Support activities

Activities to assist foreigners who are in the process of granting status:

• Social consultations, accompaniment and translation before state and municipal institutions, health facilities, etc .;

• Supporting the education of children studying in Bulgarian primary and secondary schools.

Activities to support the social and economic integration of foreigners to whom the State Refugee Agency has granted refugee or humanitarian status:

• Conducting Bulgarian language courses for persons who have received international protection at the Integration and Information Center for Refugees in Sofia, 165 Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi Blvd., working hours: 9.00-17.30. Phone: 02/995 0192.

• Consultations on issues related to the life and rights of refugees in Bulgaria;

• Facilitating access to medical care and services;

• Assistance in finding a job;

• Social and cultural orientation;

• Supporting the education of children studying in Bulgarian schools through additional training in Bulgarian language, providing textbooks and teaching materials, etc .;

• Assistance to refugees with special needs - disabled people, single parents, adults, separated children.

Activities to support foreigners who have expressed a desire to seek protection in Bulgaria and are detained in the border sectors, as well as migrants accommodated in special homes for temporary accommodation of foreigners:

• Providing humanitarian aid - food, clothing, medicine, etc.

• Help to establish contacts with relatives.

Supporting the institutional strengthening and work of non-governmental organizations of refugee and migrant communities:

• Consulting.

• Training.

Monitoring of the conditions in the registration and reception centers and the transit center of the State Agency for Refugees at the Council of Ministers and of the special homes for temporary accommodation of foreigners of the Ministry of Interior, where residents have applied for asylum

The Bulgarian Red Cross, guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality, established the Refugee and Migrant Service in 1997. This act institutionalized the activities of the organization started in 1993 in support of the integration of refugees in Bulgaria.

20 years later, Bulgarian legislation in the field of asylum and refugees is already in force, there are state and municipal structures working with refugees, a state policy for their integration is being developed. At the same time, however, refugees still need the specialized services, protection and support of non-governmental organizations. In the field of their social orientation and integration, the Bulgarian Red Cross is their main partner and assistant in Bulgaria. For the period 1993 - 2012 the number of applicants for refugee status in the country is 21 277. In 2012 it was 1,387, and for the first 8 months of 2013 their number increased to 3,017 people. Of these, in 2013, 651 people were granted refugee status or humanitarian protection.

Asylum seekers spend 3 to 6 months in a procedure - a period insufficient to acquire satisfactory social and cultural knowledge of Bulgarian society and to learn the language - making it difficult for them to integrate after receiving protection.

Given the fact that refugees have almost no natural support mechanisms in the new environment, as well as the misunderstanding and xenophobia they often face, the BRC BMS maintains the balance between the necessary "positive discrimination" in providing free services and equality of refugees with Bulgarian citizens. .

In addition to working directly with refugees, the Bulgarian Red Cross of the Bulgarian Red Cross works to strengthen civil society in Bulgaria by assisting in the formation and institutional development of non-governmental refugee organizations. With the help of the media, we are trying to break down stereotypes about refugees as criminals or economic migrants, and to create an attitude of acceptance and tolerance towards them. We are aware that much work remains to be done in this direction.


Refugee activities
The total number of beneficiaries exceeds the number of visits, as a refugee usually receives more than one service per visit.
The BMS provides advice to asylum seekers and asylum seekers on their rights and obligations, social orientation, finding a job, orientation in institutions, medical examinations and more.
The reception time of the service is every weekday, from 13.30 to 16.30.


Cultural activities and holidays
The aim of these activities was to celebrate the national holidays of the refugee communities and at the same time to promote them among the Bulgarian society.
Every March 21, the BMS organizes a celebration of the Persian New Year, hosted by refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, who offer traditional dishes, New Year's rituals from the homeland of refugees. Visitors and guests have the opportunity to try a variety of traditional dishes.
Every Christmas, Christmas parties are organized for refugee children, who receive gifts from Santa Claus.


Methodological assistance and capacity building of refugee NGOs
Founded in 2002, the non-governmental organization Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (UWB) provides assistance and advice to newly recognized refugees and asylum seekers. SZB is an active partner of BMS.