site.btaSofia Mayor Fandakova Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with National Union of Worker Producers` Cooperatives

Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Union of Workers' Productive Cooperatives (NUWCP) and the The City Union of Worker Producers` Cooperatives - Sofia (CUWPC). The meeting took place in the building of Sofia Municipality on Friday.

The memorandum provides for joint development of projects under European, national and local programmes aimed at solving problems of the labour-production cooperatives, cooperation in activities with social purpose and initiatives for integration of people with disabilities with a view to their real inclusion in the production process and social adaptation, the Mayor of Sofia explained.

"Social enterprises are one of the best opportunities for people with disabilities to be useful for themselves, their families and society", Fandakova said, adding that the main focus in the social policy of Sofia Municipality is to provide access for all people to education and work, which is part of the reason for signing an agreement on cooperation in all possible sectors.

"Of course, we will continue the festival "COOP FEST BANKYA" in Bankya, where you can see the production of people with disabilities in different fields, thus supporting the development of our society and feel useful", the Mayor said.

Fandakova stressed that Sofia Municipality has its own enterprise which has similar activities. "The Lozana municipal enterprise employs people with different problems and has several types of activities," Fandakova said, adding that the municipality partners with several NGOs, which give them the opportunity to set up industries in the food industry, in the production of various items such as soap, candles or cards.

NUWCP chairman Bozhidar Stanchev explained that the Union mainly works with cooperatives that employ people with disabilities. He added that through the festival in Bankya, where people with disabilities show their production, they participate in the social and economic life of the country and the capital. "NUWCP has 18 worker-producer cooperatives that work more with people with disabilities", Stanchev said, clarifying that four of them are located in Sofia.

The initiative "COOP FEST BANKYA" aims to create a favourable environment for participation of people with disabilities and their active involvement in public initiatives. Its organizers are the National Union of Worker Producers` Cooperatives with the financial support of the Agency for People with Disabilities and the partnership of Sofia Municipality - Bankya District.