Center Amalipe took part in a study visit “Establishing the National Focal Center”

Center Amalipe took part in a study visit implemented within the framework of the investment “Establishing the National Focal Center”, financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and implemented by CEICSEM. The visit took place between 26 – 30 May 2025. Representative of Center Amalipe was Deyan Dimitrov, a student from Emilian Stanev school in the city of Veliko Tarnovo, and the visit itself took place in Lisbon, Portugal.

The visit was organized by CEICSEM and the National Focal Center.

Representatives of CEICSEM were Lalo Kamenov, Niren Hasanova and Inna Ivanova. And representatives of the NFC were Ahmed Kuytov, Valentina Braila, Desislava Plamenova and Hristina Bahchevandzhieva. Representatives of different Youth Center from all over Bulgaria also took part of it, alongside representatives of the Bulgarian Ministry of Youth and Sport and active youths. Our hosts in Lisbon were representatives of the local Youth Center. We used out time there to exchange experience and valuable practices for working with youths, that can be used not only by the Youth Centers but also by us. We had the pleasure to be showed around the Lisbon Youth Center building, who also let us use it for our visit. The Lisbon YC has been awarded the Council of Europe Quality Label for a tenth year in a row and not without a reason.

The newly-established but well experienced team of the National Focal Center explained to use what a Youth Center in Bulgaria is and what is NFC’s work with them. They presented to us the Second National Plan for Youth and the results of the first one. Every Youth Center and Center Amalipe got a opportunity to present their work and what they are planning for the future.

We also got the amazing opportunity to meet with representatives of other NGOs working with youths – AFS, DYPALL and SwTI. We exchanged experience and good practices, which they use in Portugal and the whole world. Center Amalipe hopes to start partnership with them and their Bulgarian representatives for the development of the youth cause. We also had meetings with representatives of the Municipality of Cascais and the Municipality of Mafra, who have been awarded for their work with youth.

Center Amalipe thanks CEICSEM, NFC and everyone with who we had the opportunity and pleasure to share experience and knowledge. The visit was the continuation of a long partnership between Center Amalipe and CEICSEM, and also the begging of new ones.

Written by Deyan Dimitrov