Community Development

“To be needed in society and to feel useful is not only a personal choice—it’s a lifestyle.”

This is the motto of the Community Fund in the city of Pazardzhik. It’s clear that its executive director, Hartyun Ashikian, and secretary, Stoyana Penova, fully embrace it. “The main need in Bulgaria is more self-confidence among people,” Mr. Ashikian says. “They need to feel a desire for development.”

program to learn about community funds in the United States and how they help drive community development. He and his colleagues participated in trainings sponsored by the USAID Community Fund and Social Enterprise Program. They learned techniques for working with local business, NGOs and government to tackle community concerns.

The Fund made youth development a top priority. It’s also an area of expertise for Ms. Penova, who is a teacher. The Fund’s projects include special classes for gifted children, renovation of playgrounds, construction of a chess board in one of the central parks, and services for visually impaired children. The Fund conducts activities to prevent trafficking and drug use among young people, both of which are serious problems in Pazardzhik. As a result, the local police, prosecutor, schools, and city officials now better coordinate anti-trafficking efforts.

The Fund has individual and business donors and also engages in social entrepreneurship, publishing brochures and selling advertising on an outdoor audio-video system. Business representatives on the municipal council donate their councilmember salaries to the Fund.
In early 2008, the Pazardzhik Community Fund won a $100,000 grant under the first open competition for the EU/Government of Bulgaria Operational Program, placing fourth among 47 projects that received funding.

USAID funding for the network of community funds in Bulgaria continues in partnership with the CEE Trust and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.