NGORC: Programs > Resettlement Program

17.10.2003

On October 16-17, 2003, a delegation from Serbia and Montenegro, including representatives of the Atlantic Council of Serbia and Montenegro, Ministry of Defense and General Staff of Army of Serbia and Montenegro visited Resource Center Foundation (RCF) to exchange experience. The work visit aim was transfer of Resource Center Foundation know-how for start-up and implementation of a Program for Social Adaptation and Economic Re-integration of Redundant Military Servicemen into the Civil Society. The workshop was held in the conference - hall of the Resettlement Center in Sofia. Mr. Stelian Stoichev – Executive Director of Resource Center Foundation, introduced the Resettlement Program history, methodology, structure and effectiveness, opened the workshop. Mrs. Sonya Yankulova – Deputy Minister of Defense and admiral Peter Stranchevski – Defense Secretary to the President of Republic of Bulgaria welcomed the event. On behalf of both institutions they expressed their firm support and high assessment of the Foundation activities. It was confirmed that the good partnership and united efforts between the state and non-government sectors are of high importance for the successful realization of the social adaptation model. His Excellency, the Ambassador of Serbia and Montenegro in Bulgaria and the Defense Attaché colonel Radovan Miletiç attended the workshop opening.

The workshop subjects were related to the Resource Center Foundation experience in implementing the Resettlement Program since its beginning until now, the achieved results, the encountered difficulties and methods of overcoming them. Mr. Peter Pashov - State Expert, “Social adaptation” Department at “Personnel Policy and Social Activity” Directorate in Ministry of Defense (MoD) made a presentation on the collaboration between RCF and MoD under the Resettlement Program implementation. The Serbian and Montenegro partners presented the main aspects of the army reform in their country and the opportunities to initiate a similar program.

On October 17, 2003, the international participants had the opportunity to visit the Resettlement Center in Plovdiv and become acquainted with its work. The coordinators presented their daily practices, the achieved results and projects that have been realized on the territory of Central South Bulgaria. The delegation visited two re-qualification courses – for foreign languages and the Food Processing School, where they had the opportunity to discuss the process of re-qualification with lecturers and redundant military servicemen.

The social adaptation model, which was created and successfully applied by Resource Center Foundation, is strengthening as a regional model for solving similar problems due to the army reforms in the SEE countries. Similar workshop on experience exchange with representatives from Albania will be held in November 2003. Such events confirm recognition and evaluation of the Program effectiveness.