“To share the horizon… with friends” is a pilot initiative of Zaedno - Communication for Support and Development Foundation. It aims at introducing a unique practice for social inclusion of people with disabilities in Bulgaria, called “solidarity tourism.” Between 10 and 12 percent of people in Bulgaria suffer form lasting disabilities, statistic data shows. These people are compelled to live in isolation, as the state cannot provide adequate conditions for independent and fulfilled life. For the majority of these people the experience of reaching a mountain top and enjoying the intoxicating view that is revealed, is just a cherished dream. The team of Zaedno Foundation are people who believe that making one’s impossible dream come true gives meaning to our lives and expands our own horizons. This is what motivated them to start the project “Sofia –a European capital: shared space for all of us”, which is financially supported by the Municipality of Sofia. Five campaigns for solidarity tourism in the Vitosha Nature Park were organized as part of the project, fulfilling the dream of several young people to cross the vertical border towards the top and have a wonderful day in the mountain shared with friends.

“The campaigns for solidarity tourism are actually hikes that are realized with the help of volunteers and a special contraption for transportation of people with disabilities that we called “a shuttle,” Elena Atanasova from Zaedno Foundation explains. Martin is one of the boys, who managed to reach the top of Vitosha Mountain with the help of the “shuttle” and several volunteers.

“When you climb up and feel the mountain; when you can conquer the top and enjoy the views – it charges you up,” Martin said. People with disabilities rarely have this chance. It is an incredible opportunity and something very valuable. The shuttle gives you memories, opens the eyes of people with disabilities and gives them precious moments. The more campaigns like this exist and the more people join them, the more humane we become.”

Thanks to its positive energy and efforts, the team of Zaedno foundation managed in just three months to gather more than 150 volunteers, who spared some of their time to turn impossible dreams into reality. The only requirement was not big muscles but a big heart. Itzo is one of the people who do not miss a single campaign for solidarity tourism. He speaks about his personal motivation to participate as a volunteer:

“We were acquaintances but now we are all friends. We got to know each other due to our common love for the mountain and nature. We had some common friends but there came a time when I found out what the Zaedno foundation were doing and this was very inspiring to me. I was amazed to find that they put sincere love in what they are doing. This was what made me volunteer and give as much of my time and energy I can. Another thing that motivated me were the people who participate in the project. This is a group of kind, nice, positive, smiling, and loving people, which is something worth being part of.”

As part of the project the “Solidarity Community of Sofia” was established, including citizens and non-governmental organizations, actively working for improving the conditions in our city through the principle of citizen’s activities. The special web site www.za-sofia.com was created, providing detailed information about the project and the other initiatives.

“What follows next? I think it will be what our dreams bring us, says Elena Atanasova of the Zaedno Foundation. The team of Zaedno follow their dreams and try to fulfill them. Even though our steps are small, they are always in a positive direction and in a way they bring lasting changes to the world we live in. When we started this previously unknown in Bulgaria activity, we did not know whether there will be people to participate as volunteers in our campaigns. We also did not know whether there would be people with disabilities, who would want to take part in our activities. I think the dream became true as more than 150 people volunteered to take part in the campaigns for alternative tourism and mails are still coming from people, who want to participate in the future.

I promise you that we won’t stop here and the campaign for solidarity tourism will not end with end of the project. On the other hand, I hope there will be more campaigns of this kind all over the country. We already have the financial support under a European program, which will let us make a third shuttle for solidarity tourism. We are going to show it around the country and demonstrate how the campaigns are carried out. Bulgaria is a beautiful country with a lot of picturesque mountains and that is why I hope the shuttles will gain popularity all over the country and abroad. We already have offers for organizing trips abroad and I hope that this will also happen.”

English version: Alexander Markov