Diana Manolova, communications expert at Impact Drive. Photo: personal archive
DigiComs: Gateway to Civil Society
Originally published in Bulgarian at Bluelink.net
When the world was on pause in 2020, the Impact Drive Foundation team boldly pressed the “play” button. They launched the DigiComs educational initiative with a clear and ambitious mission: to train the next generation of digital cause communicators in Bulgaria. Five years later, DigiComs is already an established model for digital education, empowerment, and access to jobs in the civic sector.
The initiative started as a response to the clear and growing need for relevant digital skills in the civic sector. “Our main goal was to create specialized, fully online training that would be accessible to everyone in Bulgaria, regardless of where they live,” says Diana Manolova, Impact Drive’s communications expert and the voice behind this story.
From the very beginning, DigiComs was conceived not only as an educational product, but also as a social model to build a professional community of digital cause communicators. “We want to be the starting point for anyone who wants to build a career in the civic sector,” Diana shares.
Who is behind DigiComs?
DigiComs is one of Impact Drive’s leading projects and is entirely its own initiative, which the foundation has been supporting for five seasons now. The organization is a constant voice for innovation and capacity building in civil society.
What exactly is DigiComs?
At its core, it is an online training program for digital cause communicators. But it is also much more than that. Each edition brings together participants from all over Bulgaria. Among them are people who already work in non-governmental organizations and want to improve their skills. Others are young mothers or people looking for flexible employment. Still others are students interested in working in the civic sector. “DigiComs is not just training. It is a gateway to civil society for people who want to work for causes they believe in but don’t know where to start,” explains Impact Drive’s communication expert. The participants meet in a shared digital space to be trained by leading experts and professionals from NGOs and businesses.
At the beginning, the trainees go through a basic course on how the civic sector works; what distinguishes it from the corporate world; and what challenges and opportunities it faces. They then take courses covering Comms4Fundraising (communication for fundraising), digital marketing and SEO; copywriting for causes; UX/UI design (led by Dimitar Simov, SAP Labs); personal branding (Alexander Krastev, BookMark), communication strategy (Vasilena Vulchanova).
The training is designed with flexibility in mind—a value that is especially important for people who combine work with family responsibilities or education. Many of the trainees study while working part-time or raising children, finding in DigiComs a program that respects their time and supports their development.
Each module at DigiComs ends with a practical assignment designed to reinforce the practical training. Participants receive personal feedback from lecturers, and at the end of the training they are required to complete a final assignment, which often presents real-life challenges for non-profit organizations.
The ultimate goal is to help people find real jobs in the civic sector, and many alumni have already succeeded in doing so.
Why DigiComs matters
In a country where civil society is often under pressure—politically, economically, and socially—strengthening its digital voice is essential. “Bulgaria needs a skilled, well-trained, and motivated civic sector that is respected and taken seriously,” Diana says.
This is exactly what DigiComs invests in. In addition to skills, the program also offers real paths to employment. One example is Radina, a former participant who, after completing the course, interned at non-governmental organizations and now works full-time as a digital communicator at Impact Drive, Diana says. To date, over 200 people have completed the program, many of whom are now active contributors in the non-profit sector, she adds.
DigiComs supports accessibility. Each season, the team provides at least two full scholarships to participants who cannot afford the training. In recent seasons, business partners have joined in funding these scholarships, recognizing the potential and impact of the program.
“We believe that people who can and want to work part-time deserve this opportunity—and non-governmental organizations need them too. It’s a win-win for everyone,” notes Diana Manolova.
She shares that one of the most rewarding aspects is seeing how business professionals are increasingly supporting the initiative. “Some of our partners are already actively sponsoring scholarships because they see the long-term value of having qualified and motivated people enter the civic sector,” she says.
Technology and teamwork
DigiComs is held entirely online in Google Classroom, where lectures, assignments, resources, and feedback flow seamlessly. As part of the training, participants are introduced to a wide range of tools, from everyday productivity apps to cutting-edge artificial intelligence platforms. These include ChatGPT, Canva, and Grammarly for content creation and communication; Semrush, Google Analytics, Tag Manager, and Google Ads for digital marketing; Eleven Labs (artificial intelligence for converting text to speech), Linktree (personalized landing pages), Bitly (URL shortening), and dozens of others. “We want people to leave DigiComs not just with knowledge, but with a set of tools that they can use immediately in their real work,” explains Diana. “We believe in learning through practice,” she adds. This practical focus, combined with expert trainers, is characteristic of DigiComs. To keep up with rapidly changing digital trends and the needs of the civic sector, the program evolves every year, incorporating new topics and lecturers.
From knowledge to community
DigiComs is more than just a course. Graduates gain access to a closed Facebook group where they can find job postings, internship opportunities, and valuable resources shared by fellow alumni and the DigiComs team. Looking ahead, Impact Drive is working on creating a standalone, social media-independent platform for job postings in the civic sector to better serve this growing network.
Impact Drive has been a member of the civil coalition “Ravni BG” since 2021 and actively participates in the coalition’s network. This helps to promote the opportunities offered by DigiComs among the wider civil society ecosystem in Bulgaria.
How to support DigiComs
With a direct donation to the Impact Drive Foundation:
IBAN: BG72FINV91501017107559
BIC: FINVBGSF
Bank: First Investment Bank
Impact Drive Foundation EIK/BULSTAT: 177237155
By indicating that you want to support the DigiComs initiative, we will make sure to direct the funds towards its development and maintenance.
By funding a scholarship:
Another way to support DigiComs is to fund a full scholarship for one or all of the courses for a woman who cannot afford the cost. Each season, we accept at least two scholarship recipients who study for free, and we make sure to share their progress with the donor.
The BlueLink civic action network tells 7 stories about initiatives by members of Ravni BG, focusing on the strategic use of information technologies. Ravni BG brings together 37 civil society organizations working in areas such as human rights protection, vulnerable groups, sustainable development, the rule of law, and advocacy. The project is implemented with the support of the Solidarity Fund of Ravni BG.
Published within the framework of “Ravni BG,” with financial support from the Solidarity Fund of “Ravni BG,” the funds for which have been provided to the Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) under the Strong and Resilient Civil Society in Europe program of the European philanthropic initiative for democracy and solidarity Civitates of the Network of European Foundations.
More digital stories from BlueLink.net about “Ravni BG”:
Brave hearts: People with disabilities are changing the face of volunteering
Truth before lies: How Factcheck.bg fights misinformation
Power in pictures: Young people against violence
Help Where It Counts: Lessons from Mission Wings’ Mobile Team
