Desislava S. Teneva, MSW
1 Strandja St, Entr.5, Fl.5, apt#15• Burgas, 8000, BULGARIA
+359.877.595717 • dteneva@abv.bg
________________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION:
University “Prof. Assen Zlatarov”, Burgas, Bulgaria
Master’s Degree in preschool pedagogic – preschool and elementary school teacher - unfinished
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridsky", Sofia, Bulgaria
Master’s Degree, Social Work with children and adolescents GPA: 3.9/4
Burgas Free University, Burgas, Bulgaria
Bachelor of Social work, GPA: 3.6/4
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Manager at Integra Bulgaria Association
March, 2012 - Present
Managing the non-government organization
National coordinator, Aflatoun social and financial education in Bulgaria program
May, 2012 - Present
Main duties: Coordinates the activities for implementation of the Aflatoun curriculum at Bulgarian schools, non-formal clubs and establishing connections and partnerships between the Aflatoun Bulgaria representative organization and local authorities, governance, institutions, organizations and decision makers to implement the Aflatoun model for social and financial education at the education system in Bulgaria and to be recognized as a part of the national curriculum. Organizing regional activities, conferences, workshops and training to promote the program and to train facilitators who are able to implement the program at the national level. Organizing fundraising activities, actively participate at international trainings and meetings, organized by the Aflatoun international secretariat.
Program coordinator of “Aflateen – Social and financial education in Bulgaria” program
May 2014 - Present
Main duties: Coordinating the process of the pilot social and financial education model implementation in 10 schools in Burgas region. Advocacy and work with the stakeholders to improve the implementation; trainings and regional events organizing for the teachers, students and the directors of schools, Inspectorate of education and Municipality of Burgas
National expert in local governance and access to EU funding to work within the National Support Teams of the ROMACT Program in Bulgaria
January 2016 -Present
Main duties: Assisting local authorities in working cooperatively with Roma communities to develop inclusive policies and improve public services at local level and provides support to local administration to implement inclusive good governance practices and sustainable plans of development.
Mentor of students under the "Student practices" Project, financed by the Ministry of Education
October 2013 - March 2014
Main duties: Mentoring the students during their student practices taken at Integra Bulgaria Association on the following topics: human resources, organization and management of project activities, social work for prevention of trafficking
Social worker in the Project “Vote for change”, at Regional Roma Union Foundation, Burgas, Bulgaria
2013 - 2014
Main duties: Organizing trainings, mediation and outreach work with the youth Roma voters to empower them to actively participate in the elections and to gain skills to become responsible voters;
Project manager of a project “At school again”, via the Ministry of education at Gymnasium, “Zachary Stoyanov”, Burgas
September 2013 – March 2014
Main duties: Management and organization of the project activities, monitoring and reporting
Professional consultant at Municipality of Burgas, Bulgaria on educational project with Roma students, funded by Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Students from Ethnic Minorities (CEICSEM)
April 2011 - June 2012
Main duties: Providing professional consultations and mediation for students from ethnical minorities to improve their professional skills and to prevent the drop-out from the school system
Social consultant for Burgas region in a Project „Legalization of the ownership of the real estate in the Roma neighborhoods” at “Equal opportunities” Association, Sofia,Bulgaria
2013 – 2014
Main duties: Working on field and mediation between the local government and the Roma people in the process of Legalization of the ownership of their homes
Professional consultant at a Project “Empowering the powerless in times of crisis and help finding housing for the families affected by the demolition of houses in two Roma neighbourhoods of Burgas at Regional Roma Union Foundation, Burgas, Bulgaria
December 2010 – November 2011
Main duties: Working on field and as a mediator to help people to prevent the demolition of their homes or to find another option for housing, providing professional consultations, filling the documents needed for registering for community housing or legalization of their own homes.
