Brave hearts: People with disabilities are changing the face of volunteering

Originally published in Bulgarian at Bluelink.net

More than half of the respondents in a survey conducted between September 20 and October 16, 2024, among people with disabilities, have participated in volunteer activities. Another 26% said they would be happy to participate if the conditions were right. This means that nearly 80% of those surveyed consider volunteering to be a socially beneficial activity in which they would participate. Participants expressed the greatest interest in volunteering in the field of “social support” (74,7%), followed by human rights, the environment, education, culture, and the arts.

For nearly two decades, the Big Brother Big Sister Bulgaria Association has been working in the field of youth mentoring and volunteering. Over time and through their work, it has become increasingly clear that one group of people remains on the periphery. These are people with disabilities who want to volunteer, but are unable to do so. On a larger scale, people with disabilities in Bulgaria face many barriers to participating in public life. Around 700,000 people with some form of disability live in Bulgaria—that’s about 10% of the population.

In this context, the organization aims to outline the existing opportunities and identify the obstacles. In the fall of 2024, the association launched a national study to identify volunteering opportunities for people with disabilities in Bulgaria. The study includes a national online survey completed by 202 respondents and three focus groups with a total of 53 participants—two conducted face-to-face in Plovdiv and one online with national representation.

Digital analysis

When conducting such studies, the association uses nVivo software, designed for qualitative data analysis and coding information from transcribed interviews and focus groups. The analysis of the results reveals the important role of support for the participation of people with disabilities in volunteer activities. One of the main dependencies identified in the study is that when family support is weak, people rely on friends or volunteer organizations to find motivation and opportunities for inclusion.

In any case, the sense of community is key. “Focus group participants shared that volunteering gives them a sense of belonging to the community,” says Kristina Rogosheva, an expert working on the study and a long-time volunteer and psychologist at the Big Brother, Big Sister Bulgaria Association.

Barriers, visible and invisible

Despite the enthusiasm, the study also identified significant barriers. These include the lack of adapted materials and strategies, inaccessible physical environments, and a general lack of understanding and readiness among host organizations. “Organizations need to build skills in volunteer management; how to engage, how to work with, and how to retain people with disabilities as volunteers, which is very specific,” explains Yulia Petkova, project coordinator at the association. The findings point to an urgent need for a structured approach to removing barriers, as well as a broader public conversation about inclusive volunteering. The start of this discussion was marked by the presentation of the research results at a round table held on December 9, 2024, in Plovdiv. The event brought together representatives of public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and people with disabilities from across the country.

Mentoring, community, engagement

The Big Brother Big Sister Bulgaria Association is a non-governmental organization founded in May 2006 with the mission of transforming the lives of disadvantaged children and young people through mentoring. Their initiatives focus on personal development, cultural enrichment, and community engagement. As the official representative of the international organization Big Brothers Big Sisters International in Bulgaria, the association applies established international standards for mentoring support.

The organization’s roots are in individual mentoring, but over time, the emphasis has shifted to the community. The association encourages young people to get involved in volunteer activities by offering them a safe and supportive space for civic engagement. Over the years, more than 1,000 volunteers have participated in its projects. All of them leave a lasting mark and contribute to the culture of social responsibility in their communities. This experience brings valuable know-how and makes the association an inclusive and empowering force in the Bulgarian civil sector.

Why is volunteering important?

“In a societal sense, volunteering improves the environment by filling the gaps where institutions fail. For a volunteer, it is a way to improve themselves and acquire valuable skills. It is a two-way process,“ says Yulia Petkova. ”For me, volunteering is an extension of the way I want to live—caring for people in need and in tune with the whole idea of community. It’s a way to use your personal qualities to do good, to give to others, and to gain a sense of meaning and authenticity,” says Kristina Rogosheva.

International practices, local actions

Big Brother Big Sister Bulgaria is the only Bulgarian member of the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) – a network of over 60 leading organisations in Europe working in this field. This brings both local experience and an international perspective to the association’s work. As a result, the Big Brother Big Sister Bulgaria Association is a natural leader in the national conversation on accessible volunteering. This discussion was initiated by the aforementioned study, in line with the objectives of the CEV and the European Union’s Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2021–2030), which prioritizes inclusive volunteering. The project is supported by the European Volunteer Centre through the VERA (Volunteering, Equality, Rights, Action) initiative under the EU’s CERV program.

Next steps: training and empowerment

The study and its results are just the beginning for the Big Brother, Big Sister Bulgaria Association. “For us as an organization, people with disabilities are a new target group that we want to encourage to participate in inclusive volunteering,” says Yulia Petkova. In partnership with the European Volunteer Center, the organization is continuing its efforts through the new TEAM IV project (“Training European Active Mentors for Inclusive Volunteering”). Its main goal is to develop an interactive online methodology for training people with disabilities to become volunteers and mentors. The project’s goal goes beyond training—it aims to empower participants by giving them new skills, confidence, and opportunities for social realization. This will enable them to find their voice, become inspiring role models, and active participants in inclusive communities.

How to support Big Brother Big Sister Bulgaria

If you believe in the power of volunteering as a force for social change, you can support the work of the organization by becoming a volunteer or mentor. Follow the association’s website or social media for the latest information: Facebook and Instagram.

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.

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