Thirteen years ago, the National Network for Children was the only Bulgarian organisation participating in Eurochild meetings and conferences. Today, the picture looks very different. At this year’s Eurochild Conference in Paphos, Cyprus, Bulgaria was represented by 15 child rights professionals, activists, and young people.

The conference brought together hundreds of participants from across Europe and stood out for the meaningful involvement of children and young people in discussions and decision-making processes. Among them was Tiana, a member of the Megaphone Youth Programme of the National Network for Children and the P.U.L.S. Foundation in Pernik, who proudly represented the voices of children and young people from Bulgaria.

Together with Doneta Kelmendi from the Kosovo Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection (KOMF), we presented the “Child-Friendly Company” certification as a European certification mark and a model for partnership between civil society and the business sector in support of children’s rights.

Developed by the National Network for Children and already registered as a European trademark, the certification enables organisations from different countries to become Licensed National Partners and implement the model at national level. Kosovo has already become the first international partner. During the conference, organisations from Greece, Germany, Armenia, Poland, Ireland, Cyprus, and Finland also expressed interest in introducing the certification in their own countries.

Many exciting conversations and new partnerships lie ahead. We believe that the “Child-Friendly Company” certification has the potential to grow into a European movement that encourages businesses to become more responsible towards children, parents, and families, while placing the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at its core.

We leave Paphos with even greater confidence that when civil society organisations, children, young people, and businesses work together, meaningful change is possible—not only in Bulgaria, but across Europe.