FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Bulgaria
Address
Mladost 140/4 ap 82Country
City
VarnaMobile Phone
+359878767805Telephone
+359878767805Website
Click HereYear of Establishment
2025Contact Person1
Ivanna KhodosJob Title 1
Founder/ Executive DirectorContact Person 2
Fedir AleksandrovychJob Title 2
VolunteerOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
Arts, Democracy and community development, Gender, Human rights, International/Cultural relationsGeneral Information
Refugees International Women Empowerment Foundation (R.I.W.E.) is a refugee-led, women-led non-governmental organization based in Bulgaria and working transnationally across Europe. R.I.W.E. was founded by Ukrainian women with professional backgrounds in justice, gender policy and institutional reform in response to the growing invisibility, vulnerability and structural exclusion of forcibly displaced ukrainians.
The organization works at the intersection of women’s rights, anti-trafficking, prevention of gender-based violence, social inclusion and cultural dialogue. R.I.W.E. combines community-based work, applied research, advocacy and cultural initiatives to strengthen protection mechanisms, rebuild trust between displaced communities and institutions, and promote the meaningful participation of refugees as social, cultural and civic actors.
R.I.W.E. cooperates with local Bulgarian NGOs, international organizations, refugee-led initiatives, and cultural institutions, and develops interdisciplinary partnerships connecting human rights, social policy and the arts.
Mission and Objectives
Mission:
R.I.W.E.’s mission is to empower forcibly displaced women and girls as rights-holders, leaders and agents of change, while preventing gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings through rights-based, victim-centred and culturally sensitive approaches.
Objectives:
• To prevent GBV and THB among displaced women and girls through early identification, awareness-raising, trust-building and community-based protection models.
• To strengthen refugee women’s leadership, social inclusion and meaningful participation in civic and policy processes.
• To bridge gaps between refugee communities, civil society, institutions and cultural actors, fostering intercultural dialogue and social cohesion.
• To produce and disseminate evidence-based research on risks, vulnerabilities and systemic gaps affecting displaced women.
• To use culture, art and storytelling as tools for dialogue, visibility, trauma-informed engagement and the restoration of human dignity in forced migration contexts.
Main Projects / Activities
Applied research and advocacy on vulnerability, GBV and trafficking risks among Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria, including large-scale community surveys, analytical reports and public expert dialogues.
• Community-based empowerment and leadership initiatives for displaced women, including mentorship concepts, peer-support mechanisms and capacity-building activities aimed at preventing exploitation and socio-economic exclusion.
• Cultural and intercultural dialogue projects, including the initiative “Sound of Silence – Art, Migration & the Price of Freedom”, developed in cooperation with Ukrainian artist and filmmaker Fedir Alexandrovych and various cultural institutions. The project uses exhibitions, film screenings, music archives and public discussions to explore forced migration, vulnerability, identity, and resilience, and to build dialogue between refugee communities and host societies.
• Partnership development and networking with Bulgarian, European and international organizations working in the fields of human rights, gender equality, anti-trafficking, integration and culture.
• Public awareness and educational activities addressing GBV, trafficking risks, women’s rights, and the social impact of forced displacement through workshops, events and media engagement.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
R.I.W.E. can contribute to the ALF Network in Bulgaria by bringing a strong refugee-led, women-centred and rights-based perspective into national and regional activities. Our contribution is grounded in direct community work with forcibly displaced women, applied research, and interdisciplinary cooperation between civil society, institutions and cultural actors.
We can support the Network through:
• Grassroots access and community outreach within displaced communities, strengthening the inclusion of refugee voices in intercultural and civic initiatives.
• Expertise in GBV and trafficking prevention, including awareness activities, capacity-building events and the development of trust-based, community-informed protection models.
• Evidence-based input through research, needs assessments and analytical reports that can inform ALF activities and partnerships in Bulgaria.
• Intercultural and cultural dialogue projects, developed with Bulgarian and international cultural institutions and artists, using art, film and public dialogue to address forced migration, gender, identity and social cohesion.
• Cross-sector partnerships, connecting NGOs, refugee-led initiatives, cultural organizations and local stakeholders to co-create inclusive, socially engaged initiatives aligned with ALF values.
Through these contributions, R.I.W.E. aims to strengthen the Bulgarian ALF Network as a space where refugee women are not only beneficiaries, but active cultural, social and civic actors.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
R.I.W.E. seeks to join the Anna Lindh Foundation Network because its core mission: intercultural dialogue, inclusive societies and active citizenship and that directly aligns with our work at the intersection of forced migration, women’s rights, cultural engagement and social cohesion.
We believe that GBV, trafficking risks and social exclusion cannot be effectively addressed without building trust, dialogue and meaningful participation between displaced communities and host societies. The ALF Network offers a unique Euro-Mediterranean platform to connect human rights, culture and civil society, which is essential for our interdisciplinary approach.
By joining the Network, we aim to:
• Contribute refugee-led perspectives to intercultural dialogue processes;
• Develop joint initiatives with civil society and cultural actors across the region;
• Exchange practices on community-based protection, women’s empowerment and social inclusion;
• Strengthen transnational partnerships that transform displaced women from an invisible risk group into visible cultural and civic actors.
For R.I.W.E., the ALF Network represents not only a professional platform, but a values-based community where culture, rights and dialogue work together to build more resilient, inclusive and democratic societies.