The regional meetings of the professional director community – exchange of good practices and initiatives for education

The series of regional directors’ meetings started with a meeting of the Northeast region. From October 17 to 18, 2023, in the Regina Maria Spa Hotel, Balchik, representatives of the professional director community for intercultural education at Amalipe, working under the “Every student will be an excellent student” program, shared, thought and planned together in a beautiful seaside setting. The meeting was facilitated by the regional coordinators Zhanna Vasileva and Silvia Stancheva. In a special online connection, Deyan Kolev – chairman of the “Amalipe” Center joined, who explained important things about the completion of the “Support for Success” project and the launch of the “Success for You” project, as well as other current issues related to current educational policies – the challenges facing education at the beginning of the new academic year. Silvia Stancheva presented the youth training and conference for active high school students held at the beginning of October, held at the base of the BCH in the village of Lozen and the House of Europe in Sofia, implemented under the “Intercultural Academy for Civic Participation and Tolerance” Project, in which participation of more than 80 children from all over the country.

Denitsa Ivanova – “Youth activities” expert presented the new initiative that arose during the youth camp – the holding of elections in each school of the network for a student ombudsman, which will be held under the patronage of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria. Subsequently, meetings with Prof. Dr. Diana Kovacheva will also be possible.

In a subsequent session, the students selected for support under the “I want to study” Fund were announced for the first time. Zhanna Ali presented the concept of the fund, and together with Silvia Stancheva called on the directors to participate in the fundraising campaign to support promising young people who want to study and cannot do so due to financial and other obstacles. You can read more about the campaign HERE

The principals shared ideas for organizing actions in their schools, placing

boxes in which teachers, students and parents could donate, but as a first step towards realizing the donation action, they donated in an improvised box right away. The amount collected amounted to BGN 340.

In a subsequent session, the directors had the opportunity to work in groups and share good practices on the elements of the program.

On the second day of the online meeting Teodora Krumova – deputy. Chairman and Program Director of the “Amalipe” Center, presented how the network will develop during the new academic year and the new five-year period. He introduced the meeting participants to the new design of the program, as well as the upcoming activities.

Silvia Stancheva – ambassador of inclusive education from the Joint Project of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Inclusive schools: making a difference for Roma children” INSCHOOL, presented to the directors a presentation on the main activities of the international program. As well as being the Ambassador of the program, he called for more acceptance of Roma students.

At the end of the meeting, the principals shared their admiration, excitement, gratitude for the useful sessions, as well as planning for the upcoming activities in the schools entrusted to them, so that they can make it a place desired by the students, where a quality learning process takes place.

On 02 – 03.11.2023, a regional meeting was held in Krasnovski mineral baths with principals of schools from the South-East and South-West regions, working under the “Every student will be excellent-3” Program. The meeting was opened by Deyan Kolev, who presented what happened in the Network “Every student will be excellent” until now. The project “Success for you” was explained and how the funds for the educational mediators will be financed in the future. The main results of the students and schools included in the program were shown, and a comparison was made with the general results for the country.

In the second session, Teodora Krumova showed the main results of the students and schools included in the program, and a comparison was made with the general results for the country. The development of the network in the future was also explained.

Finally, Silvia Stancheva presented the joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Inclusive schools: to make a difference for Roma children”, as well as the initiative to support students after finishing school, through the “I want to study” fund.

The second day of the meeting started with group work and discussions. The good practices of network schools and the problems they face were discussed. The results achieved during the past academic year were presented and summarized. We talked about what sustains us as a community, how we can motivate each other, how we can “steal” from the experiences of others and share the small but significant successes we achieve. The participants considered the digital resources that the Amalipe Center prepares and provides free of charge to schools on the network – video lessons, audio stories, the online game “The Wealth of the Roma” as very useful.

The last director’s meeting brought together representatives of the North-West and North-Central regions on November 13 and 14 at the “Meridian Bolyarski” hotel, Veliko Tarnovo. The meeting was

facilitated by Neli Nikolova and Denitsa Ivanova and, as in the previous director’s events, the opening began with the chairman of the organization, Mr. Deyan Kolev, who, in addition to presenting the successes and results of the last school year, also answered many topical questions. The rest of the first day was dedicated to Silvia Stancheva’s presentation regarding the new INSCHOOL project and how its resources can benefit everyone. And at the end of the day, Teodora Krumova presented to the directors from the North-Central and North-West regions how the Network will develop and the Program will continue in its next 5-year period.

During the second day of the meeting, we introduced the participants to the “I want to study” fund and the idea of holding elections for the “Student Ombudsman”. More time was devoted to a candid discussion in which the directors shared, in addition to the positives of their participation in the Amalipe Center Program, their suggestions for how it could be more beneficial to them. The participants talked a lot to each other and about the problems they encountered in terms of delegated budgets, the scope mechanism, the difficult work with some parents, the complex material, etc. School leaders revealed many common challenges, with some presenting solutions that have worked for them.

The meetings took place in a very positive and relaxed atmosphere of friendship, trust and desire for common success. The directors parted ways with already planned joint events and many new ideas. Thank you to everyone who gave up their time and participated in the director’s meetings.