From 28 March to 7 April 14 youth workers from 6 countries - Turkey, Romania, Norway, Lithuania, Spain, Croatia, as well as 4 participants from Bulgaria (two of them young people with intellectual disabilities) visited the village of Dolni Rakovets under the project of the Foundation "For Tomorrow" in Blagoevgrad. "INnate ART INclusion - Innovative Art Tools for Social and Labour Inclusion", funded by Erasmus+, is a youth mobility under the European programme aimed at the social and professional inclusion of young people with intellectual difficulties. 

For almost 10 days, through a variety of artistic, musical, dance and other innovative techniques, participants developed their skills and capacity to work with young people with intellectual disabilities. The mayor of Dolni Rakovets, Ioana Georgieva, and the residents of the village once again warmly welcomed the young people, participated in the initiatives and provided a treat with traditional Bulgarian dishes, which was part of the Bulgarian cultural evening held in the hall of the town hall. "We are happy to welcome the youth and the projects of For Tomorrow Foundation in our village because they show us the beauty of good deeds and the vast possibilities of every human being. The youth and their work with their peers with intellectual disabilities are inspiring!" said Georgieva.

The rainy weather did not prevent the young people from making their own masks and costumes from natural and recycled materials and to make a flash mob "Dance Walk" in the village square. They also took time to beautify the village by painting recycled car tyres in bright colours, which they turned into pansy planters and placed around the playground. In 2024, again under a project by the For Tomorrow Foundation, the village's bus stop was painted and decorated, and a playhouse was built on the playground. 

The INnate ART INclusion youth worker training programme presented to the project participants the instinctive and spontaneous forms of art and their use in the social and labour inclusion of young people with intellectual disabilities. "Art is the easiest way for people to communicate with each other, beyond any prejudices and problems," said project coordinator Borislav Slavchov. Together with music therapists, psychologists, art teachers and artists experienced in inclusive work, the young people rediscovered the possibilities that different art forms provide for development and personal awareness. The youth workers visited the Museum of Puppets in Sofia, where they held a workshop on making puppets from ecological materials. The project also included other applied creative methods such as: working with clay, making souvenirs and gifts, painting, sound therapy and dance. 

Special attention was paid to art-related social enterprises, which provide great opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities for social and labour inclusion. The volunteers visited the "Day Centre for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities" in Pernik and the social enterprise "Made with Love". 

The participants of the project presented their countries during the different cultural evenings by preparing traditional food, telling interesting facts from history, culture and native customs. The friendships created during the project helped to form a kind of international network of volunteers working with young people with intellectual disabilities. By the end of this year, For Tomorrow Foundation will have 3 more Erasmus+ youth mobility projects, aimed at the social and professional inclusion of young people with intellectual difficulties.

The activities of the team of "For Tomorrow" Foundation, Blagoevgrad are aimed at improving the quality of life of people with special educational needs and their integration into society as equal members. For Tomorrow Foundation promotes the exchange of information, good practices, experience, awareness and support for families in order to enable them to stimulate their child's development despite the medical and social challenges they face.

The activities of the Youth Worker Training Programme - "INnate' ART INclusion" - Innovative Artistic Tools for Social and Professional Inclusion, of the Foundation "For Tomorrow", Blagoevgrad are part of a youth mobility project № 2024-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000226276, funded by the EU Erasmus+ Programme.