On 22 – 28 November 2016 the International Training and Research Institute PETRI-Sofia organized its Autumn School for Youth Leaders from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, in order to prepare them to work on projects and presenting their cause in public.

In both modules of the training: ” Project Development and Management” and “Leadership Skills”, trainers from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan introduced 38 young people from 18 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and from Afghanistan to the main procedures they need to follow when applying for funding, to strategies for convincing the audience and to tips for presenting themselves in front of a camera. By methods of non-formal education – interactive games, presentations and sharing experience, the participants developed important skills for their future work.

The “Leadership Skills” module was applied in the region for the first time, having beensuccessfully implemented twice for participants from Arab countries at the National Center for Culture and Arts of Jordan, supported by King Hussein Foundation.

The training was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria as part of the Mid-term Program for Development Assistance and Humanitarian Aid of the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2016 – 2019). The program contributes to the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by Bulgaria to promote sustainable growth of developing countries to assist their integration into the world economy and building more just and democratic societies.