The project “EAST-WEST: Building bridges of understanding between Europe and its neighbours” lasts for 10 months and gathers 4 EVS volunteers in Varna.During the past few years and especially during the refugee wave, a feeling of insecurity and distrust is growing in Europe towards the East. This phenomenon is connected with increasing lack of tolerance, originating in the lack of mutual knowledge. Geographically and culturally Bulgaria is situated on the border of Europe and the East and can function as a bridge. Encouraging dialogue and exchange of information between the East and West is one of the mechanisms to overcome prejudices.The aims of the project are to build up understanding between cultures and psychological instruments for intercultural communication and work through the methods of non-formal education, to offer theoretical, creative and practical instruments for the basis of understanding others, to gain experience working with people from different cultural contexts, to enhance active citizenship and tolerance and more successful integration of persons with different backgrounds.The volunteers are 4, aged 19 to 30. They are employed in organisation of different kinds of events in Varna and the international festival “East-West”. 2 volunteers are event organisers and 2 work with public relations. They are chosen according to the following criteria: communication and social skills, tolerance and flexibility, creative and non-standard thinking, organisational skills, motivation and initiative-taking and the desire to discover new methods and work with youth; basic computer skills and a wish to work in an international team. The volunteers for public relations will work with social media, web sites, etc.In the activities more than 500 persons from Bulgaria and abroad are involved. Bulgarian students and youth, foreigners living in the country and local audiences are involved in regular events, which consist of international evenings (cultural, social, film, music), informational campaigns and exhibitions, lectures and presentations informing about different countries, book readings, etc. Parallel with the regular events, local youth (school and university students) is educated to participate in the preparation of the festival and its programme, and they learn moderating, organisation, intercultural communication,etc. The events culminate in a 2-week festival about different cultures, foreign languages and creative events, which show the similarities between East and West and offer possibilities to gain new experiences, viewpoints and perspectives, exchange of good practices and dialogue. The programme includes lectures and presentations about different cultures and languages, quick language courses, exhibitions and the creation of a web site with information about several languages and cultures, seminars and debates. Also creative workshops and seminars are planned, readings, competitions, creative city walks etc. The festival ends with an international conference, dedicated to the Black Sea region as a dialogue space for East and West.The volunteers also have the possibility to develop their own projects.After the project all volunteers receive the Youthpass. As a result they will have improved their self-awareness and self-confidence especially in international situations, they can use creative and communicative instruments and solve problems and conflicts, work in different cultural contexts, use non-formal methods for work and education, develop and implement their own projects, work in a team and increase social skills. The volunteers also improve language skills, especially English and Bulgarian, and sensitivity to different cultural requirements, understanding of realities and dynamics in East and West, entrepreneurial and management skills, and they can be and build bridges between cultures and societies. With these qualities and qualifications they are better positioned on the labour market and their importance as valuable personnel on local, national or international level.The results are distributed already during the project on a web site, media, during events and in social media and information campaign. On local and regional levels the interest toward volunteer work will grow, which allows for attracting young peoplе in Bulgaria to volunteering, learning other languages and cultures, which in turn support their future careers. Developing key competences and skills, and social and cultural experience gained during the project improve the quality of education and motivation to participate in non-formal education, life-long-learning and mobility. With more understanding they can form a clear citizenship position, be aware about European topics and develop further skills to work with other cultures – a challenge Europe faces today.