held in Sofia for the fourth time by organisations that are actively working in the social sector. It brought together over 200 representatives of the social system, managers and specialists from social services, representatives of state institutions and municipalities, civil society organisations, and companies engaged in the delivery of social services and support for people in need.
The theme for the forum this year was “Co-building Hope and Harmony”. The slogan is based on the African concept of Harambee – literally meaning “pulling together” or “all for one,” as a symbol of united efforts and partnership in working towards our shared mission.
‘How I understand partnership,’ actress Iva Todorova explained in her stand-up greeting to the guests, ‘is that I find a partner and I pass all the work on to them.’ The actress was part of the program for the second year in a row and, through comedy, presented reflections on social work and relationships. Amid the laughter from the audience, she also offered her own understanding of partnership: ‘the other person can do the things I cannot, and vice versa. And that we help each other.’
The need for active cross-sector partnership was among the main messages in the speeches of experts from the NGO sector and state institutions. At CEDAR, we are happy to be part of organizing a forum that provides space to discuss issues related to our shared cause. For more than 20 years, we have been building and maintaining successful professional partnerships and we join the call for ever better communication and joint working mechanisms.
As a provider of nine social services, we work in partnership with the municipalities of Kyustendil and Kazanlak, with ministries, and with other civil society organizations.
Our work is possible thanks to corporate and individual donors, with whom we maintain clear and transparent relationships. In order to provide quality support to children and adults in disadvantaged situations, part of these funds goes directly towards increasing the capacity of our social and rehabilitation services. For example, through the Sponsor a Carer program, companies from Bulgaria and abroad sponsor rehabilitation specialists and social workers in our services. Individual citizens also support us in this way.
We know that the most important resource in supporting people in need is the professionals who work with them. It is of fundamental importance to us that social workers are well trained, have decent pay and working conditions, and that social work is recognized in society.
World Social Work Day is marked every year on the third Tuesday of March. It aims to highlight the achievements of social work, raise the visibility of social services, and underline their importance for the future of societies. In an increasingly divided world, the only sustainable way forward is through cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility. Social workers are in a key position to encourage collective efforts to build spaces of belonging, dialogue, and resilience.
CEDAR foundation would like to thank the other co-organisers – For Our Children Foundation, International Social Service – Bulgaria Foundation, National Network for Children, Maria’s World Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages Bulgaria, National Alliance for Social Responsibility, Global Initiative in Psychiatry Foundation, Concordia Bulgaria Foundation, and the Know-How Centre for Alternative Care for Children at New Bulgarian University.
For us, the forum is not just an event, but a step towards better coordination and more sustainable solutions in the social system. We will continue to work so that partnerships between institutions, organizations, and business become real support for the people who need it most.
