The Association for Shared Learning ELA is a registered public benefit organisation that does not make a profit and does not distribute dividends. The association has been working with children and young people for more than 20 years, helping them to find their way in life and/or to overcome a difficult stage they are going through. We also work with schools, parents and teachers to consciously support children in building their social and emotional skills.
As the Centre for Inclusive Education (2007-2019) we have affirmed the inclusive environment as a value and as a shared responsibility in Bulgarian schools.
As Save the Children UK - Bulgaria Programme (1997 - 2007) we sought alternatives to the institutional care of children and urged the government to take action to close so-called “care homes for children”.
Today we continue to adapt to the needs of children and focus our work in three areas.
- We are establishing a Green Education Centre in the village of Sturgel, where we continue to encourage children in their growth by implementing our "School Makes Sense" and "Exploring the World of Others" programmes.
- We work with children from vulnerable groups and refugee children in our office in Sofia, where we provide them with educational support.
- We run outreach camps where children from different ethnic groups and nationalities learn about themselves and overcome their prejudices against others through play and working together.
Our beliefs
We believe that every child should be accepted and valued, and deserves to be supported to grow up to be responsible to themselves, to others and to the world around us.
We know that education changes lives for the better and we are proud to be part of that change.
Because the start of a child's journey should not determine how far they will go.
