The awarding ceremony of the winners of the student competition of Center Amalipe showed the power of talent and ideas of the young

At the ceremony held on the 11th of April, organized by Center Amalipe, were announced the winners of the annual student competition, which this year was on the theme “My opinion matters for United Europe”. The event, which took place at the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, thrilled both the young people present and the viewers on Facebook, where it was broadcast live.

This year’s theme of the contest – “My opinion matters for a united Europe” inspired hundreds of participants from all over the country to share their opinions and creative ideas. The diversity of the entries was impressive and the civic stance expressed by the young people was remarkable. The work was powerful, thought-provoking and moving, and the student voices shared deserve to be heard at national level.

Before the announcement of the winners of the competition they were welcomed by the President of Amalipe Center, Mr. Deyan Kolev: “The aim of the competition was to show that the opinion of young people of all ethnicities should be heard at the highest level, including in the European Union…I know that when we say “my opinion matters” it initially sounds like something unrealistic and I used to think so when I was a student…I myself am from a relatively small town. And I used to think that a student’s opinion couldn’t change many things. But yes, when we are united; then when we are together we can do it.”

This year’s student competition is part of the project “EMPOWEREU: Promoting the participation of young people and vulnerable groups in the European Parliament elections”, funded by the European Parliament. At the ceremony, Ms. Tanya Chuntova, Public Relations, European Parliament Office in Bulgaria, congratulated the young people on behalf of the partners. She said that they were really happy to be part of such a project and that they were glad that the young people had worked on such important issues. Ms Chuntova urged them to keep active because it is all up to them

Boyan Avramov, PR of the hosts from the National Library, stressed the importance of the event for the community and the support for young talents. He introduced them to the many opportunities the Library presents for young people; the interesting exhibitions that are on display and the chance to be issued with free library cards.

You can watch a recording of the event here:

During the ceremony were also exhibited art materials of students from Dolna Banya, as well as 12 collages with drawings and documentary photographs in response to hate speech, made by young people from the art workshop “Visual Arts: Street Art”, part of the Youth Center Circle-Art Movement Circle Foundation, known by the shorter name Art Movement Circle from Kardzhali.

On the 12th of April, as part of the prize for the older student winners, the initiative “Tolerance Ambassador for 1 Day” took place. The winners of the competition visited President Rumen Radev, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Education and Science; the Embassies of the USA, France, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, India, Germany and the UK; the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria and UNICEF Bulgaria.

In addition, training sessions were organised for all the winners present on 12th and 13th of April on “fake news”, hate speech, how to react and report offensive content and other topics of interest to them.

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

In the Essay category, the entries were divided into 3 age groups.We received so many entries of such high quality that it was difficult for the judges to decide on one place each. There were also three incentive prizes awarded here. In the Essay category, we did not receive enough entries in the first age group. The winners are among the two older groups.

Second Age Group:

First place – Kremena Ruseva Prodanova and Stanimira Georgieva Tsvetkova, Hristo Botev Municipal School, Rosen village, Sozopol municipality.

Second place – Nazla Nikolaeva Nikolaeva – United School “Hristo Botev”, Tsonevo

Third place – Head of the “Rakovski” School, village Golyamo Novo

Bonus prize – Leilya Sevdova Simeonova – “Tsanko Tserkovski” Primary School, Sredishte

Third Age Group:

First place – Mariana Evgenieva Andonova – Professional High School of Light Industry, Ecology and Chemical Technologies, Yambol

Second place – Ranko Rumenov Rankov – School “Georgi Stoykov Rakovski”, Kotel

Third place – Svetoslav Georgiev Tsonkov – High School of Economics and Tourism, “Aleko Konstantinov”, Velingrad

Honourable Prize – Mila Ilieva Ivanova, “St.yril and St. Methodius”, Plovdiv.

Honourable Prize – Pavlina Dimitrova Dimitrova – High School of Textiles and Clothing, “Dobri Zhelyazkov”, Sliven

Honourable Prize – Velichka Markova Stefanova – Professional High School of Chemical and Food TechnologiesPazardzhik

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

First age group:

First place – Plamena Chavdarova and Mitka Mitkova – Primary School “Hristo Botev”, Glozhene

Second place – Ivon Danilova, Inna Vitanova, Primary School “Hristo Botev”, Glozhene

Recognition prize – Daniel Velkov, Varna

Second age group:

First place – Fevziya Fevzi Bilyal, School “Tsanko B. Tserkovski”, Nikola Kozlevo

Second place – Tsvetelina Ivanova Mircheva, Primary School “Paisii Hilendarski”, Sotirya

Third place – Erkan Yildiz Mehmedov, Primary School “G.S.Rakovski”, Golyamo novo

Third age group:

First place – Assen Simeonov Georgiev, PGLProfessional High School of Light Industry, Ecology and Chemical Technologies, Yambol

Second place – Tsvetan Borisov Tinkov, Professional High School of Chemical and Food Technologies, Pazardzhik

Third place – Zlatka Ali, Professional High School of Chemical and Food Technologies, Pazardzhik

In the “Video” category the winners are:

Second age group:

First place – Ivan Plamenov Ivanov, PPMG “Nikola Obreshkov”, Kazanlak

 

Second place – Kyamil Sami Emin and Lyutkan Sedefov, Hristo Botev Primary School, Muglizh

Third place – group of students from 8th grade, School “Otets Paisii”, village of. Medkovets

Third age group:

First place: Student Council of “Tsanko Tserkovski” School Nikola Kozlevo

Second place – Assen Asenov PPMG “Nikola Obreshkov”, Kazanlak

Third place – Galina Vassileva, Gloria Georgieva, Ivaylo Ivanov and Plamen Greshkov, Professional High School of Agriculture and Food Technology, Shumen

Congratulations to all participants! Their creations deserve recognition, and to be presented to . The event ended with wishes for success and inspiration for the future initiatives of the youth and thanks to all who contributed to its success.

Photos from the event can be viewed here:

The initiative is part of the project “EMPOWEREU: Promoting the participation of young people and vulnerable groups in the European Parliament elections”, funded by the European Parliament. The authors take full responsibility for the content and the European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information.