Blagoevgrad - A short introduction

Blagoevgrad, nested in the picturesque valley of the Struma River in Southwestern Bulgaria, exudes charm with its well-preserved 19th-century architecture, cobblestone streets, and vibrant cultural scene.

Visitors can explore the historic Varosha Quarter, immerse themselves in the International Folklore Festival held in July, and appreciate art at the City Art Gallery. Don't miss the Nikola Vaptsarov Drama Theatre for captivating performances. Summer, with its outdoor events and pleasant weather, is the ideal time to experience Blagoevgrad's music, art, and rich heritage.

Comparisons with similar cities

Blagoevgrad vs Thessaloniki

- Blagoevgrad benefits from its proximity to the "Rila National Park", offering pristine natural landscapes and diverse flora and fauna.

- Thessaloniki, as a larger city, faces challenges related to "urbanization", traffic congestion, and air pollution.

- Thessaloniki also has initiatives for sustainable urban development, but further research would provide more detailed insights.

Now, from a personal point of view, what I saw as a Greek here, is that Blagoevgrad is a greener city compared to mine (from some points of view). For example, the nature is more alive here, the traffic is not a problem at all and the trees are everywhere.

For the bad parts that can be improved though, the people don't really know english and the city uses old buses who ran on fossil fuel, compared to Thessaloniki where we use electric buses now

Of course, these things can be improved in the near future, Blagoevgrad having the chance to become a really nice hub of nature and greenery in the southwest of Bulgaria.

Blagoevgrad vs Târgoviște

- Blagoevgrad serves as the administrative center of Blagoevgrad province. Targoviste serves as the administrative center of Dâmbovița county.

- Both benefit from being in the proximity of a river, in Blagoevgrad’s case it's the Struma river, and in Târgoviștes it's the Ialomița river.

- Both cities face challenges in becoming greener.

As a Romanian coming for the first time in this city, what surprised me the most it's the landscape, the trees are everywhere, the air seems cleaner and the traffic is almost non-existent. Of course, this city also has problems, like the fact that most of the people do not speak English, even a little bit, or cars and buses are mostly old and inefficient. In Romania, on the other side, we started to use more electric cars and buses, this being not just more ecological, but also cheaper, as the state helps us to buy these types of vehicles.

In the end, the city is beautiful, and the opportunities for it to become even better are really great, as with new people and ideas, it can become a real gem of this country.

The Recap

On the 12th of July, we arrived in the city of Blagoevgrad, having a first glance at the place where we would spend the next 9 days. On the first day we started by getting to know each other through games and also getting to know more about the city and its main attractions and historical background.

On day 2, we started the day with some energizers and things to get to know each other better and also setting goals and rules for the days to come. After lunch we focused on creating a group CV regarding our experiences in volunteering and Youth Work. Last but not least, we managed to create our very own piece of Art regarding the topic that would be discussed later on. At night, the Bulgarian team had some interesting activities prepared for us,so as to get to know more about their culture, history and geography.

On day 3, we were assigned to create a poem about the SDGs and environment and later have a talk about it, while in the afternoon we had our own self-designed session.

On the 4th day, we talked about diversity and the EU values, the core of this whole initiative regarding SDGs. For the afternoon the Greek team managed to cooperate and hold an amazing intercultural night, full of dances, food and games.

On the 5th day, we focused on what the SDGs are and how they can be achieved, as well as talking about our country's progress towards achieving a specific level on the SDGs. Later in the afternoon,the Romanian team held an incredible intercultural night ,where the party never stopped, with delicious food, great games and traditional dances.

On day 6, learning was the main target both through conversations regarding the European institutions and also by acting,while at the night chat club had an atmosphere full of fun and energy.

On the 7th day we did some local dissemination activities regarding the community of Blagoevgrad and we held a self-organized activity, while on the last day of the project we spent it roaming around the city, having tons of activities outside the office and celebrating through the farewell party by dancing, singing and talking.

Applying SDGs to Blagoevgrad: A Deeper Dive

Blagoevgrad, a picturesque city in southwestern Bulgaria, has a unique opportunity to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its development agenda. By focusing on specific goals relevant to its context, Blagoevgrad can tackle local challenges and seize opportunities to foster a sustainable future. Here, we explore in detail how certain SDGs can be applied to the city, enhancing its social, economic, and environmental landscape.

To have an in-depth understanding, we’ll go through the main problems found in Blagoevgrad and follow an action and effect format, as well as presenting the challenge itself starting with SDG number 4.

