site.btaExecutive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad Honours Winners in Children's Literature, Music, Drawing Competitions

At a formal ceremony held at the National Palace of Children in Sofia on Thursday, the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA) honoured the winners of its traditional children's literature, music, and drawing competitions.

The event was hosted by EABA expert Iva Krumova, who emphasized the importance of the competitions in promoting knowledge of Bulgaria’s cultural heritage and strengthening the national identity of young Bulgarians living abroad.

National Palace of Children Manager Tatyana Doseva welcomed the guests and highlighted the long-standing partnership between the Palace and EABA. “We have seen that interest in these competitions has not faded over the years. On the contrary, participation continues to grow, with children from more and more countries around the world joining in,” she said.

EABA Executive Director Raina Mandzhukova thanked not only the participants but also their parents and teachers for supporting and encouraging their creativity.

“Our competitions bring together the creativity of children, giving them a chance to express themselves. But the truth is they do more than that. The competitions show Bulgarian institutions just how many young Bulgarians are growing up abroad,” Mandzhukova said.

The ceremony featured musical performances by students from Bulgarian schools in Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom, among others. Awards were presented to the winners of the three competitions, with first-place recipients also earning the opportunity to attend a creative camp in the village of Brodilovo, Burgas Region.

The literary competition for children and youth from Bulgarian communities abroad was launched in 1995 by the former State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad in cooperation with Rodna Rech magazine, based on an idea by Bulgarian writer Stefan Gechev.

The drawing competition was introduced in 2001, aiming to help younger generations stay connected with their homeland and preserve Bulgaria’s cultural and historical memory.

The singing competition was launched in 2010.