Future in the Future Tense is a short film made within the "FID: To fulfil the (im)possible dreams" project, with the financial support of the European Union's Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020).
Partners in the project are the Know-How Center for the Alternative Care for Children, New Bulgarian University, and the Projecta Foundation (producers of the film). Since 2006, Projecta has been developing social-oriented projects in the field of work with children and young people from different vulnerable groups, children deprived of parental care, unaccompanied migrant children, etc., as well as projects to increase the capacity of various target groups.
The difficulty for young people to believe that it makes sense to plan their lives
As part of the two-year project "FID: To fulfil the (im)possible dreams", teams of 25 resident services were trained to apply new methodologies for working with children and young people in their practice. A team of 65 personal mentors, some of whom participated in the film, was created during the collaboration and ongoing supervision conducted by the Know-How Center for Alternative Care for Children.
During the work process, the personal mentors selected by the young people themselves gradually begin a process of communication that is more intense and aimed at planning the future desired by each youth. Stronger trusting relationships have been established and the relationship between a young person and a personal mentor working with him has changed. The mentors experience emotions associated with their dreams and the difficulties in believing that it makes sense to plan their lives alongside the young people.
A film about the challenges that children face
The film aims at presenting the challenges that children leaving residential care face, but also their expectations for a better future. The film's characters are a small fraction of a total of 132 young people ages 14-18 who have worked on their Personal Life Projects with their mentors toward improving key competencies in taking care of themselves; self-esteem; coping with difficulties, disappointments and losses; asserting oneself; critical thinking; co-operation skills with others; adapting to different roles and situations; responsibility; follow the rules; seeking and offering help.
Success comes with perseverance
With effort and perseverance, the dreams that are set as goals in the children's personal projects step by step become a reality - many of the young people leaving state care in 2020, supported by consultants, start work, are assisted in providing them with municipal housing; receive additional training to graduate from high school or continue their university studies.