SDG 4: Quality Education

Challenge: Despite the existence of the reputable institution, being the American University in Bulgaria, educational disparities still exist, especially in rural areas and among marginalized communities.

Actions:

1. Focusing on Educational Infrastructure: Investment in modernizing schools, especially in underserved areas, modernizing the equipment and renovating the buildings themselves.

2. Having different funded courses for students and alike could ensure a proper education system that could both improve the public sector as well as creating opportunities to learn specific subjects that may be overlooked.

3. Inclusive Education Programs: Special initiatives to support children with disabilities and those from minority backgrounds, ensuring they have access to quality education in an equal manner.

Impact: By focusing on SDG 4, we can ensure that all every person, regardless of background, can have access to quality education, based on equal opportunities, leading to a safer and brighter future.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Challenges: Blagoevgrad, like many cities, faces challenges related to energy consumption and dependency on non-renewable energy sources. There is a need to transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy systems.

Actions:

1. Promoting Renewable Energy Sources: Invest in renewable energy projects such as solar or wind energy and also try to focus on eco-friendly means of transportation.

2. Legislative solutions for Green Energy Adoption: Enforce legislative projects/drafts to get institutions and large businesses to respect a standard percentage of sustainable energy usage.

3. Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate the public about the benefits of clean energy and how they afectt the environment. Promote the use of energy-efficient products and practices. Yet again, we’ll mention our dear Youth Exchange.

Impact: By focusing on SDG 7, Blagoevgrad can reduce its carbon production/footprint, working towards achieving the 2050 mark of net free carbon, decrease energy costs for residents and businesses, and enhance the overall sustainability of the city. Switching to sustainable means does not only help the environment, but the quality of life as a whole, improving air quality for example.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Challenges: Blagoevgrad faces challenges of unemployment and underemployment, particularly among young people and vulnerable groups, also having a problem with repulsive behavior in workplaces regarding social topics racism, sexism and homophobia.

Actions:

1. Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace: Implement specific policies to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity. Encourage or/if force companies to adopt diversity and inclusion initiatives and to create a safe place for all employees, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.

2. Promoting Entrepreneurship and local businesses: Invest and promote local providers, such as the bazaar, to reduce the monopoly that supermarkets created.

3. Attracting Investment: Create a favorable business promotion campaign to attract local, national and international investors, empowering the production of local markets and creating more jobs as well.

Impact: Focusing on SDG 8 will drive economic growth, reduce unemployment, and improve living standards in Blagoevgrad.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Challenges: Inadequate public transportation, littering and limited affordable housing are significant issues in Blagoevgrad.

Actions:

1. Sustainable Urban Planning: Implement urban planning strategies that promote the usage of recycling, and creating specific spaces for having easy access to sort trash.

2. Green Spaces: Develop and Invest into the center park, and renovate the playgrounds, and recreational areas that started to degrade.

3. Affordable Housing Projects: Collaborate with developers to create affordable housing options, ensuring that all residents have access to safe and decent living conditions.

Impact: By prioritizing SDG 11, Blagoevgrad can become a more inclusive, safe, and sustainable city. Improved urban infrastructure and services will enhance the quality of life for all residents, making the city more attractive for living and working.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Challenges: Blagoevgrad is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather, such as heat waves, events and environmental degradation as well as having an infamous problem with trafficking illegal timber.

Actions

1. Strengthen Environmental Law Enforcement: Enhance the enforcement of environmental laws to combat illegal timber trafficking. This involves increasing patrols in vulnerable forest areas, employing technology for better monitoring, and imposing stricter penalties on offenders.

2. Green Energy Initiatives: Invest in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, reducing the city’s carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels.

3. Promote Sustainable Forestry Practices: Collaborate with forestry-related authorities to promote sustainable forestry practices. Support reforestation projects, encourage responsible logging practices, and provide incentives for the sustainable management of forest resources.

Impact: Addressing SDG 13 will help Blagoevgrad mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, protect its natural environment, and ensure a sustainable future for its residents.

Conclusion

SDGs can significantly transform the city. By focusing on specific goals such as quality education, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action, Blagoevgrad can address the different challenges while contributing to global sustainability efforts. Through strategic planning, community engagement, and innovative solutions, the city can pave the way for a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all its residents.

This article is written by the participants of the Youth Exchange - “Youth Eco Edu-Ex" in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria with number: 2023-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000132029, co-funded by the Bulgarian National Agency of Erasmus+ Program Human Resource Development Centre.

Disclaimer:
The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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