Students from schools from the Network “Every student will be a winner” participated in an informational meeting to increase civic activity, organized by Center “Amalipe” and VTU “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”

A few days before the student holiday – December 8, Veliko Tarnovo University “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” opened its doors to over 60 students from the 11th and 12th grades from schools in the Veliko Tarnovo region from the “Every student will be a winner” Network, who took part in the youth information meeting organized by the “Amalipe” Center and VTU with teachers, which took place on December 5, 2023.

The meeting was attended by:

• Associate Professor Dr. Velin Petrov;
• assistant professor Dr. Iliyan Baichev – Lecturer;
• Assistant Professor Alexander Uzunov, PhD – Lecturer;
• Associate Professor Tsanko Stefanov, Ph.D. – Lecturer;
• Teodora Krumova – Program Director of the Amalipe Center;
• Young people from the 11th and 12th grades from Vladimir Komarov Secondary School, Veliko Tarnovo, Fashion Design Professional High School, Veliko Tarnovo, Angel Karaliychev Secondary School, Strazhitsa and St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, town of Zlataritsa.

The moderator of the meeting, Prof. Dr. Eng. Tsanko Stefanov, introduced the officials, and there was no shortage of smiles and trepidation among the participants, who were touching the academic environment for the first time.

Teodora Krumova assured the students that each one of them showed potential not only to finish school, but to enter university, and through their civic position and exercising the right to vote, to be part of the democratic society that we are.

As. Dr. Iliyan Baichev

introduced the students to the history of the European Union and its creation and the European institutions, including the European Parliament. “The European Parliament stands on the shoulders of the citizens, on their active position”, concluded assistant Dr. Baichev, after he had previously explained civil rights and how important it is to participate actively in the processes of society and in the various types of elections.

The meeting ended with a short discussion, followed by a tour of the Rector’s building and “absorbing” the environment that many of the students will touch, this time in their capacity as students.

 Each of the young people had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with some of the materials prepared by the European Parliament before the meeting.

The informational meeting with young people and professors from universities is the first of a series of meetings that the “Amalipe” Center organizes in connection with the upcoming elections for the European Parliament. The meeting is part of the activities of the “EmpowerEU: Fostering Participation of youth and vulnerable groups in the EU elections” project.