About Me

To start with, I have always been concerned with the problems of the global society. When I was a primary school pupil, I had extra-curricular classes of a subject called Problems and Solutions. Each time the teacher acquainted us with a problem in the locality or in the world and then we discussed together the ways to solve it.

I continued being a young active person in my high school years. I was chosen a member of the Student Council (a higly selective school body of self-government). They nominated me to represent the school in the city’s Children’s Parliament. I participated in a number of activities then – reafforestations, promoting child rights, organizing concerts and exhibitions, etc. In summer 2003 I was elected an organizational co-ordinator and could express my coevals’ opinions when meeting the mayor and other public figures. I also raised funds in order to publish a book of Bulgarian folklore. It consisted of tales into English translated by me and paintings by other young parliamentarists. The book was distributed to foreign countries’ representatives in Bulgaria and won a prize in the Storytelling Festival that took place in Tampa, Florida in April 2004. Moreover, I was happy to have a microproject on child rights financed by CRS-Bulgaria through Alternative 55 NGO. A booklet of comic strips was printed and delivered to pupils from all local schools so many children learned what the laws allow them to do.

In summer 2004 I became a member of Youth Municipal Council (a higher body of participation in community life). I was involved in projects focusing on human trafficking, caring for disadvantaged people, etc. In September 2004 I was elected a vice young mayor and could influence public policy on juveniles. At the same time I joined the regional Young Journalist Club. Soon the local Starozagorski Novini (Stara Zagora News) Newspaper employed me as a reporer: it made it easier to introduce problems of local and global importance to the community. It was then when I elaborated an informational webpage which soon became very popular with young people.

A month later I launched a campaign to give young people the opportunity to demonstrate their talents. However, I had to search for sponsors and, fortunately, some business people already agreed to support the initiative. Their organization, local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hired me to translate the Еconomic Annual Yearbook 2005 into English.

In February 2005 I started giving free IT lessons at the local Disadvantaged People Institution. The trainng and the social contact itself make my visits there a pleasurable time for both sides.

The next month I announced a Bulgarian Patriotism Contest. Young people (5-20) could participate with their works (art, prose, poetry) in all genre. The interest was greater than I expected and entries from all over the world were received. I negotiated with local businesses and NGOs to provide awards for the winners, and there were over 50 gifts. A book of the best works was published at the end – June 2005.

In July 2005 I solicited temporary work for young high-school students. Employers’ unions and commercial councils agreed to give a job to each of the enthusiasts.
From 12 to 22 July 2005 I was a trainee in a Youth Institute initiated by the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development, Johns Hopkins University, University of Bologna, Central European Initiative. Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro) hosted leaders of youth organizations from all around the globe. I was the representative of my country,Bulgaria. I was instructed on how to avoid racism, conflicts, intolerance, youth inactivity, etc.

In September 2005 I started coordinating the Initsiativa Regional Youth Council, which aims at raising public awareness of youth issues and encouraging action amongst the society. The organization is a union of young peole from the region and brings them together with institutions, authorities, businesses, media, organizations, etc.

• My Interests
  Child & Youth Rights