Caritas Vitania

1. “Caritas Vitania” Career Center – Plovdiv

The Career Center provides support in two main направления: refugees from Ukraine and other countries of origin, and Bulgarian citizens from vulnerable groups.

Career Center for Refugees

The Career Center operates with a highly qualified team of specialists and social assistants who have established stable contacts and partnerships with numerous employers from different companies, businesses, and independent enterprises. This facilitates the achievement of the planned results and contributes to sustainability.

Main services include:

• Information and counseling:
  • CV preparation
  • Interview preparation
  • Guidance on Bulgarian labor legislation
  • Information on labor rights and obligations
  • Support for diploma recognition/equivalency, etc.
  • When necessary, beneficiaries are accompanied to various municipal or state institutions
• Development of an individual action plan
• Entrepreneurship and starting a business:
  • Information and counseling

Career Center for Bulgarian Citizens

At the same time, Bulgarian citizens are also supported through free employment assistance, career counseling, and mediation services. Vulnerable groups eligible to benefit from the project include:

• Unemployed young people up to 29 years of age
• People with disabilities and socially disadvantaged individuals
• Single parents with children up to 4 years of age
• Parents of children with special educational needs
• Unemployed persons over 55 years of age
• Unemployed persons with primary or lower education and without professional qualifications

Persons currently in education, employed under an employment contract, or pensioners are not eligible to participate in the program.

The service is free of charge.

Languages in which the service is provided:
Bulgarian, Russian, and Arabic.

2. “Caritas Vitania” Humanitarian Center – Plovdiv

The Humanitarian Center is a main collection and distribution point for material donations such as clothing, kitchenware, household items, toys, and essential goods for both children and adults from all ethnic backgrounds, including refugees.

Support for Bulgarian Citizens

A key activity is the year-round campaign “Lunch for Your Neighbor,” which provides regular food packages for homeless people in the city of Plovdiv or individuals living in extreme poverty; people with various health conditions who are unable to cook; and elderly citizens who lack adequate cooking conditions or have difficulties securing food for themselves.

The food packages are distributed to people in need twice a month – on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In addition, humanitarian support is also provided to large families and families in vulnerable situations.

Support for Refugees and Third-Country Nationals

The Humanitarian Center team provides different types of support to people who have fled wars in their home countries.

• Social support for refugees and migrants, including translation and assistance with completing documents for various institutions
• Integration support, including:
  • Assistance with registration with a general practitioner (GP)
  • Assistance with banking services
  • Support with enrollment in nurseries, kindergartens, or schools
  • Assistance with finding and renting housing
  • Organization of art workshops and peer support groups
  • Visits to cultural institutions
  • Organization of thematic celebrations and events

The service is free of charge.

Languages in which the service is provided:
Bulgarian, Russian, and Syrian Arabic.