In the period 2-10 May, Botanica Life Foundation had the pleasure of participating in an international training on social entrepreneurship, as part of the SELF project. The SELF project is run by the Bulgarian VIA CIVIC Association, in partnership with 13 other organisations from Portugal, Cyprus, Scotland, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Albania, Slovenia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Spain, and Poland.
 

On behalf of Botanica Life, the training was attended by Dr Apostol Apostolov who was one of the two Bulgarian representatives who were selected to take part in the project. This training was timely and significant for our future development because we are planning to start a social enterprise in the village of Nadarevo where we are developing a training centre for children and young people in the area of sustainable agriculture. The training was of practical nature, using the business model canvas and putting to the test the participants’ various ideas for social enterprises.
 

In the words of Dr Apostolov, “This training helped me develop the business approach that I needed. I met wonderful people and made true friendships. I am sure that a number of  the participants will come to Botanica Life one day as volunteers or partners to accomplish together some of the great ideas that were borne during the training course”
 

We thank Via Civic for inviting us to participate in the course and the trainers – Stefan Georgiev, Teodora Ivanova-Valeva and Iva Gadzheva – who turned the course into a lifetime experience, impossible to forget!