He was in town for the Tenth Forum of Social Economy, reports TrafficNews.
The European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nikola Schmidt visited on the 20th of June the Refugee Center in Plovdiv and praised the established base and the provided conditions for accommodation of Ukrainian citizens. He was in the city on the hills for the Tenth Forum of Social Economy Entities, during which he visited the Social Enterprise for People with Disabilities and the Community Center for Children and Families. During the tour he received an invitation from Deputy Mayor Georgi Tityukov to go to the former Lung Hospital, where the center is located. On the spot, they were greeted by Natalia Ellis, a Ukrainian woman who has lived in Plovdiv for years and who is a volunteer and helps her compatriots who sought refuge from the military conflict here.
“Europe supports the people of Ukraine, understands their suffering. “Everyone (local government and the EU) will make an effort to make you feel at home,” said Schmidt, who spoke to Ukrainian refugees housed in the center. The European Commissioner and his team commented that Plovdiv is one of the few cities with similar refugee centers. For her part, Natalia Ellis stressed the great support received by the refugees accommodated in the former medical institution from both the Municipality of Plovdiv and the district administration.
On the spot in the OP “Social Enterprise for People with Disabilities” EU Commissioner Nikola Schmidt saw how people with various problems make unique souvenirs in the three studios – textiles, ceramics and glass blowing, in the Social Enterprise.
At the Community Center he was greeted with a short program – children, users of social services, sang the national anthem and folk songs.
Photo: TrafficNews.
