title: Country watch: Bulgaria.
abstract: Eros and Psyche is a club for adolescents based in a youth center in Sofia, Bulgaria.  Eros, the ancient Greek god of love, and Psyche, representing the human soul, symbolize the club's activities relating to the psychological and aesthetic aspects of sexuality.  The club was started in December 1988 to provide sex education to out-of-school youth, the first attempt to move away from restrictive, medical approaches.  Members include pupils, students, workers and even parents.  The club meets twice a week for two hours, with specialists from different fields addressing the group, videos, readings and other activities that stimulate discussion.  Anyone is free to come and go.  Twice a year the club holds training sessions in psychosocial skills that aim to promote self-reflection and help people interact more openly with one another.  Each individual is helped to find a personal route to understanding his or her own sexuality.  Other clubs have been formed on the Sofia model.  To help them organize, the Sofia club has prepared a leaders' manual and is developing a one-week course for club leaders.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002031:Bulgaria; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004467:Economics; D004493:Education; D004522:Educational Status; D005060:Europe; D005061:Europe, Eastern; D006285:Health Planning; D009934:Organization and Administration; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D012736:Sex Education; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Adolescents; Age Factors; Bulgaria; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Eastern Europe; Economic Factors; Education; Educational Status; Europe; Organization And Administration; Out-of-school Youths; Population; Population Characteristics; Program Activities; Programs; Sex Education; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Youth