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Ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors, heads of Regional departmens of education, and mayors greeted students, teachers and parents during the celebrations for the beginning of the new academic year in the schools, participating in "Every student will be a winner" Project, and wished for a quality education for every child.

Recognition of activities, implemented by the organization and the schools for keeping Roma children in classrooms is not a novelty: the Ministry of education and science and the Diplomatic Corps have been visiting us for 15 of September and in other occasions. However, in the context of the current efforts of interinstitutional teams, the high political presence on 15th of September 2017 also brought new messages: administrative measures are not sufficient to ensure full coverage, it is necessary to support schools in rural areas and schools, training vulnerable groups, to motivate teachers, to encourage partnerships with active civil society organizations and parent communities. There was also another important political message: the school should become interesting and should touch the hearts of all children: that is the surest prevention against dropping out.

At the invitation of Center Amalipe Minister of Education Krassimir Valchev opened the new school year in Nikola Vaptsarov Primary School in the village of Selanovtsi. "Today we believe that the future of our country and our society, depends on education, depends on teachers, on their everyday efforts, depends on parents", he said.

Minister Valchev wished the students to preserve their belief that education is what will help them in achieving their dreams. He also stressed on the importance of teachers' dedication, defining their work as "vital to society".  In his welcoming speech, the Minister emphasized on good cooperation with parents who must build the children's confidence and belief in the power and necessity of education. All schools are important and all children have the right to high quality education, pointed out Minister Valchev, adding that municipalities are main partner of the Ministry of Education and Science and schools. The Minister also emphasized the good partnership with Amalipe Center throughout the country.

During the celebrations Minister Valchev became involved with the excitement of 168 students, of whom 23 first - graders, and their parents. Among the guests were also Mrs. Petya Avramova - MP in 44 National Assembly, Ms Malina Nikolova - District Governor of Vratsa Region, Ms Galina Evdenova - Head of the Regional Department of Education - Vratsa, Mr. Rosen Dobrev - Mayor of Oryahovo Municipality, Mrs Rositsa Koynova - mayor of the village of Selanovtsi, Mr. Deyan Kolev - Chair of Amalipe Center, Mrs. Hristina Tsoneva- Secretary of Oryahovo Municipality, Mr. Stelian Stefanov - Municipal Councilor, representatives of the media and partner organizations. The exciting celebration ended with the first lesson of first - graders and a very useful conversation held by the school staff and parents with Minister Valchev, the Head of the RDE and the mayors of the municipality and the village. The discussion was attended also by Mr. Deyan Kolev and Mrs. Nadia Kantareva - Baruch - Director of the National Publishing House "Az-Buki".

Later Minister Valchev visited the Hristo Botev United School in the village of Banitsa, which has been part of the Amalipe Center network since 2010.

U.S. Ambassador Eric Rubin wished luck to children, educators, and parents at St. St. Cyril and Methodius School in the village of Razhdavitsa. The school and Bulgarian NGO Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance invited Ambassador Rubin to welcome students at the start of the new academic year. Kyustendil Mayor Petar Paunov and Regional Governor Victor Yanev also attended the ceremony.

Festively decorated and curiously calm Hristo Botev Primary School, in Nevestino village, expected its usual inhabitants. As early as 9.00 am, the most eagerly anticipating students began to arrive. The guests of the celebration began to arrive: Ms. Zornitsa Rusinova – Deputy Minister of the MLSP, Mr. Tom Hinses - Head of the Political Department of the British Embassy in Bulgaria, Petya Dimitrova - Pedagogical Coordinator at the Center Amalipe, Mayor of Nevestino Municipality - eng. Dimitar Stamenkov. Pupils along with theirs teachers presented a concise program that welcomed the first grade students. All the guests were brought back to that unforgettable feeling for their first school day and the excitement of passing through the school threshold for the first time.

The first scool day in Vassil Levski Primary School in Vidrare Village gathered again all of its students from the three villages in the region as a central school. As the tradition of Amalipe Center requires, Amalipe arranged the arrival of Mr. Søren Jacobsen, Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria, representing The Danish embassy in Sofia, and his team. Other official guest of the ceremony were Mrs. Albena Petrova - Secretary of the Municipality of Pravets, Mrs. Janeta Georgieva - Chairman of the Board of the NMS Foundation, Mayors of the Vidrare villages, Ravnishte and Manasselska reka, Ms. Maya Pencheva - former director of the school and guest on behalf of CIDT Amalipe. The Principal of the school related to all who attended the ceremony with welcome words and wishes for a successful school year for all! Deeply exciting were the words of Mr. Soren Jacobsen, who greeted students and parents. The greeting address of the Mayor of the Municipality Mr. Guninski was presented by Mrs. Albena Petrova. Mrs. Maya Pencheva with an unshaken excitement celebrates the feast of everyone. A parent turned to the children with kind words to give them confidence and courage. In the greeting program there were favorite school songs and poems. The school, changed, renovated and cozy, welcomed its great family. That is how, when we are united and united, we have a common goal and we are walking confidently along a common pathway - the path of knowledge.