The award ceremony for the winners of the Amalipe Center student competition showed that marriage can wait, education can’t

“There are two important things. Two things that can bring happiness and security. But one should not precede the other. One is marriage. The other is education. And that is why we say: “Marriage can wait, education can’t!”

With these words, the solemn ceremony of awarding the winners of the national student competition “Marriage can wait, education – can’t”, organized by the Amalipe Center, began. On May 13, 2026, the “Kiev” hall of the Park-Hotel “Moscow” in Sofia brought together students, teachers, educational mediators, institutions and guests from the country and abroad around a topic that affects thousands of young people – the right to education, the right to choice and the right to a future.

Over 240 students of different ages, ethnicities and locations across the country entered the competition with essays, videos and graphic images, through which they expressed their point of view on the topic of early marriage and the consequences it can have on the lives of young people. The resulting works were simultaneously talented, brave and deeply personal, and many of them raised questions that society often speaks too quietly about.

“Marriage can wait, education can’t” was not just a topic for a competition. It was a message that hundreds of young people stood behind, convinced that education gives opportunities, confidence, independence and the right to choose your own path. This is what turned the award ceremony into much more than an official event – ​​it became a meeting of young people with a position, courage and a desire for change.

The ceremony was part of the National Meeting of Student Ombudsmen, organized by the Amalipe Center under the patronage of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ms. Velislava Delcheva. At the beginning of the event, a certificate for contribution and participation in the jury was received by Radostina Petkova – a photographer, artist and long-time supporter of the Amalipe Center, which supports youth initiatives and the creative expression of students.

The subsequent award ceremony was filled with emotions, applause and tension until the last moment, as it was on stage that the ranked students found out where their works had been awarded. The excitement was felt not only among the participants themselves, but also among the teachers, educational mediators, principals, and everyone who stands behind every encouraged child and every boldly stated position.

And who are the award winners? Their locations and materials are respectively:

In the “Graphic Image” category, the works were divided into 3 age groups. The winners are:

First age group:

First place: Merlin Hasan, Unified School “P. Volov”, village of Todor Ikonomovo
Second place: Ivan Mitev, Primary School “Hristo Smirnenski”, village of Tulovo
Third place: Naarin Raycheva, Primary School “Hristo Smirnenski”, village of Tulovo
Congratulatory place: Student team from the Center for Special Educational Support “Leda Mileva”, town of Dolni Dabnik

Second age group:
First place: Aleyna Sabeva, Unified School “P. Volov”, Todor Ikonomovo village
Second place: Elifnaz Bilyal, Secondary School “Tsanko Tserkovski”, Nikola Kozlevo
Third place: Nilay Aldinova, Unified School “P. Volov”, Todor Ikonomovo village
Congratulatory places were awarded to: Irem Selyatin, Secondary School “Tsanko Tserkovski”, Nikola Kozlevo, Aysel Salieva and Mira Asenova from Primary School “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, Nikolaevo

Third age group:

First place: Elif Ismet, PGPT “Evlogiy Georgiev”, Silistra

Second place: Andreya Plamenova, PGSSHT, Shumen

Third place: Bihter Mehmedova, PGPT “Evlogiy Georgiev”, Silistra

Congratulatory places were awarded to: Malcho Simeonov, PGSSHT, Shumen, Tsvetelina Mircheva, PGHT “Acad. N. Nedelchev”, Sliven and Silvie Koleva, PGTM Gradnitsa

 In the “Essay” category, the works were divided into 2 age groups. The winners are:

Second age group:

First place: Victoria Avramova, Unified School “P.R. Slaveykov” village Dzhuliunitsa

Second place: Ilena Stepanova, Secondary School “Angel Karaliychev”, town of Strazhitsa

Third place: Metodi Balinov, Primary School “Hristo Botev” Rakitovo

Congratulatory place: Valentina Tsvetanova, Third Primary School “Dr. Petar Beron”, Montana

Third age group:

First place: Federika Penev, Secondary School “St. Kliment Ohridski”, village Kamen, municipality Strazhitsa

Second place: Nikola Draganov, Second English Language High School “Thomas Jefferson”, Sofia

Third place: Silvia Belcheva, PZG “Kliment Arkadievich Timiryazev”, Kavarna

Congratulatory places: Danaya Dimitrova and Ivayla Valkova from PGPT “Evlogiy Georgiev”, Silistra

In the “Video” category, the winners are:

First age group:

First place: Student team from Primary School “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, village of Kamen, Sliven municipality

Second place: Student team from Center for Special Educational Support “Leda Mileva”, town of Dolni Dabnik

Second age group:

First place: Student team from Primary School “Neofit Rilski”, Velingrad

Second place: Berat Nikolaev, Unified School “P. Volov”, village of Todor Ikonomovo

Third place: Stefka Ivanova, Primary School “St. Cyril and Methodius” village of Dabovo

Congratulations: Student team from Secondary School “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, village of Breznitsa, Gotse Delchev Municipality

Third age group:

First place: Student team from PPMG “Nikola Obreshkov” Kazanlak

Second place: Student team from Secondary School “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, town of Krivodol

Third place: Student team from Secondary School “Otets Paisii”, village of Medkovets

Congratulations: Student team from Secondary School “Hristo Smirnenski” town of Koynare, as well as Yordan Yordanov from PPMG “Nikola Obreshkov”, Kazanlak

Photos from the award ceremony for the winners of the student competition “Marriage can wait, education can’ t” can be seen HERE
On April 14, as part of the award ceremony for the awarded students, as well as the student ombudsmen, the “Ambassador of Tolerance” initiative took place. The students visited the Embassies of Spain, Poland and Germany, UNICEF Bulgaria, the State Agency for Child Protection and the National Ombudsman. See more HERE

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The student competition is implemented within the framework of the project “Marriage can wait, education can’t”. The project “Marriage can wait, education can’t” is implemented within the framework of the INSPIRE project: Improving national support for prevention, intervention, and response to violence against children, and empowering victims” and is co-financed by the European Union and the Foundation “Workshop for Civic Initiatives” (WFCI).