Young people with special educational needs and youth workers from eight European countries came together in Bulgaria to explore how creativity, environmental awareness and music can support inclusion, confidence and social participation.
From 20 June to 1 July 2026, the For Tomorrow Foundation hosted the international Erasmus+ training course "ECO ART INclusion – Ecological and Artistic Tools for the Employment and Social Inclusion of Young People with Special Educational Needs (SEN)."
The ten-day programme brought together youth workers from Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Republic of Moldova (A.O. „SENSE”), North Macedonia, Poland, Spain and Turkey, who lived and learned alongside young people with SEN in the village of Dolni Rakovets, Radomir Municipality.
Through non-formal education, creative workshops and intercultural exchange, participants explored innovative approaches combining eco-art, theatre, music and sound therapy. They worked with natural and recycled materials, created artistic installations, experimented with musical improvisation and discovered how creative expression can support communication, emotional wellbeing and self-confidence.
A special focus of the programme was learning through direct experience. Rather than discussing inclusion only in theory, participants created together, shared everyday experiences and discovered practical methods that can be applied in youth work and community settings.
The project also included activities connected with Bulgarian cultural traditions and nature. Participants celebrated Enyovden, learned about local customs, visited Polska Skakavitsa Waterfall, and created artistic elements from natural materials to enhance the eco-trail near Dolni Rakovets.
On 29 June, the project welcomed 15 young people with special needs from Caritas Sofia, who joined the participants in an eco-art workshop led by Aneliya Kirilova from the social enterprise Made with Love in Pernik. Together, they created artworks from natural materials while strengthening creativity, cooperation and social connection.
The final event took place on 30 June in Bachinovo Park, Blagoevgrad, with the support of the Municipality of Blagoevgrad. Nearly 50 participants — including young people with SEN, their families, social workers and specialists from social services — took part in creative activities, sound therapy sessions and musical improvisations.
One of the highlights of the event was the participation of Mihail Todorov, a young artist with SEN who has published two poetry collections, composes music and founded his own music label, Sunrise Dreamers. His story demonstrated the importance of opportunities, support and inclusive environments in helping young people develop and share their talents.
"Inclusion is created through shared experiences where every person has the opportunity to participate, express themselves and be valued," said Dimitar Urdev, Chair of the For Tomorrow Foundation.
According to Petya Petrova, psychologist and trainer at the For Tomorrow Foundation, the project successfully equipped youth workers with ecological and artistic methods that, combined with sound therapy, can support the motivation, confidence and emotional wellbeing of young people with special educational needs.
ECO ART INclusion showed that art, nature and human connection can become powerful tools for building more inclusive communities and creating new opportunities for young people across Europe.