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For a second consecutive year Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance "Amalipe" - Veliko Tarnovo organized a travelling seminar 'Multicultural school management and transforming school into a community center' in order to share good practices with schools and non-governmental organizations in the sphere of education integration from Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Serbia.

The aim of the seminar was to familiarize students with European and Balkan education systems to promote open and flexible learning, explore innovative practices, exchange and share best practices in the field of educational integration. The seminar was attended by more than 35 school principals, participating in the "Everyone will be a winner- 2" Program, funded by the Trust for Social Achievement.

The first visit to the Bulgarian Secondary School "Hristo Botev" in Bratislava, which was recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, was very exciting. It is a part of the millennial history of Bulgaria and a place where everyone can feel the spirit of Bulgarian traditions and culture. The school is a real center in the community in the Slovak capital and a meeting place for different cultures. The proncipal Daniela Doinova and the whole team opened their doors and hearts for us, the guests from Bulgaria.

The second day was devoted to the Czech educational system. The Bulagraian delegation was hosted by Miloš Dolejal, Principal of the Primary School UAVZ, Brno. The school teaches over 500 students in sports, general education and classes for gifted children, including children from the Bulgarian community. Cozy classrooms, creative atmosphere and tranquility, an ice hockey hall, a new sports playground and a theater hall. We had the opportunity to see a working model of the upcoming MES project, namely a locker for every child. The principal, a former competitor and current ice hockey coach, proudly shared the numerous national and world successes of his alumni - champions of the country, world champions and champions of America's National Hockey League. A highly qualified team of teachers takes care of talented and gifted children who show enviable results. May be you are wondering how we got into this "School of the Future"? It was Georgi Georgiev, who brought us there, who is also the founder and leader of the Pirin Dance Club in Brno, where people from different ethnic groups study the richness and the beauty of Bulgarian folklore. We were all very proud of the fact that his son was the leader of his class, showing the maximum result.

For the third day of our trip, a visit to Hungary was planned in the town of Seget. Our meeting was informal but full of information on the comparison between the Hungarian and Bulgarian education systems. The meeting was held in an informal conversation with NGO "ARTKE". It is a non-governmental organization in which various scholars and scientists engaged in educational and social activity in Hungary aim to contribute to scientific activities, research and publications that create a relationship between the community and the University of Seget.

The last day was dedicated to our meeting with the Serbian-Bulgarian Friendship Association. In an informal conversation with Zoran Bayech, we discussed the Serbian educational system and saw the beautiful city of Novi Sad. Center Amalipe's team and school principals were interviewed for Radio Vojvodina.

The training seminar enabled 50 school principals involved in the project "Every student will be a winner" to generate and discuss new ideas that would improve the performance of schools in keeping children at school, and also in raising their educational achievements. At the same time, the aim of the visit was also to encourage schools to structure their ideas to help them become innovative centers, a generator of change. This was also an opportunity for schools to learn about how to work in a multicultural environment and new interesting approaches to motivating and engaging children and parents at school.

The seminar is over, but we are already considering the new destinations.

Nearly 1500 children, teachers and parents from 90 schools and volunteers from across the country gathered in Veliko Tarnovo on June 8 and 9 for the fifteenth edition of the Children's Open heart Festival, demonstrating that mutual understanding and tolerance are not forgotten issues. The festival is a joint initiative of Amalipe Center, Veliko Tarnovo Municipality and Trust for a Social Achievement. Started in 2003 as a joint performance of several schools in Veliko Tarnovo region, 15 years later, the festival presents the beauty and creativity of different ethnic groups in more than 100 schools and kindergartens throughout the country.

The official opening took place with the performance of the music teacher at Hristo Botev Primary School, in the village of Kardam, Galina Zhelyazkova, who sang the Roma hymn "Dzelem Dzelem". The students of "Vasil Levski" Secondary school in Yablanitsa continued with a Roma dance, after which 11 beautiful girls from "N.Vaptsarov" Primary School in the village of Selanovtsy, who spread their spell for fortune and luck with their "Zlongonki" dance.

Their presence at the stage delighted the official guests of the festival: Prof. Lubomira Popova - District Governor of Veliko Tarnovo District, Mr. Gancho Karabadzhakov - Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo, Mrs. Penka Ignatova - Director of Education Directorate in the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo, Lalo Kamenov - Ministry of Education and Science, eng. Rozalia Licheva - Head of Regional Education Department, Mrs. Nicole Virsh - Deputy Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation and Deputy Head of Diplomatic Representation, Mr. Evgeni Todorov - US Embassy, Ms Gergana Efremova - "Teach for all - Bulgaria", Ms. Ina Ivanova - Expert at CEICSEM, Mrs. Diana Nikolaeva - Regional Representative of CAD, Prof. Mariana Mandeva - University of Veliko Tarnovo "St. St. Cyril and Methodius ", Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yosif Nunev -" St. St. Cyril and Methodius ", Mrs. Angela Dosseva - Regional Social Assistance Directorate, Mrs. Rumyana Dzhambazova - Department of Child Protection at the Social Assistance Directorate.

