On 28 March 2023 IOM Bulgaria held an information event within the framework of the project "Support for unaccompanied children seeking international protection".

The event was attended by representatives of the State Agency for Refugees, the Ministry of Interior Directorate "Migration" and the Directorate "International Projects", the State Agency for Child Protection, the National Legal Aid Bureau, the Child Protection Departments of the Social Assistance Agency - Sofia Municipality "Oborishte" District. Among the participants were also representatives of IOM Bulgaria, UNICEF and UNHCR, as well as various Bulgarian NGOs working in the field of migration.

IOM presented the current project, which funds the work in the Safety Zones for Unaccompanied Children Seeking International Protection in RRC Sofia and held a group activity with the aim of planning new or building on existing activities. In the course of an hour the participants of the event, divided into groups, discussed 5 main topics - non-formal education, career development, sports, artistic and cultural activities, excursions to remarkable natural and historical sites. This was followed by a presentation of the ideas and proposals discussed within each group on the respective topic.

A representative of UNICEF Bulgaria introduced the participants to the work of the organization in the protection and support of unaccompanied and separated children in Bulgaria, as well as to the current activities and work priorities of UNICEF, including the construction of a new Safety Zone in the RRC Harmanli.

The deputy mayor of the Oborishte district in Sofia presented to the participants the project "A Future for Children: providing comprehensive social support for unaccompanied migrant and refugee children", the focus of which is the recent opening of a social service for unaccompanied children.

The event was implemented within the framework of the project “Support for unaccompanied minors, seeking international protection” funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2020 under the Programme “Home Affairs”.