Social worker in a project "Florika" for prevention of trafficking among Roma women through vocational and entrepreneurship training at Regional Roma Union Foundation, Burgas, Bulgaria
January 2012 - December 2012
Main duties: social work with women from ethnical minorities: prevention of trafficking, assistance in education, building of personal and professional skills and increasing their self-esteem for better life through providing of vocational and entrepreneurship trainings
Social worker in a Project ”Mobile school for prevention of trafficking among Roma girls”, supported by Renovabis – Germany, via Jadwiga – Munich;
January 2010 – December 2012
Main duties: Providing of mobile social work with disadvantaged girls from ethnical minorities: prevention of trafficking, assistance in education, building of personal and professional skills and increasing their self-esteem for better life;
Social worker in a Project for prevention of trafficking among Roma girls in disadvantaged position at Regional Roma Union Foundation, Burgas, Bulgaria
December 2008 - April 2014
Main duties: social work with disadvantaged girls from ethnical minorities: prevention of trafficking, assistance in education, building of personal and professional skills and increasing their self-esteem for better life;
Outreach worker in a National program for Prevention and control of Tuberculosis among the Roma community, at Regional Roma Union Foundation
December 2009 - September 2015
Main duties: Field work for prevention of Tuberculosis of Roma people living in Burgas region - screening people for risk of tuberculosis, guidance and accompaniment to medical institutions for testing and medical exams to identify risk of tuberculosis, organizing campaigns for prevention, monitoring the chemioteraphy of the patients in a prolonged phase
Outreach worker in a National program for Prevention of HIV/AIDS among the Roma community, at Regional Roma Union Foundation
January 2010 - December 2010
Main duties: Field work for prevention of HIV/AIDS of young Roma aged 15 - 25 with focus of IDUs, men who have sex with men and prostitutes;
Social worker at the Orphanage home for Children and Adolescents, Burgas, Bulgaria
January 2008 - April 2008
Main duties: social work with institutionalized orphans and children from poor families aged 7 to 18 years, providing individual and group sessions with children; preparation of individual work plans and social assessment of children; counseling and support of children and families in relation to the process of adoption and foster care;
Social Worker - Senior expert at the Directorate “Social assistance”, as a part of Agency of social aid, Sofia, Bulgaria
October 2001 - May 2006
Main duties: Providing social benefits for people
FUNDRAISING EXPERIENCE:
Fundraiser at Integra Bulgaria Association
March 2012 - Present
Main duties: gathering voluntary contributions by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, governmental agencies and crowd funding. Preparation of project forms and applications
Fundraiser at Regional Roma Union Foundation, Burgas, Bulgaria
August 2008 - Present
Main duties: gathering voluntary contributions by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, governmental agencies and crowd funding. Preparation of project forms and applications
Project creator: Preparation of project forms and applications under the structural funds programs and programs of the Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Students from Ethnic Minorities (CEICSEM) for Municipality of Burgas, Department of education and demographic issues and several schools.
March 2012 - Present
Main duties: gathering voluntary contributions by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, governmental agencies and crowd funding. Preparation of project forms and applications
Fundraiser at Regional Roma Union Foundation, Burgas, Bulgaria
August 2008 - Present
Main duties: gathering voluntary contributions by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, governmental agencies and crowd funding. Preparation of project forms and applications
Project creator: Preparation of project forms and applications under the structural funds programs and programs of the Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Students from Ethnic Minorities (CEICSEM) for Municipality of Burgas, Department of education and demographic issues and several schools.
TRAINER EXPERIENCE:
Organizing and conducting trainings for children and youth, for Roma communities, teachers and social workers on the following topics:
• social and financial entrepreneurship
• leadership and communication skills
• human resources
• organization and management of project activities
• intercultural education methods for working with representatives from Roma communities;
COMMUNITY SERVICE & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:
Community service:
• 03.2012 - Present – Manager of the Integra Bulgaria Association (IBA)
• 03.2006 –Present – Founder and administrator of National Adoption forum – the first online resource center for adoption in Bulgaria (web page: http://osinoviavane.com and FB page: https://www.facebook.com/osinoviavane)
• 05.2001 - 05.2011 – Chairman of the Burgas for Children Association (BFCA), working with children and youths
Volunteer Experience:
• Counterpart of a volunteer at USA Peace Corps, Bulgaria - 07.2009 - 31.08.0212
• Social Worker at the “Childhood for Children” Association for orphanage and unprivileged children in an unequal social position 03.1999 – 02.2001
• Consultant at the Social and Law Centre “A Look Ahead” at the Burgas Roma Union, NGO - 10.1997 – 05.1998
• Social Worker in the Orphanage “Mother and Child” Burgas 1998
• Social worker at Demetra Association for prevention of domestic violence 1997
