site.btaBulgarian Schools Abroad and Ambassadors Honoured at Sofia University Ceremony

Bulgarian schools abroad, ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of institutions supporting the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad (ABSA) were honoured during a ceremony on Wednesday held during the association's annual conference at Sofia University's St. Kliment Ohridski Rectorate.

Awards were presented to Education and Science Committee Deputy Chair Krasimir Valchev, Education of Bulgarians Abroad and School Network Directorate Director Dr. Nataliya Mihalevska, ambassadors, diplomats, former education minister Prof. Sergey Ignatov, and other supporters of Bulgarian education abroad.

ABSA also honoured Bulgarian schools abroad celebrating milestone anniversaries this year, including St. Sofia Bulgarian Sunday School in Chicago on its 50th anniversary and four schools in Cyprus, Germany, the United States and Spain marking 10 and 15 years of operation.

The conference opened with addresses by ABSA Management Board Chair Zornitsa Gogan and Association spokesperson Simona Zaharieva. Greetings from President Iliana Iotova and National Assembly Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad Deputy Chair Ivet Goranova were read during the opening ceremony.

A round table with representatives of the Education and Science Ministry, the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, the Foreign Ministry and parliamentary committees is scheduled later on Wednesday.

Held under the patronage of Education and Science Minister Prof. Georgi Valchev, the conference is co-organized by the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad and hosted by Sofia University's Department of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language.

Representatives of Bulgarian schools from around the world, state institutions, universities, cultural and educational organizations, and ABSA partners are taking part.

The conference focuses on the challenges and prospects facing Bulgarian schools abroad, preserving the Bulgarian language, culture and national identity, and strengthening partnerships between institutions and Bulgarian communities worldwide.