Colourful postcards, souvenirs made of leather, yarn, clay and textiles crafted in the social workshops of Caritas Bulgaria - an organization with many years of experience in helping vulnerable groups of people. All artеfacts carry a common message - to lend a hand to a person in need, to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers and cope with severe social isolation.

The special creative workshops open doors in various social centres in Sofia and quickly become a meeting place for refugee women from different generations who have found shelter and a new home in Bulgaria. The opportunity to communicate, to feel accepted in society and useful for themselves and others has brought them to a place where they communicate in Bulgarian, learn about the Bulgarian traditions and way of life, and meet their compatriots with similar life stories.

"It is very good that these refugee women perceive the social workshop as a peaceful environment that triggers them to get out of their isolation. They have arrived in Bulgaria at different times, but they feel equally closed, and the role of the workshops is to give them the opportunity to express themselves and demonstrate the experience they bring when they come to Bulgaria,” says Sofia Bahоudeila, a translator at the social enterprise and assistant to people from vulnerable groups in Bulgaria:

"We have the biggest difficulties with the language barrier. Refugees often try to overcome it on their own and to speak Bulgarian. It's difficult, but they try, they take part in language courses and whatever they learn, they immediately put into practice."

"I am very happy to be able to communicate, and also that at my age I can meet new and different people, both Bulgarians and refugees“, says 66-year-old Inam from Syria, who has been in Bulgaria for 6 years.

"In the beginning it was not easy for me, but over time I got to know the Bulgarian people, and they are very good, nice and open to all of us, so now my life is easy. In Syria I have done similar social work. I want to pass on what I have learned here to my grandchildren now.”

Renée from Syria also came to Bulgaria with her whole family. She is 64 years old and is also trying to speak Bulgarian so she could adapt easier to the new environment:

"The very participation in the creative workshops gives me confidence. I love knitting. I brought a model of wicker baskets from Syria, they are familiar to me because I have made them there many times. Now they are made here. About the celebration in Bulgaria on March 1 with the martenitsas, about the Easter holidays, I learned about everything through my meetings in the workshop, everything is important for us”.

In addition to being a place for social adaptation, the social enterprise is also a venue for the manifestation of talent, dexterity and abilities for the younger attendants. This is how 37-year-old Sirin from Palestine defines this place. She has her own website and exhibits various items that she herself made inspired by in the shared art environment.

"I am good at sewing – both by hand and machine, it is in my nature. I feel very good here, I learn a lot of new things, the environment is very fruitful. And the other women I meet here I feel like they are my elder sisters. Communicating with the ladies here is a source of many ideas. I would like to thank the whole team here.”

Edited by Gergana Mancheva (based on an interview of Dobrinka Dobreva, BNR-Horizon)

English version Rositsa Petkova