Thirst for Life Association

Association "Thirst for Life" works on a project for young mothers

At the beginning of December 2016 Association “Thirst for Life” started its work on the following project: "Monitoring visits of doctors of newborn babies in Nadezhda district, Sliven".

The aim of the project is to draw the attention of pregnant women and future parents to their health rights and obligations.

It also aims to facilitate access to primary health care after childbirth. According to the Bulgarian legislation, their personal doctors should visit them within their home within 24 hours of being hospitalized. Last but not least, the mothers should be aware that the child should be immunized after birth, according to the immunization calendar in Bulgaria.

thirstforlife logo transp1 Within the project, specialists hold weekly meetings with young women, pregnant and newly born. We organize a number of round tables where we raise issues related to improving the health culture, developing commitment to the rights and obligations of mothers with newborn children. Roundtables involve both community representatives and interested institutions.

THE EUROPEAN YOUTH WEEK WAS ORGANIZED IN SLIVEN

EMS2 4 Association "Thirst for Life" and the young people from Sliven proved that life with Erasmus+ really has no borders. Actions took place in the City Garden of Sliven on May 5, 2017. The initiative: The life of Erasmus without borders was concluded in a series of events organized by “Thirst for Life”. All of the activities were dedicated to the European Youth Week in Sliven.

OUR VOLUNTEERS FROM ERASMUS+ ARE IМPRESSED BY BULGARIA

Nadejda EVS Our volunteers from Erasmus + Elena and Vicky are impressed by the young people in Sliven, their knowledge, skills and diverse interests. The two girls from Spain and Italy work on the topics of prevention of sexually transmitted infections with young people from Nadezhda neighborhood. Sincerity and positive attitude attracts them to the activities there. The daily life of the girls includes numerous meetings with students from Sliven working upon the same topic - safe and sensible sex life.

INSTITUTIONS AND SPECIALISTS DISCUSSED THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF YOUNG PORNS OF ROMA ORIGIN

press krygla 02 03 2017 2 A round table on the problems and challenges in access to quality health care for young mothers and mothers of Roma origin took place in Sliven. The initiative was conducted by “Thirst for Life” Association. Stakeholders, specialists and experts took part in the discussion. The purpose of the round table was to draw up a map of the health problems in Nadezhda neighborhood in Sliven also to look for options on how to address them by organizing meetings and discussions with stakeholders.

“Thirst for Life” Association is organizing a discussion about the provincial health map of Sliven

thirstforlife logo transp1 The “Thirst for Life” Association – Sliven together with the National Patients Organization (NPO) are conducting a discussion meeting in relation to the recently published, by the minister of Healthcare, Order for the forming of a commission with the purpose of creating provincial health maps. The discussion will be led on the 25^th of September 2015 (Friday) at 10:30 in the small hall of the “National Palace” hotel complex in Sliven.

ACTIVITIES CONCERNING ADVOCACY IN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ARE STILL GOING ON

Association “Thirstforlife” keep working on its activities for advocacy in healthcare, supported by RomaHealth project by Open Society Foundation. ”Monitoring and advocacy on young Roma healthcare” Project is focused on the following three directions :
* Empowering of young Roma for equal access to health care and healthcare rights. This can be realized through discussion forums, focus-groups and working with the institutions.
* Developing the capacity of “Thirstforlife” inthefield of advocacy. For the implementation of this project an external expert - Stanimir Hasardzhiev will participate, who is a president of the National Patients Organization

Informational campaign, regarding domestic violence and human trafficking started in May

An informational campaign about domestic violence, human trafficking and discrimination acts has been started from Association “Thirst for life”- Sliven,in the beginning of May. The campaign is directed toward young people in risk, mainly with Roma background, and includes holding of outside happenings and other public events, the aim of which is to direct the attention of the adolescents toward these problematic topics- was said by “Thirst for life” at their press conference.

“Thirst for life” expressed its solidarity in the International day for empathy with the people infected by HIV/AIDS

spin2 By informational campaign the volunteers in” Thirst for life”- Sliven, became a part of the International day for empathy with HIV/AIDS infected people. “Because of our hard work in this direction, the topic remain public relevant. The interest in safe sexual life is increasing and we consider to continue , because the problem will remain the same after the end of the campaign”-said the volunteers in the club of “ Thirst for life” by Program ”Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS on Healthcare Ministry.

Young people politics and how to participate in them, were discussed in Bansko

Young people from all over the country and local authority’s representatives had a discussion over youth politics on a 6 day meeting that took place near Bansko. The meeting were organized by “Thirst for life”” Association- Sliven. The topic of the discussion was” Young people participation in the local youth politics- structure dialogue with local authorities”.

Discussion forums organized by the "Thirst for Life" are continued

During the whole summer in the office of the "Thirst for Life" was held forums on health rights and access to quality health care, which will continue in the coming months. Forums are involving young people with risk behavior of the Roma community. The most frequently mentioned problem of Roma healthcare is the manifestation of discriminatory practices by doctors to minority groups.

Association ”Thirst for Life” become a part of National Volunteer Network

Since the beginning of September 2013, Association "Thirst for Life" became part of the network of National Alliance for Volunteer Action (NAVA) – Plovdiv By joining the association in the network, Sliven is one of the 35 cities in which there are so called:
"Centers for work with volunteers".