Petya Sokolova is a teacher at the Nezabravka kindergarten in Byala Slatina and also works at the Future for Children Center in the local municipality. There, her main focus is on children with speech and language disorders and autism—a group that many colleagues are reluctant to work with. “We have students with autism at the center, and many of them come from other municipalities. I welcome them in my office because I believe that every child deserves attention and support.”
In addition to being a teacher, Petya is also a speech therapist. With professional and personal dedication, she shares that 90% of the children in her group are Roma, and this has shaped her professional path. Most of her qualifications are focused on bilingual children and children with special educational needs. “The children are my pride and joy; we have taught them to speak Bulgarian.” In order to understand them better, in 2013 she began learning the Roma language from an elderly woman in the village. “I understand everything the children say. I can answer them and immediately translate into Bulgarian.”
Petya is also extremely active in the community—she is involved in charity work, is a member of socially responsible organizations, and raises donations for the kindergarten and for families in need. They buy beds and wardrobes, provide clothes and help to children at risk. “The community trusts me because I live here and have known everyone for years. I have never had a conflict with a parent.”
Her personal story is deeply inspiring. Petya has obstetric paralysis in her left arm and as a child she lived in a sanatorium among children with varying degrees of disability and different fates. “I was the mildest case, mine is not so visible. There, I swore to myself that I couldn’t become a ballerina, pianist, or surgeon, but I decided that my calling was to work with children and help them, whatever their circumstances.” She made that decision in second grade, and today, on the threshold of her 50s, she says with pride, “I’m glad I made that decision.”
When asked what inspires her in her professional life, Petya replies that it is the little pupils she meets every day, as well as the support of the kindergarten director and the municipal authorities. Together, they discuss ideas and solutions to the problems faced by families. “They motivate me when things get tough.”
Petya keeps in touch with the REYN network through the kindergarten director and admits that because of caring for her sick mother and training to become a resource teacher, she has not had enough time to participate. Nevertheless, she follows their resources and initiatives and shares: “REYN inspires me, and I especially like the fact that it supports young people of Roma origin and children at risk of dropping out of the education system with internships.”
She suggests that the network should work even more actively with families, especially through social-psychological training for parents. “Aggression often comes from home, and children carry it over into their group. If we work with parents, we can change a lot.”
Her message to young teachers is clear and unequivocal:
“Don’t differentiate between children—they are the same all over the world. The most sincere and beautiful thing in this world is children.”
The interview is part of the “Voices of REYN” series, which presents stories from members of the Network.