Greeting letters were delivered on behalf of Ms. Zornitsa Rusinova - Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Ms. Lilyana Pavlova - Minister of the Bulgarian EU Presidency, Mrs. Milena Damyanova - Chairperson of the National Commission for Education at the National Assembly, PhD. Yanka Takeva - President of the Union of Bulgarian Teachers.

The festival program continued with the attractive dance "Samodivi" of the students from the group of folklore of the ethnics - Roma folklore at Secondary school "St. Kliment Ohridski " in the town of Simeonovgrad. Lorenzo Marinov was a special guest  for all participants and guests of the 15th edition of the festival. There were a number of performances that filled the color and sound of the Marno Pole Park and immersed guests and viewers in the incredible world of music and art of different ethnicities.

Moderators of the Festival this year were the actress Natalia Tsekova and the journalist, poet and actor, Valery Lekov.

At 18 o'clock the central street in the old capital city was colored in bright shades and flags. Hundreds of children and teachers walked along the street, dressed in traditional costumes, and danced a traditional dance in front of the building of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo, where they were greeted by Mrs. Rositsa Dimitrova - Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

An hour later, the premiere for Bulgaria of the film "Kremena", directed by Martin Dinkov took place in the big hall of the K.Kisimov theater. The director presented his idea for the film and told the full hall the real life story of his heroine. 

During the second day of the Festival, the participants showed enormous musical, dance and artistic talents, and were joined by the groups created within the project "Together we find a solution: educational integration in a multicultural environment in Veliko Tarnovo district" funded by EA "OPSESG". For example, the little actors from the village of Sotiria made the viewers laughed at tears, but also provoked them by presenting the fairy tale "Plums for Garbage" seen through a different point of view.

Especially for the official closing of the "Open Heart" Festival and to award the Grand Prize of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo came the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Rositsa Dimitrova, who awarded the small performers from the elementary school in the village of Rajdavitsa.

A number of Amalipe friends,as well as schools from the network that have shown enormous results during the school year, have been awarded. And at the end of the day, all the guests had the opportunity to enjoy the AUDIO - VISUAL SPECTACLE "SOUND & LIGHTS ".

It is certain that the "Open Heart" filled with warmth the hearts of viewers and made the two days of the festival unforgettable both for the participants and for the guests. 

"The Open Heart" revealed the colorful, smiley and blissful childhood world that speaks more than anything else. A world in which adults should look like in a mirror because there are no prejudices and barriers in front of the children. "Open Heart" is a textbook of tolerance, kindness, and vision of what the world should like. Because in the child's eyes it is colorful, smiling, beautiful and with equal opportunities for all.

See the smiles and excitement of the kids in our facebook group.

Shared by participants:

Thank you on behalf of the children

Vassil Levski Primary School, Trivoditsi village

A celebration of kindness, beauty, tolerance and smile! A wonderful example that all ordinary people can live in harmony, understanding and mutual respect!

R. Tomova, Atanas Damyanov Vocationla School, Nikolaevo

The Festival is a member of the European Association of Festivals, awarded by EFFE label 2017 - 2018.

The Trust for social achievement (TSA) is a non-governmental organization which mission is to break the vicious circle of poverty by promoting opportunities that help disadvantaged Bulgarian citizens to achieve educational and economic success. The TSA supports programs that, with their integrity, growth potential and transparency, help improve the well-being of the poorest people in Bulgaria, with a special focus on the Roma.

Devora Stancheva from 9th grade, a representative of the school's parliaments, established within the "Every Student Will Be a Winner" project, delivered a speech at the European Council in Brussels on the meeting organized by the Ministry of Education and Science on the occasion of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, together with the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education. The motto of the forum was "Towards a European Education Area - Promoting Common Values and Inclusive Education".

In her speech she introduced the main elements of the "Every Student Will Be a Winner" program, which Amalipe Center has been developing for more than ten years: Traditional ethnic folklore, Parent Club, Student Parliament, and Students - mentors. Debora aslo shared about the positive trends over the years- early school leaving has been minimized, and the percentage of students continuing higher education has been increased.

The meeting in the seat of the European Council was opened by the Deputy Minister of Education Denitsa Sacheva. "Ensuring equal access to quality inclusive education for all children, including those in disadvantaged socio-economic situation, and the ones with special educational needs and disabilities is key to the cohesion of societies in Europe. EU Member States need to focus their efforts on promoting and developing common values because they contribute to social inclusion. " - said Deputy Minister Sacheva.

Speakers at the conference were European Commissioner for Education Tibor Navracić, Ministers and representatives of the Ministries of Education of Belgium, Germany, Slovenia and Portugal, Members of the European Parliament, experts from the European Commission and stakeholders in the education sector.

Everyone was very impressed by the shared good practices. 

"In May, Member States agreed to join their efforts to reduce early school leaving and increase opportunities for equal access to education and skills for all children, including those of workers moving to another country," said in her closing speech Deputy Minister Denitsa Sacheva.

Well done, Devi! Keep going! We wish you many success in the future!