What is it all about?

In order to make better use of legislation, mass media and electronic technology as a an effective tool for public participation, Blue Link has set up a project which focuses on 3 domains:

- Access to information, justice and public participation in decision making process.
- Co-operation between mass media and NGOs. 
- Access to the new technologies of information: electronic communication and Internet.

This project aims at improving the NGOs understanding of legislation and political process as well as encouraging co-operation between non-profit organisations, public institutions, mass media and business.

The work being done is possible due to the assistance of Demetra Environmental Association and the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters. BlueLink receives support and understanding also by Sredec Municipality of Sofia, Center of Environemntal Infromation and Education, ECO-CLUB 2000, Za Zemiata, Balkani Wildlife, Academica - Veliko Tarnovo, Terra - Blagoevgrad, Leo Burnett Advertising - Bulgaria, Borrowed Nature Association and many other organisations and individuals, concerned with the development of Bulgaria's civil society. Cordial thanks to all of them.

What is being done?

This project is a 12 months program, divided in 3 periods:

- First stage (first two months): contact with the participants, preparation of the workshops
 During this period, two workshops (Access to Environemntal Information and Justice and Strategic Uses of Internet for NGOs), each including NGOs, experts and representatives of the different sectors concerned with the issue, will be organised. In each workshop, Blue Link will ask the participant NGOs to describe their activities, practical cases they have to face, and the expertise they need to resolve these issues. 

- Second stage (eight months) : expertise and follow-up of the different cases
Then, Blue Link will analyse each of the applications, select the organisations who can be tackled in the frame of this project and hire the requested experts (lawyer, webmaster, journalist or communication expert). These experts will be at the disposal of the selected applicants for the period corresponding to their needs

At  the same time, BL will spread the work by electronic bulletin covering the cases and issues being discussed 

- Third stage (last two months) : evaluation meeting and edition of a NGOs’ practices manual
At the end of the eight-months period, an evaluation meeting – gathering all the participants and the partners of the project - will be held to dress the balance of the accomplished work. 
This meeting will lead to the edition, printing and distribution of a NGOs’ practices manual describing the cases, analysing the whole process and enhancing the recommendations that will have risen from the workshops.

How much does this cost?

THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS 13 691 BGLeva ( the fixed rate is 1 BGL = 1 DEM)

The amount approved by the Charity Aid Foundation is 8300 BGL
The amount provided by BlueLink and other sources is 5 391 BGL.

The amount of 8356 BGL is still needed to complete a range of activities which were originally planned, but were excluded from the scope of this project due to lack of funding. View here the list of activities for which funding is needed.