Political and diplomatic guests were part of the opening of the school year in the schools of the Network “Every student will be winner”

For a consecutive year, the Amalipe Center was part of the celebration of students and parents during the opening of the school year. Although the situation was precarious, and the measures limited the scale of the first day celebrations of the schools in many places, we tried to show our support to the schools in the network “Every student will be a winner”. We greeted and sent educational materials to all of them, and we also managed to be present to some of them. As in the years before the Covid-19 pandemic, we invited ministers from the main ministries working in the field of education and children’s rights, as well as diplomats, to take part in the celebration of the schools from the network. Deputy Minister of Education and Science Evgenia Peeva-Kirova, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Nadia Klisurska, Ambassador of Denmark to Bulgaria HE Jes Brogord Nielsen, a representative of the British Embassy, ​​and Ognyan Isayev, Director of the Educational Achievements Program at the Trust for Social Achievment, were among the official guests at the opening of the school year.

How it passed through the eyes of the Amalipe Center team:

On September 15, the primary school “St. Cyril and Methodius” Ihtiman welcomed its students, and this year their number is 773. Official guests on the occasion of the opening of the new school year were: Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mrs. Evgenia Peeva-Kirova, Deputy Mayor of Ihtiman Municipality Daniela Miteva, Atanas Atanasov – Local Community Development Expert at Amalipe Center, Mr. Ognyan Isaev – Director of the Educational Achievement Program at the Trust for Social Achievement, Mr. Yordan Tomov – Senior Expert on Inclusive Education at Regional Department of Education – Sofia District. After the official guests addressed their congratulatory letters, Mrs. Evgenia Peeva rang the first bell for the beginning of the school year. The parents of the children were also present at the celebration. After the celebration, the guests were invited by the school principal Mrs. Reneta Marinkova to discuss the issues regarding the new school year.

Ms. Marinkova shared her concerns, which are mainly related to what will happen if it is necessary to move to DLEE again. She shared good practices from the work of the four educational mediators who are appointed to the school and who have authority among the community. The school principal also mentioned that there is a problem with the parents of children who go abroad to work seasonally and take the children with them, including Atanas Atanasov, who added that it would be great if these children have the opportunity to are taught remotely, because in this way the children will not lose their motivation and will not have to repeat the school year. Atanas Atanasov congratulated the educational mediators who are appointed to the school and shared that the mediators have a double effect. Once they are with the authorities in the community, they motivate parents and children to continue their education. Second, educational mediators, motivated by their work with children, acquire a desire for career development and decide to continue studying in pedagogical specialties. This also happened to the educational mediators from the primary school “St. Cyril and Methodius ”in the town of Ihtiman. Atanasov stressed the need for more educational mediators in schools, and was supported by all participants. More about the school “St.St. Cyril and Methodius” in the town of Ihtiman can be seen here.

At 9.30 the school bell greeted the eighth-graders of the Vocational School of Textiles and Leather Products in Sofia. The huge efforts made by Valentina Dimitrova – principal of the school and her team to promote the specialties and professional realization were granted with success. Admission is completed in all three classes, and students will gain knowledge and skills in the profiles “Fashion Design”, “Boutique Clothing” and “Design, Modeling and Technology of Shoe Products”. With “Welcome!” Mrs. Dimitrova addressed the newly admitted students and wished them to keep the excitement of the first day of school and to make it part of the motivation for success in mastering the chosen profession. In his welcome address, the principal pointed out that for another year, September 15 is different because the world is different in a time of pandemic, but expressed confidence that with the joint efforts of students, parents, teachers, institutions and partners, this challenge will be overcome.

The official opening ceremony of the school year was honored by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Nadia Klisurska, Vili Angelova – Counselor at the British Embassy and the educational experts of the Amalipe Center Raycho Chaprazov and Yonka Danova, who also presented their greetings and best wishes to the graduates of the vocational high school.

The festive bell gathered in the school yard and the students of 5th Secondary school “P.R. Slaveykov” in Pernik city. Students from the first, fifth and eighth grades were welcomed with a solemn ceremony of carrying out the school flag and listening to the anthem. In her welcoming speech, the principal Boryana Yordanova thanked the students and their parents for the choice to be part of the educational institution and to walk the path of knowledge together. Thanks were also extended to the teachers for their tireless efforts to establish the school as a preferred place for the accumulation of knowledge and skills of adolescents. 

The official part continued with a short art program, after which the classes went to their rooms, together with HE Jes Brogaard Nielsen – Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, who was a special guest on this day.  Ambassador Nielsen personally greeted the youngest graduates of the school and did not hide his satisfaction with the wonderful conditions created in the classrooms, the new computer room, the road safety training site, as well as the newly established STEM center. In addition to the Danish Ambassador, the official opening ceremony of the school year was honored by Stefan Krastev – Deputy Mayor of Pernik, Maria Stefanova – Senior Expert in Natural Sciences and Ecology in RDE – Pernik, educational experts of Amalipe Center – Raycho Chaprazov and Yonka Danova . The management team of the school and the official guests had the opportunity to get acquainted with facts from the rich history of the educational institution, with activities organized to ensure the wonderful conditions of the material and technical base, as well as with innovative approaches in the educational process.

Positivism, energy, tolerance and teamwork, in an atmosphere of comfort and security – “Cap. Petar Parmakov” primary school, Gradets village. The principal Silvia Nenova set the beginning of the school year for the children from PG to 7th grade in 4 renovated buildings with new additions to the team and many heartfelt wishes to parents, students and colleagues! A ritual handing over of the Key of Knowledge was performed to the first-grader Stephanie, as a sign of trust. The team of Amalipe Center, in the person of Tanya Hristova, was also part of the celebration, as our message was focused on the responsibility of parents and their role in the education of their children. 
Tanya Hristova wished the audience smiles, new knowledge, creative success and social cohesion of all colleagues! 

