site.btaPresident Iotova Presents Awards in Essay Competition to Students from Bulgarian Communities Abroad

President Iliana Iotova presented awards to the winners of an essay competition for students from Bulgarian communities abroad, organized by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). The ceremony took place at Sofia’s Central Military Club on Thursday.

The initiative, organized by BNR, is held under the auspices of President Iliana Iotova and is carried out with the support of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) of Bulgaria.

Among the official guests at the event, hosted by BNR Director General Milen Mitev, were Milena Dimitrova, Secretary to the President of Bulgaria for Culture, Education and Relations with Bulgarians Abroad; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hristo Dikanski; Dimitar Zdravkov, Chair of the National Assembly’s Committee on Education and Science; Elisaveta Belobradova, Deputy Chair of the National Assembly’s Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad; Yoana Dragneva, Deputy Executive Director of the EABA; writer and translator Zdravka Evtimova; and poet and literary critic Prof. Amelia Licheva.

The event began with a performance of the song “Ne Barzai, Slancho” by the Slavеy Ensemble from Sofia.

“Today, technology is erasing borders. And Bulgaria is closer than ever. It can be a long weekend or a holiday with friends. It can be an Erasmus semester or a good educational opportunity. It can be an internship or a promising job. It will always be open to you because it is your home, and it always will be,” BNR Director General Milen Mitev said in his address to the awarded students.

He noted that this year the competition had expanded its scope and was opened to all Bulgarian communities around the world. The range of topics was also broadened. Participants had the opportunity to write about what Bulgaria can contribute to Europe and about what can unite Bulgarians around the world.

According to him, the submitted works demonstrated an excellent command of the Bulgarian language.

“But even more impressive is that these works showed a sincere love for Bulgaria - a love based on respect, knowledge of Bulgarian culture, and a sense of belonging,” Milen Mitev said.

In his remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Hristo Dikanski noted that the initiative is much more than a literary competition. “It is an opportunity for young Bulgarians to share their connection with Bulgaria, but also to develop and share their ideas about their future and their role in it,” he said.

Dikanski said that while reading the winning essays, he felt an overwhelming sense of pride.

“Thank you for giving me these feelings. In what you have written, we see not only a strong connection with Bulgaria, but also young people who care about Bulgaria’s development and want to be part of its future. And for me, this is the most important message of this competition,” the Deputy Minister said.

“Wherever in the world there is a Bulgarian heart that does not want to sever its connection with the homeland, it must be supported,” said Education Minister Georgi Valchev.

He said that maintaining a lasting connection with the homeland is a long-term commitment for the Ministry of Education and Science. Georgi Valchev expressed his gratitude for all the efforts made by institutions in Bulgaria, as well as for the support provided by Bulgarian artists and cultural figures.

“This is our mission, and we must see it through to the end. Bulgaria is not confined to its borders. Bulgaria has long been part of the wider world, and we must support every Bulgarian heart, wherever it may be,” the Minister added.

In her address, President Iliana Iotova urged the award-winning students to be proud of being Bulgarian, of their heritage, and of being descendants of the Bulgarian nation.

“Thank you for the great honor of allowing me, for the second time, to be the patron of this remarkable competition — the essay competition for students from Bulgarian communities around the world. Because of a little girl from Taraclia, an exceptionally brave young girl, I would like to begin my address to you today by briefly sharing her story. Last year, at the first edition of the competition, she won first place. I sincerely recommend that you read her essay,” the President said.

According to Iliana Iotova, children from Bulgarian communities abroad should be encouraged to continue their education and become the natural future students of Bulgarian-language departments at universities. In her view, this connection has not yet been sufficiently developed, although it is important for preserving Bulgarian studies at major European universities.

“They should have the opportunity to attend schools where they can study the Bulgarian language, Bulgarian history, and Bulgarian literature. They should also have the opportunity, as they love to do most of all, to return home and speak with their parents and loved ones in our beautiful language and write using our beautiful alphabet,” the Head of State said.

Following her address, President Iotova presented awards to the winning students in the competition. The awards in the 18/19-year-olds group were received in person by Anne-Michelle Heron (France), Viktoria Bogdeva (Ukraine), Kiril Bochev (Ukraine), Svetla Parmakova (Ukraine), and Yunona Bulyashka (United Kingdom). In the 26-year-olds group, the awards were presented to Daniil Gergi (Taraclia, Moldova), Diyana Gecheva (USA), Iva Petrova (Belgium), and Roman Tsvyatkov (Taraclia, Moldova).

The other award-winning participants in the competition who were unable to attend Thursday’s ceremony were Bozhidara Ilieva (Greece), Vasiliki Koliou (Greece), and Michelle Sabcheva (USA).

The prize for the winning school students is a one-week visit to Bulgaria in the summer of 2027, while the university students will receive a paid internship at the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

During the ceremony, in addition to the Slavey Ensemble, the Kolorit Ensemble from the village of Kamenka, Ukraine, also performed on stage.