Vratsa Software Community for digital industry developing

Started with Reach for Change –Bulgaria grant, Vratsa Software Community gained success because of the approach towards solving the problem with youth fluctuation in the region by building community, raising awareness and training students and adults with an opportunity to start a new job in the digital industry. Attracting the support of the local government, district administration and civil society organizations, the initiative become very popular among the wide public, which made VSC develop annual program with Coding courses( 9month trainings), Digital marketing, awareness-raising events- Code week, competitions, conferences; hackathons for students and adults; Attracting digital companies to open branches in Vratsa and the region and hire qualified young people, opening co-working space, networking, membership in BESCO, interaction with regional stakeholders and structuring Digital agenda for the district- Digital Hub, digital capability for services for startups, involving the local startup community in changing the mindsets and changing the policy for youths employment. VSC managed to attract stakeholders, experts, and the state administration and local government for a public discussion-Digitalization as an opportunity for growth of Vratsa district and proposed development a project "Vratsa-the digital center of the Northwest region of Bulgaria.