After the long silence of the vacation, the schoolyard of the Secondary School “Vladimir Komarov” in Veliko Tarnovo resounds with cheerful children’s laughter and noise in the early September morning. Only the first-graders, who crossed its threshold for the first time, seem a little worried. The principal Mr. Yanaki Lazarov greeted the students and wished them much success and knowledge in the new school year. He thanked the teachers   

for the efforts they make to pass on their knowledge to children, to educate and educate them. A special message was delivered on behalf of the parents of the first graders. The guest of the celebration was Mrs. Nelly Nikolova – program coordinator at the Amalipe Center. “I am happy to be here and have the opportunity to congratulate students, parents and teachers on behalf of the entire Amalipe Center team. I am glad to see so many parents, because education is a cause and we must all work together for quality education to ensure a better future for our children, “said in her greeting Ms. Nikolova. The celebration continued with a festive program performed by students from the school, after which the young first-graders were the first to walk through the doors of the primer, heading to their classroom, where gifts and new challenges awaited them. Nelly Nikolova wished them success with the primer and math, many dreams, smiles and fun games. 

The Ivan Vazov Elementary School in the town of Dalgopol also welcomed his first-graders at. Guests of the celebration were Zhanna Vasileva – educational expert at the Amalipe Center, Deputy Mayor for Education Mariana Nikolaeva, chairwoman of the municipal council in Dalgopol municipality Zlati Zlatev. Parents also attended the celebration. The school principal – Mrs. Tsveta Kostova made her wishes: 

“Successful school year for all students! Let it be filled with a lot of new knowledge, friendships and smiles! Go with a lot of faith and patience on the path to success! Be proud and happy for your parents and teachers! Dear first graders, take bold steps in the adventurous world of science! I wish all colleagues a lot of optimism, inspiration, dedication and love for their students!”

At the foot of the Madara Horseman, despite the dynamically changing situation, 

Panayot Volov Primary School in the village of Madara had its own holiday. Joy, excitement and hope were felt in the building, built by the locals. The community center – the school, today gathered children, parents and teachers to discover all together and yet solemnly, the new school year. Special guests of the event were the mayor of the village of Madara – Nedelcho Nedelchev and the regional educational expert of Amalipe Center – Silvia Stancheva. Among flowers, balloons, poems and songs, Father Nedelcho performed a festive water dedication – for healthy, peaceful and successful deeds every day of the new school year. Silvia Stancheva greeted everyone present and wished satisfaction with what has been achieved, as well as unity and support, which will make it easier to overcome the difficulties of the challenging new times! 

With a completely renovated interior by the whole team, Primary School St. St. Cyril and Methodius, in the village of Ovcha Mogila opened its doors to impatient students from first to seventh grade. The principal of the school – Mrs. Desislava Alexandrova greeted all those present, and the most exciting moment was for the first graders who will cross the school threshold for the first time. The opening was attended by the mayor of the village of Ovcha Mogila, Mrs. Nelly Velikova, Lyubomira Petrova, Secretary of Svishtov Municipality and the regional educational expert for the region of Amalipe Center – Galina Decheva. 

The students were greeted by a representative of the parents, and the little first-graders recited verses even before they crossed the threshold of the school and opened the primer to learn to read and write!

In order for the year to be successful and fruitful, the students went through the big arch – six, so that the grades would be excellent and the knowledge would be easy to accumulate! And inside, a surprise of colors and decorations awaited them to remind them that school can be as cozy as their second home! 

The school year was opened on September 15 at the Vocational High School of Chemical and Food Technologies in Pazardzhik. Mr. Djambov, the school’s principal, opened the school year by welcoming the children and parents. Among the guests at the opening of the school year were: Irina Georgieva, Chair of the Public Council, Valeri Angelov – Expert in the Roma community at the Amalipe Center in Veliko Tarnovo; as well as representatives of partner companies that support the educational process in the school by providing them with practical training in their factories, namely Nikol Petkova, a representative of MONDI STAMBOLIYSKI EAD and Eng. Georgi Shterev from BIOVET AD. “The main purpose of training our students is to put emphasis on practice, and proven companies in the industry such as DS SMITH BULGARIA, BIOVET and MONDI STAMBOLIYSKI ensure that students will receive quality training and support for their implementation,” said the school principal, Mr. Djambov. 

After the official ceremony, Mr. Angelov talked to the parents of the children who will be in the parents ‘club at the school, explaining to them: what it is like to be part of the parents’ club, what is its function, what problems does it face, etc. The topic of early marriages, which have become more frequent in the community, was also touched upon. Valeri set an example with himself, telling his parents how he finished his education, how he was motivated to integrate into society. Attendees shared that these meetings are useful and would not stop their children from school because they understand that education is the path to integration.

Amalipe Center thanks the guests and the schools for the hospitality!

We wish all schools in the network of Amalipe Center health, success and face-to-face training! We are next to you!

The schools are part of the Amalipe Center network under the Every student can be a winner program, financed by the Trust For Social Achievement 

The Trust for Social Achievement (TSA) is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to break the vicious circle of poverty by promoting opportunities that help the most disadvantaged citizens of Bulgaria to achieve educational and economic success. TSA supports programs that, with their integrity, growth potential and transparency, help to improve the well-being of the poorest people in Bulgaria, with a special focus on the Roma.