April 12, 2022April 14, 2022

The President and the Vice-President celebrated the International Roma Day: the messages and beyond them

On the International Roma Day, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and the Vice President Iliana Yotova awarded the winners of the student competition “I have a dream: to study and live together”. The competition was organized by the Center Amalipe.

In his speech President Radev stated that the strategy for the development of the society cannot be fulfilled if we do not provide equal access for the Roma community to quality education and health care, if we do not guarantee their full participation in social, economic, cultural and spiritual life. The ceremony for the 8th of April was held in the most official hall, in the Coat of Arms Hall of the Presidency. During the ceremony, the President awarded the winners of the competition “I have a dream: to study and live together”. The competition has been organized by Center Amalipe since 2012. It targets students from 1st to 12th grade, from all schools in the country. Every year the competition has been organized on different socially important topic, aiming to celebrate the International Roma Day, April 8. Vice President Iliana Yotova also took part in the ceremony.

Сertificates were awarded to children from different age groups in the categories “Essay”, “Video” and “Image”. The 1st place winners in the “Essay” category are:

The 1st place winners in the “Video” category are:

Assen Assenov and Yordan Yordanov, 14, from Hristo Botev Primary School in the town of Maglizh.
A special award for editing and visual effects was given to the video of the students from Vocational High School of Agriculture “Todor Rachinski”, General Toshevo. It was received by their representative Gencho Tsankov, ranked in the Essay category in second place.

The 1st place winners in the “Image” category are:

Bushra Ridvan, 8 years old, from Panayot Volov Primary School, Todor Ikonomovo,
Fani Filipova, 8th grade of Secondary school “Hristo Smirnenski” in Gulyantsi.
A special award for overall activity was given to Esil Shukrieva from 12th grade at Secondary school “Angel Karaliychev” in Strazhitsa, Aishe Bilyal, 15 years old from Secondary school “Tsanko Tserkovski” in Nikola Kozlevo and Sinan Kadyrov from 11th grade at Vocational High School of Agriculture and Food Technology, Shumen.

The President underlined that this ceremony reflects the will of the presidential institution and the Bulgarian state to ensure the implementation of the Bulgarian Constitution for providing opportunities for every Bulgarian citizen through good education, social integration, employment opportunities, etc. Rumen Radev has pointed out that in his second term, together with the Vice President, they will continue to support the work of Center Amalipe in its efforts to reduce the percentage of Roma children dropping out of school and to increase the education level of Roma.

On the occasion of 8 April President Rumen Radev wished health, strength, energy on the path we have all taken together as a society and citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria. He pointed out as a good example Bogomila Samuilova, who was the winner of the Competition three years ago. Now she is already a student and a role model to many young girls and boys. Mr. Radev wished all the winners of the 2022 competition to follow her steps. “You are our most valuable ambassadors, because your message is the best for the whole world at the moment,” said Vice President Iliana Yotova to the children. “There is a magic word – ‘together’, which we miss a lot in this very difficult and disturbing world, in which people seem to be much more divided,” the Vice President said outlining again the motto of this year competition: “I have a dream: to study and live together.”

The chairman of Center “Amalipe” Deyan Kolev said that Roma today strive to live as equal citizens who preserve their identity and respect that of the others. “In order to live together, we need to start from the school desk.” In addition, Kolev pointed out to a problem related to segregation in many Bulgarian schools, appealing these schools to become mixed and to provide space for the children to study together.

Source: president.bg

Beyond the facts

The award ceremony will surely be remembered by all participants. The solemn atmosphere of the Coat of Arms Hall in the Presidency, the opportunity to touch to the highest state symbols and especially the fact that the winners in the competition received their certificates personally from the President and Vice President, had the opportunity to talk to them in frank and cordial conversation outside the protocol, will certainly motivate students to continue their education and continue following their dreams.

The ceremony also had an important symbolic meaning for the policies for Roma inclusion, such as:

For the first time in almost two decades, the Presidential Institution has been organizing a special event on the occasion of the International Roma Day, with the participation of the President, the Vice President and almost the entire presidential team of advisers. It took place on April 8, and in addition to awarding the winners of the Amalipe Center competition “I have a dream: to study and live together”, President Radev and Vice President Yotova made important statements on overall Roma policies;
The Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria and the overall strategy for the development of Bulgarian society have been pointed as the basic preconditions for the implementation of Roma integration policies. He did not limit his statement just to the National Roma Strategy (it was not even mentioned), but pointed out the basic principles on which the state should develop as a frame for Roma integration. President Radev explicitly emphasized in his speech that the development of Bulgarian society cannot be achieved without the overall development of the Roma community and investment in its capacity is a mandatory factor for this. The implementation of the Bulgarian Constitution includes the efforts for using the full potential of every Bulgarian citizen and the state must undertake its commitment to this;
Access tо quality and non-segregated education has been repeated several times as key to successful implementation. The fact that the President and Vice President chose to commemorate the International Roma Day through an event showing the meaning of education, potential and achievements of Roma children and youth, instead of framing Roma into the stereotype of singing and dancing, shows respect for the community and its successes;
Vice President Yotova again – openly, clearly and firmly – stated her commitment to support the equality of Roma women and the empowerment of Roma girls, including active prevention and combating early marriages. She emphasized and commended the Amalipe Center’s efforts in this direction;
In his opening words, the President explicitly pointed out the support of the institution for the efforts of Center Amalipe to raise the educational level of the Roma community. After years of being perceived by many politicians as an unwanted partner and even a scapegoat for failed governmental policies, the fact that the ceremony was organized around an NGO initiative is a positive sign.

During the years of transition, Roma integration has been perceived as a responsibility only of the executive authority. The adoption of the National Strategy for Roma Integration by a decision of the National Assembly on March 1, 2012, gave hope for the involvement of a wider range of stakeholders. These hopes have gradually faded and are about to be completely erased as the new Roma National Strategic Framework is expected to be adopted only by a decision of the Council of Ministers.

The event on the occasion of the International Roma Day in the Presidency of the Republic of Bulgaria gives a sign that the institution can and should also be included as an active participant in integration policies.

The participating students were extremely excited – many of them have never visited Sofia before and could not even believe that they would really meet the President and Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria. The winners also visited embassies, ministries, the Parliament as part of their award. Here is what some of the young people shared with us after the event:

Aksenia Krasimirova – For me, the visit to the capital, the presidency and the meeting with personalities such as the President and Vice President

were a real experience, which would not have happened without the support and assistance of “Amalipe”. I am impressed by the fact that in such a place and in such an environment I met such a warm attitude, openness and dialogue. In my casual and frank conversations with all of them, I felt the support of what we strive for – all of us to be equal, to get an equal chance and full realization. In fact, I felt the opportunity to make my dreams come true. Thank you!”

Ayshe Bilyal – “It was an honor and a pleasure for me to be part of this unforgettable experience. Thanks to everyone who stands behind this organization, behind us, the children. I was very impressed by the warm welcome at the Presidency and the Belgian Embassy, I felt like we had known each other for years and we were one big family. I made many friendships during the event, which will remain in the future. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to the parents, teachers, mediators and everyone who took part in this unforgettable event!”

Virginia Atanasova – “I express my gratitude to Center Amalipe for giving us the opportunity not only to participate in the student competition “I have a dream – to study and live together”, but also to meet personally with the President of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Radev and Vice President Iliana Yotova, who took their time to reward us! It was so exciting and unforgettable not only for me, but for all the winners. The emotion I experienced was so colorful. I was very excited, but at the same time worried. Thanks to Mrs. Teodora Krumova for her support and for encouraging me on this important and successful day for me! I thank Mrs. Denitsa Ivanova, Mrs. Nelly Nikolova for being hospitable and kind to us. Also my thanks to Mrs. Kalina Konstantinova, who also predisposed me with her calm energy and radiant smile, to Mr. Deyan Kolev, to everyone else and last but not least to my parents, teachers and especially to Mrs. Iliana Stoyanova, without whom I would not have succeeded!”

Sinan Kadyrov – “I want to sincerely thank Center Amalipe for the opportunities provided. It made me happy and excited. I would like to first turn to Mr. Deyan Kolev and Mrs. Teodora Krumova – thank you for the support and motivation you have given me for years. I am also grateful to the team in the Presidency – they were very kind, they informed us with patience and cordiality.

Mr. Rumen Radev, thank you very much for accepting us and giving us short but accurate advices. We will continue to follow them in order to be successful, educated and intelligent Roma. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ”

Gencho Tsankov – On April 7 and 8, on the occasion of the International Roma Day, I found myself in

a fairy tale. My story! I have met many people who, like me, believe that we are all together – and we can be in another world, a better world of friends! Thanks to my school for including me in this competition and believing in me; to my teacher that was next to me; thanks to Center Amalipe for appreciating my talent. It is not enough to describe the feelings before, during and after the competition – at my meetings with the president and ministers, as well as my meetings in my school afterwords by teachers and friends. I wish the participants after me to be brave, not to stop dreaming, to fight for what they want. Friends, I already know that dreams come true. Follow yours! Good luck!”

Photos: Raycho Vassilev