On December 4, 2025, on the eve of International Volunteer Day (5 December), a discussion forum titled “Challenges Facing Volunteers and Organizations Working with Them” was held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The event was organized by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bulgaria Association and marked the beginning of national initiatives related to the United Nations’ global campaign International Year of Volunteers 2026.

The forum in Plovdiv was initiated by volunteers from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bulgaria Association who participated in the “Ambassadors of Democracy” project, funded by the Erasmus+ programme. As part of the project, young participants took part in trainings on democracy and civic rights, implemented their own civic campaigns, and concluded their activities with two discussion forums addressing key issues affecting young people.

During the event, the results of two surveys—one among volunteers and another among non-governmental organizations—were presented. NGOs identified the main challenges as finding volunteers with specific skills and ensuring their long-term engagement and retention. Volunteers, on the other hand, highlighted the lack of accessible information about volunteering opportunities, difficulties in balancing volunteering with work or studies, and insufficient public recognition as the most significant obstacles.

The discussion featured contributions from Lena Karnalova, Founder and Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bulgaria; Dr. Viktoria Angelova, Senior Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Education of the University of Plovdiv and founder of the academic course “Charity and Philanthropy”; and Denislava Koleva, board member of the youth organization Collective 15/29 and a long-time volunteer.

Among the measures identified to strengthen volunteering were increased cooperation between the civil society and education sectors, updates to the national Volunteering Promotion Act, and broader reforms within the education system. Participants emphasized the importance of fostering volunteering as a value from an early age and highlighted the significant potential for greater engagement of older adults in volunteer initiatives.

The organizers announced their intention to submit recommendations to national institutions responsible for policies in education, youth, and volunteering, as well as to relevant European bodies. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bulgaria is currently the only Bulgarian member of the European Volunteer Centre (CEV), the coordinating body for European initiatives related to the International Year of Volunteers.