Between the Lines Project: Building Critical Thinking and Civic Skills in Small-Town Schools
Project "Between the Lines": Building Critical Thinking and Civic Skills in Small-Town Schools in Sofia District
In September 2025, our NGO "Ti Mozhesh Li" launched a new initiative titled "Between the Lines", supported by the program "Learning Together 2025: Civic Skills in Action", implemented by Teach For Bulgaria Foundation with the financial support of the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
The project targets students from 8th to 11th grade and their teachers in two schools outside the capital:
- Vasil Levski Primary School – village of Novachene
- St. Cyril and St. Methodius Secondary School – village of Aprilovo
"Between the Lines" project is for those young people who need confidence to speak up, ask questions, and actively engage in their communities. We are deeply grateful to all the teachers who believe in change and choose to be part of it together with us!
► ► Specific Goals of "Between the Lines"
- To enhance students’ ability to analyze and evaluate information from various sources, including online content and social media.
- To develop students’ skills for structured expression of opinions and participation in discussions, focusing on debate, argumentation, and reflection.
- To support teachers with ready-to-use and practical tools for integrating critical thinking and civic education into different school subjects.
- To increase student motivation through interactive and experiential learning methods that connect school with real-life contexts.
- To create a sustainable educational resource (a handbook) that remains in use after the project ends and is accessible to other schools across the country.
► ► Key Project Activities
- Needs assessment surveys – to identify the specific challenges students and teachers face in recognizing trustworthy information and applying civic learning strategies.
- Experiential training workshop for teachers, where they step into the students’ shoes and go through activities focused on critical thinking and spotting manipulative content. This builds firsthand experience and confidence in applying the methods in class.
- Creation of a Critical Thinking Handbook – featuring over 30 short, adaptable exercises (15–30 minutes each) covering topics like information analysis, argumentation, fact vs. opinion, empathy, and understanding different perspectives. The handbook will be suitable for subjects such as History, Literature, IT, and more.
- Interactive classroom workshops with students, co-facilitated by teachers and project experts – involving role plays, case studies, news analysis, and discussion-based activities from the handbook.
► ► Long-Term Impact
Our goal is not a one-time intervention, but a long-lasting transformation in teaching and learning practices. The handbook will be made available online for free and distributed to schools nationwide. After the project ends, we will continue supporting teachers and students who wish to implement "Between the Lines" methods in their classrooms.
► ► About the “Learning Together 2025: Civic Skills in Action” Program
- A program by the Teach For Bulgaria Foundation, with support from the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
- Targeted at NGOs working in partnership with schools outside Sofia.
- Aims to strengthen civic engagement through real-life experiences, especially in underserved communities.