Mentoring – the Connection between Volunteering and Social Work

The challenges before the social work in Bulgaria are many. The attempts to fit in and meet the high European standards for social work are putting more and more challenges to social workers, students studying in this field, as well as to higher education related to the social sector. Unfortunately, Bulgaria has a lot to catch up. After the difficult process of deinstitutionalization, the Bulgarian people are still facing the whole diversity of social work and the groups that need it. The purpose of this report is to outline the parameters that are essential to the implementation of three activities, namely mentoring, volunteering, and social work. Mentoring in social work has been talked about relatively recently in Bulgaria. Although it existed earlier, it has not been addressed as such. Pedagogical mentoring is more widespread. Young people in Bulgaria demonstrate readiness and social commitment to activities such as volunteering. It is through it and in it that a form of mentoring takes place. The difficulties facing the social sphere in the last year are enormous due to the serious health crisis facing the whole world. Volunteering and sacrifice have been at the heart of overcoming most of the problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students studying “social activities” took part in volunteer initiatives that enriched and upgraded their knowledge and skills related to social work. Mentoring is the link between professionals involved in social work and volunteering people. Passing on professional and life experience to those who come after us is one of the most practical and logical human activities in human life.