The Fakulteta, Filipovtsi and Hristo Botev neighborhoods are among the youngest neighborhoods in the capital, but also those with the highest concentration of poverty.
The “Trust – Commitment – Understanding“ Project – DAR offers a social innovation aimed at young girls aged 10–13 from these neighborhoods who are entering the maturation period in conditions of limited resources, strong social norms and clearly imposed expectations on them as future wives and mothers. The topics of sexuality, hygiene and women’s health are sensitive to the Roma community and are often not discussed in the family. Lack of knowledge related to the functioning of the female body, sexuality, including family planning, is associated with early pregnancies and the reproduction of family patterns of intergenerational poverty. In addition, menstrual poverty poses a health risk and leads to absenteeism from school due to lack of adequate hygiene products. At the same time, in conditions of energy poverty, some households use household waste, including sanitary materials, for heating, which leads to the release of toxic substances and worsens air quality. This creates an interconnected system of problems that need to be addressed more effectively through an integrated approach.
The aim of the project is to improve the quality of life of girls by building knowledge, attitudes and skills that allow them to understand the processes of maturation, take adequate care of their bodies and make informed decisions in the context of social expectations and available resources.
The project proposes a structured model for work, implemented through the method of experiential learning within 5 training sessions, which connects knowledge with the real experience of the participants. The DAR model is based on three principles – trust, commitment and understanding – and creates a safe space for conversation and learning on topics that are sensitive to the Roma community.
A key element of the model is the joint work with mothers, which extends the intervention beyond the individual level and creates a supportive family environment. Through the involvement of mothers, an opportunity is created for dialogue between generations and for discussion of topics that usually remain outside the family conversation.
The project also introduces a specific practical solution – the use of reusable menstrual underwear. It is used as a work tool through which girls and their mothers understand the relationship between health, family costs and resource management, while reducing the amount of waste generated.
The model works simultaneously on three levels. At the individual level – improves knowledge and practices related to health, hygiene and body care, and supports informed choice and postponement of early pregnancy. At the family level – promotes better management of resources and family budgets and increases support from parents. At community level – addresses environmental cleanliness, waste management and prevention of the burning of toxic materials, with a direct effect on air quality.
The project proposes a structured model for work, implemented through the method of experiential learning within 5 training sessions, which connects knowledge with the real experience of the participants.
The DAR model is based on three principles – trust, commitment and understanding – and creates a safe space for conversation and learning on topics that are sensitive to the Roma community.
A key element of the model is the joint work with mothers, which extends the intervention beyond the individual level and creates a supportive family environment. Through the involvement of mothers, an opportunity is created for dialogue between generations and for discussion of topics that usually remain outside the family conversation.
The project also introduces a specific practical solution – the use of reusable menstrual underwear. It is used as a work tool through which girls and their mothers understand the relationship between health, family costs and resource management, while reducing the amount of waste generated.
The model works simultaneously on three levels. At the individual level – improves knowledge and practices related to health, hygiene and body care, and supports informed choice and postponement of early pregnancy. At the family level – promotes better management of resources and family budgets and increases support from parents. At community level – addresses environmental cleanliness, waste management and prevention of the burning of toxic materials, with a direct effect on air quality.
The DAR innovation is an integrated and culturally sensitive model for working with Roma girls at an early age, which offers an integrated solution to interrelated social, health and environmental problems. Innovation consists in integrating women’s health, menstrual poverty and environmental behavior into a single behavioral model implemented through intergenerational work.
Activities:
- Activity 1: DAR for young girls (10-13 years old)
- Activity 2: DAR for mothers and daughters
- Activity 3: DAR for the community – an online campaign with an environmental focus
- Activity 4: Project Management and Coordination
Project duration: 1 June – 20 November 2026
Territorial scope of the project: Sofia, “Fakulteta”, “Filipovtsi”, “Hristo Botev” neighborhoods
Funding: Capital Program “Social Innovations” of Sofia municipality