Project No. BG-RRP-1.008-0010 "Construction of Youth Center Blagoevgrad" is funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, Pillar 1 "Innovative Bulgaria", Component 1 "Education and Skills", Investment 4 "Youth Centers". The total budget of the project amounts to BGN 4,276,652.36, of which BGN 3,719,300.86 is European funding and BGN 557,351.50 is national co-financing. The implementation period is until June 30, 2026.
On February 25, 2025, a press conference was held in Hall No. 5 of Blagoevgrad Municipality to present the project "Establishment of Youth Center Blagoevgrad"..
The host of the event was Blagoevgrad Municipality, which is implementing the project in partnership with the Association “Active Bulgarian Society”, the Association “Regional Movement ‘EcoSouthwest’”, and the Center for Support and Personal Development – Center for Personal and Creative Development of the Children of Blagoevgrad.
The project envisions the construction of a Youth Center at 17 "Alexander Stamboliyski" Street in the central part of Blagoevgrad. Part of the Center will be located on the two floors of the southwestern wing of the former Inter-school Center for Vocational and Polytechnic Education. The existing building will be connected to a newly constructed one.
The new building will include a reception area with a spacious lobby, a coffee and social interaction zone, a multifunctional hall with a capacity of one hundred seats, and restrooms. On the second floor, there will be five triple rooms. The premises in the existing building will be transformed into specialized spaces for conducting non-formal education and training: an art room, a language learning room, theater, music, and computer rooms.
The center will be fully furnished and equipped according to the needs of young people as part of the project. The designated rooms will also house the offices of the Youth Center staff who will work with the youth, including the manager, a psychologist, five youth workers, a social worker, and two educational mediators.
Youth Center – Blagoevgrad will provide space and resources for the exchange of experiences and ideas, as well as for participation in various initiatives for young people aged 13 to 29. The goal is to provide support for personal development, encourage social engagement, and develop leadership and creative skills in young people, so they can actively participate in public life. The youth will also have the opportunity to exchange experiences, good practices, and common values with their peers during planned national and international exchanges.
Another focus will be placed on entrepreneurship as a means of ensuring employment for young people: youth business consulting and support for youth entrepreneurship, IT, and green entrepreneurship.
During the press conference, Tanya Markova – Project Coordinator, emphasized that the Youth Center will be a place that inspires, unites, and develops young people in Blagoevgrad. She added that by investing in young people, we are investing in our future.