ProInfo, in partnership with the Citizen Participation Forum (FGU) and with financial support from the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), is implementing the Resilient Voices initiative — a focused programme of support for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Bulgaria working in increasingly hostile political and media environments.

In recent years, CSOs advocating for democratic values, human rights, environmental protection, and social inclusion have become the target of organised disinformation campaigns, smear attacks, and institutional marginalisation. This initiative supports a selected group of key organisations that not only defend their own space, but also represent and protect the rights of citizens who often have no other voice.

🔹 Key Activities:

Two-hour orientation session introducing CSO participants to real-world tactics for countering public attacks, disinformation, and smear campaigns, including:

   Turning attacks into meaningful public communication

   Framing strategic messages under pressure

   Preparing the whole team to respond consistently and with confidence

Two-month individual mentoring phase, during which participants receive:

   Strategic support to adapt their communication for a hostile environment

   Help building internal response protocols for public or online attacks

   Guidance in preparing crisis-ready messaging and identifying effective spokespersons

   Hands-on assistance in preparing for real upcoming public engagements, hearings, or   media interactions

Simulated hostile debate, where CSOs test their skills in a high-pressure, but controlled scenario designed to replicate real institutional hostility.

The simulation serves as a safe space to apply tactics, receive expert feedback, and build resilience.

🔹 Why This Matters

Resilient Voices builds on the outcomes of earlier ECAS-supported projects — including #YouImpact and Positive Citizen Narrative for Europe — and moves from capacity building to practical defence. It enables civil society actors to remain visible, credible, and effective even when their legitimacy is being actively challenged.

In today’s polarized climate, resilience is not just about survival. It’s about protecting civic space, defending citizens’ rights, and refusing to be silenced.