In August 2017 I returned to my home country Bulgaria, after living for 13 years abroad. I followed an inner call to return to my roots and bring with me what I have gathered along the journey.
My regional work is guided by the purpose of nurturing a healthy ecosystem in Bulgaria.
This work has many layers and expressions. It starts with a healthy Vihra, healthy relationships with my family and friends, supporting and co-creating meaningful projects and initiatives and goes towards an active community engagement.
When I returned I had a clear intention to listen to what is unfolding in Bulgaria and sense where my gifts can be of service. And so I started listening and connecting with people and ideas.
There are a lot of inspiring initiatives in Bulgaria! So many and so diverse. Here you can see a map of the inspiring projects I have encountered so far. I called it “Inspired Bulgaria / Вдъхновена България” (the mindmap is only in Bulgarian). I believe that the map will get fuller and fuller with more inspiring projects from all kind.
What I do naturally is to connect people and ideas. It happens wherever I am and whatever I do. It is not a job title but it is somehow part of everything I do… and I love it.
Since 2015 I am creating spaces for meaningful conversations and connection….being them online or in person. I call myself a host (it comes from Art of Hosting, to simplify it I use also the word facilitator, however I do see a difference) and a designer of group processes (to host a group process you first have to design it).
So far in Bulgaria I have joined the hosting team of:
- Art of Hosting training Sofia 2017, a 3-day international training
- Beglika festival 2017, a 4-day workshop space to look into and reimagine the future organisation of the festival
- Re-inventing Organizations 2017 – one-day conference about how we can design organizational practices for engagement in the workplace as well as for efficient and sustainable results
I am also an active member of the Art of Hosting community of practice in Bulgaria and I am co-hosting in person and online events with SOL Bulgaria.
I am partnering with OpenSpace Collective, InSpiral and other like-minded people in Bulgaria to foster engagement at different levels.
I also start introducing my experience with designing and hosting participatory online spaces.
There are also other projects on their way of becoming but I will share more about them later.