Bistra Yakimova, Author at Zarika Association

The Project is Over: A Practical Guide on How to Beat the Post-Erasmus+ Blues

You come back home after an Erasmus+ mobility and everything feels slightly strange. A week ago, you were surrounded by people from different countries, sharing meals, ideas, inside jokes, emotional reflections, late-night conversations, energizers, workshops, cultural evenings and plans to change the world. Now you are back in your usual routine, your suitcase is half-unpacked, your group chat is still active but less chaotic, and somehow ordinary life feels a little too quiet. This feeling is real. Many participants experience what we can call the “post-Erasmus+ blues”: the emotional drop after an intense international experience. It can feel like sadness, nostalgia, lack of motivation, disconnection, or even confusion about what to do next. The good news? This feeling does not mean the project is over. In many…

Collective Leadership Retreat in Bansko: From Individuals to a Living System

On March 21st, Bansko became the setting for something more than a workshop. It became a space where a small group of young social entrepreneurs came together to explore what it truly means to lead together. The Collective Leadership Retreat, organized by Zarika, brought together seven participants—some of them among the winners from the latest edition of Innovation Station, alongside members of the Better Community Club. What they shared was not just ambition, but curiosity: how do we move from individual leadership to collective intelligence? Starting with the Place: Bansko as a Teacher The day began not in a room, but outside—where leadership feels more natural. We walked through the Old Town of Bansko, immersing ourselves in its history, architecture, and atmosphere. The cobblestone streets, traditional houses,…

“Dream Map” Brought Inspiration and Bold Dreams Together in Bansko

The team of Zarika Association once again created a space for inspiration, connection, and bold dreams through the creative workshop “Dream Map,” held in the town of Bansko and organized in partnership with the Ladies’ Creative Association at the Military Club. With great care, support, and professionalism, the Zarika team helped turn the gathering into a truly meaningful experience—a place where every woman felt heard, encouraged, and free to express her deepest desires. Under the expert guidance of Bistra Yakimova, participants explored the power of the “Dream Map” method—a proven visualization tool that helps intentions gain clarity, shape, and direction. In an atmosphere of creativity and shared connection, dream maps were born, filled with bold aspirations: travel to near and far destinations, care for health and inner…

One Last Quest | An educational quest experience

This quest-based learning experience is designed to be easily adaptable to a wide range of settings, participant groups, venues, and thematic focuses. Whether used indoors or outdoors, with young people or adults, in educational, training, or team-building contexts, the structure of the quest can be customized to reflect the goals of a specific project or programme. Challenges, clues, and locations can be tailored to suit different learning outcomes, environments, or cultural references, making it a flexible tool for experiential learning, creative engagement, and collaborative problem-solving. One Last Quest is a flexible, story-driven activity that engages participants in teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving through playful, time-bound challenges. It offers youth workers and educators an adaptable method to create dynamic learning experiences that foster collaboration, communication, and reflection, while exploring…

Unlocking the Power of Theater Methods in Non-Formal Education

In today’s ever-evolving educational landscape, traditional approaches often fall short in engaging and empowering learners. What if we could make learning more dynamic, interactive, and transformative? That’s exactly what the ACT brochure offers: a collection of innovative non-formal education methods designed to bring energy and engagement into classrooms, youth work, and training sessions. Whether you're an educator, youth worker, or facilitator, this resource is your go-to guide for integrating theater- and movement-based activities that make learning both effective and enjoyable. What’s inside? The brochure introduces theater improvisation, dance-based learning, and interactive exercises that cultivate communication, collaboration, and self-expression. You’ll find: Theater games – Strengthen creativity and spontaneity through improv-based activities like “Open the Door” and “Museum of Uncertainty.” Dance and movement exercises – Explore expression and coordination…

Be Sustainable in Erasmus+ Projects Guidelines

Sustainability is a term that has been discussed everywhere and by almost everyone. But how can we be more sustainable in our daily lives? We teamed up with an international group of youth workers from different organizations and came up with some very concrete ideas about how we can be more sustainable with regard to the Erasmus+ projects in which we participate. These guidelines go far beyond E+ projects only, really—any activity that involves travel and learning can be positively influenced if we strive to follow these sustainability guidelines. It will be an ever-growing recommendation, and if you have any ideas on how to improve it, let us know! In the meantime, here are the Be Sustainable in Erasmus+ Projects Guidelines in a downloadable format. Feel free…

Brainstorming brunch: Fueling change one brunch at a time

Our first brainstorming brunch went productive and delicious in Blagoevgrad! With members of our community in the town, we discussed what the needs and problems of young people are, gathered feedback and experiences from young people in our circles from different places, and began to think about how we could do research locally, regionally, and even on a national level. We aim to support youth work efforts of other non-governmental organizations, too. For the delicious part of our brunch, we trusted Hangout Blagoevgrad, and the place enchanted us with delicious things to eat and original drinks such as lavender latte. After the first brainstorming brunch, it is clear that one becomes much more productive on a full stomach and in a nice environment, so we are also…

Care for Change Training Course Testimonials

Care for Change was an Erasmus+ training course about the topic of conflict transformation through NVC and embodiment. Here's what one of the participants we sent, Anabelle Moghadam, shares about her experience. I am thrilled to share my experience with this one-week project, which exceeded my expectations in terms of depth and engagement with the topic. The title "Care for Change" truly resonated with me from the beginning, reading the infopack, and when actually there I was deeply moved by how the trainers embodied the principles of nonviolence with such authenticity. Their genuine commitment set the tone and created an atmosphere that allowed our group to make remarkable progress in understanding and making the first steps in applying NVC skills in such a short time. What stood…

ACT Training Course – Adaptability and Creativity through Theater

Here we are, sharing a recap of an incredible week in Bansko, Bulgaria, where we had the privilege of hosting ACT - Adaptability and Creativity through Theater training course for youth work professionals! 🎭 ACT was a 7-day training course for youth workers to use theater as a tool to cultivate adapting-to-change skills. Life is a constant adaptation. From changing jobs to starting university or ending a relationship, we are constantly having to say goodbye to things as they were and welcome the new and unexpected. In the training, we focused on cultivating the skills we need to navigate these moments of transition; and on gaining awareness of our own relationship with change and uncertainty, and on creating a playful and supportive environment to practice embracing the…

Be the Change – Social Entrepreneurship Education for Youth | Project Results

The "Be the Change" project, a KA2 small-scale partnership initiative co-funded by the European Union and executed by Zarika Association, Zavod Aspira, and ICAD Foundation, has successfully concluded with remarkable outcomes. The project aimed to promote and support social entrepreneurship in small towns and rural areas in Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Poland, fostering a positive impact on local communities. This article highlights the key results achieved through the collaborative efforts of the partner organizations. Mapping of Social Businesses One of the primary objectives of the Be the Change project was to conduct a comprehensive mapping of social businesses in Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Poland. The mapping exercise aimed to identify and understand the landscape of social enterprises, providing valuable insights into their activities, impact areas, and the challenges they…