GOLDEN FISH

Organisation

ANGELA WYNGs is a Research and Development company based in Bulgaria. ANGELA WYNGS tackles societal challenges through Action Research and development of creative solutions, in various fields including education, youth literacy, citizenship and polarization, youth participation, and empowerment. 

Currently in partnership with Bulgarian Association of Social Workers ANGELA WYNGs leads the development and implementation of “EMPOWERMENT STARTS HERE” Action Research project funded by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe for empowerment of first-line professionals, Ukrainian refugees, vulnerable local women, and man, receiving communities, and decision-makers in Bulgaria. 

Type of Organisation: For profit

Project description

GOLDEN FISH is an innovative after-classroom program that boosts resilience against disinformation while at the same time empowering young people vulnerable to radicalization to dream and builds their social competencies to reach their dreams without violence. GOLDEN FISH combines several best practices: group mentorship; local business involvement; learning by doing; leading by example; media coverage; lobbying for vulnerable youth’s dreams to come true in local communities; and long-term engagement of local authorities. 

In the GOLDEN FISH club every young person fulfils three dreams – one personal dream; one dream related to the organisation of her/his choice; and a dream for the local community. Vulnerable young people are supported to fulfil their dreams by youth-dreams-come-true supporters - local business owners, public servants, and community leaders. While fulfilling their dreams young people are supported by the GOLDEN FISH educators to learn through their personal experience how to communicate effectively with people and institutions able to support their dreams to come true and most importantly - how to give back equal value. 

Young participants in GOLDEN FISH are empowered to use their own dreams-come-true experiences and engage classmates and local community members in the conversation about difficult topics. While reflecting on their personal experience with isolation, and while sharing their own frustrations, ‘turning points’, and reasons to stand up for democratic values, the GOLDEN FISH participants become positive role models for other vulnerable youth.

 GOLDEN FISH also empowers young people to better recognise disinformation and to take on an active role in the countering of its diffusion. The GOLDEN FISH approach is highly appealing to young people and teaches effortlessly about the successful mechanisms behind disinformation. As students and local community members are engaged in conversations about dreams-come-true without violence, they actively reflect on their decisions and learn how certain behaviour have consequences in real life. 

The combination of dreams-come-true with lead-by-example makes GOLDEN FISH an effective methodology for empowering young people to reach their goals without violence and be critical and constructive media consumers, so that they feel better prepared to cope with challenges as responsible young citizens who are supportive of democratic values, both online and offline.

Contact details

Address 

41 Shipka Street, 
Sofia 1504, 
Bulgaria 

Contact person: Angela Antonova  
Telephone: +35 988 664 4850
a_antonovayahoo [dot] com (Email) | Website