• Consultant on the "Hot line" for children at the "Youth initiatives" Association 1998
INTERNSHIPS:
September 2013 - November 2013 - 240 hours of participation at practical training in working with Roma community, issued by the University "Prof. d-r Assen Zlatarov", via Ministry of education
September 2004 - November 2004 - participation at the Internship program for social workers for increasing the professional experience in the German Social Service for adoption and foster care in the city of Rostock, Germany, organized by the Ministry of children, women and elderly
September 2004 - November 2004 - participation at the Internship program for social workers for increasing the professional experience in the German Social Service for adoption and foster care in the city of Rostock, Germany, organized by the Ministry of children, women and elderly
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
• 2012 - Present - member of National network for children (as a Manager of Integra Bulgaria Association)
• 2012 - Present - Member of National Association of foster care
• 2009 – Present - Member of Bulgarian Association of Social workers
• 2009 –2010 - Member of National Council on Ethnic and integration issues
• 1996 – 1999 - Founder and Member of the Association “Demetra” for women victims of violence
CERTIFICATES:
Professional qualification:
• 2015 - Certificate for participation at Erasmus EU+ Stakeholder meeting
• 2015 - Certificate for participation at Advocacy training, organized by Aflatoun international
• 2014 - Certificate for Master trainer of Aflatoun - social and financial education, issued by Aflatoun International, Amsterdam
• 2013 - Certificate of successful completion of 240 hours of practice in working with Roma communities, issued by the University "Prof. d-r Assen Zlatarov", via Ministry of education
• 2013 - Certificate for participation at one day training "Possibilities for future labor and professional realization of students from ethnical minorities and mechanisms for parent and community support for reintegration at the education system"
• 2013 - Certificate for participation at one day training "Possibilities for future labor and professional realization of students from ethnical minorities and mechanisms for parent and community support for reintegration at the education system"
• 2009 - Certificate of successful completion of training development and project management organized by the Peace Corps - Bulgaria
• 2009 - Certificate for successfully completed a training course on "Ethical principles and guidelines for conducting research on humans", Ministry of Health
• 2008 - Certificate for successful completion of Human Resources Development seminar
• 2008 - Certificate of participation in training on "Fundraising and teamwork", organized by NGO "Phare"
• 2004 - Certificate of successful completion of professional experience internship in the German Social Service for adoption and foster care in the city of Rostock, Germany, the Ministry of children, women and elderly
• 2002 - Certificate of participation in seminar for social workers working with children, NGO “Phare”, Heppenheim, Germany
Personal qualification:
• December 04, 2006 - The Journey of Attachment Certificate of online course completion, issued by Adoption Learning Partners, USA
• December 04, 2006 - “Lifebooks: Creating and Telling Your Child’s Story” Certificate of online course completion, issued by Adoption Learning Partners, USA
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Masters of Social Work Degree
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Polite conversational ability in English language
• Literate reading and writing abilities in English
• Fluent in Bulgarian language as a mother tongue
• Educated as an Aflatoun master trainer for social and financial education model implementation at schools and non-formal centers
• Competent in fundraising
• Proficient in project management
• Proficient in data collection and progress monitoring
• Gained experience as a youth leadership groups consultant
• Proficient in the creation of Social Developmental Studies
• Experienced trainer of teachers and social workers on different topics
PUBLICATIONS:
• 2011 - "Wheels on hope" – handbook for mobile social work for prevention of trafficking among girls from the Roma community
• 2009 - "Handbook for Prevention of trafficking among Roma girls,"
• 2004 – article - "Development of care for children with disabilities in Bulgaria and implementation of alternative care as a new form of support"
• 2003 – article - "Establishment and application of modern social practices in adoption and foster care in Bulgaria"
VIDEOCLIPS DIRECTED BY ME:
• 2011 – Documentary movie for mobile school work
• 2010 – Documentary movie for housing problems in the Roma communities
• 2009 – Documentary movie about trafficking among Roma girls
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES:
Ana Rodrigues
Programme Manager - Europe at Aflatoun International
ph: +31 20 760 1340
ana@aflatoun.org
Tanja Ljizer
Senior Fundraising Manager at Aflatoun International
ph: +31 20 760 1340
tanjaijzer@yahoo.com | skype: tanja.ijzer
Mitko Dokov, BSW
Manager of Reginal Roma Union Foundation
Burgas, Bulgaria
ph: +359 (877) 713-814
romaunion@abv.bg
Dimitar Tzekov
prev. project manager, Community and Organizational Development
US Peace Corps (Bulgarian branch)
ph: +359 888 548 537 (mobile)
dimtsekov@gmail.com
Daniela Mihaylova
Attorney at law and Director of the legal program of Equal Opportunities Initiative Association
ph: +359 888 51-5992 (mobile)
equal_opportunities@abv.bg
Magdalena Yapadzhieva - Senior Expert
at Department of education and demographic issues,
Municipality of Burgas
ph: +359 56 907 245
m.yapadzhieva@burgas.bg
