In the heart of the small village of Bozveliysko, in the municipality of Provadia, lives and works one of those teachers who don’t just teach classes—they change lives. Her name is Yulia Boyeva, a native of the village of Charkovna, and she is the director of a kindergarten in Bozveliysko. She is a primary school teacher by training, but much of her professional career has been spent in early childhood education. For more than three decades now, she has worked with dedication to ensure that children receive a quality education and love, regardless of their background or social environment.
“Every child needs to be seen, accepted, and loved. That is the first step toward their development,” says Yulia with a smile that conveys both strength and tenderness. Yulia Boeva is a principal, but she shares that due to the inability to hire substitute teachers, she has not stepped away from teaching. She is married with two children and a husband who is also a teacher. Yulia shares that she initially had no ambition to hold a leadership position, but the only open position she could apply for after completing her education was that of principal, a role she still holds today.
Yulia says that her daily life revolves around the Romani community. “I know everyone. For 20 years, there hasn’t been a single child in the village who hasn’t been reached, because both I and my team are held in very high regard. We often help with things beyond education. The important thing is to show respect and understanding. People can sense when you’re sincere, and then they open up and cooperate.” She had dreamed of becoming a language teacher, but by a twist of fate, she was accepted into the Early Childhood Education program. “I don’t regret it. Sometimes life redirects us to where we’re meant to be,” the educator says.
Working in a small town has its difficulties—limited resources, a shortage of specialists, and frequent social problems within families—but Yulia doesn’t give up: “Every day is a challenge, but also an opportunity to do something small that has a big impact. Sometimes it’s just a smile; sometimes, it’s a conversation with a parent who doesn’t believe that education can change their child’s future.”
When asked what inspires her, Yulia Boeva says it is children, especially girls. She wants to help them receive a quality education and fulfill their potential. For her, the greatest reward is seeing that she is somehow changing their lives for the better, and she adds that the results are evident when young people stand on their own two feet, live meaningful lives, and gain self-confidence.
As for the difficult moments, Yulia believes that everything passes. “When you finish your work, the burden becomes lighter.” Work has never intimidated her, and in challenging situations, satisfaction comes after the effort.
Yulia builds trust with the community through active communication and a positive attitude. She and her team don’t wait for parents to come to them; instead, they visit families in the Roma neighborhood themselves—a practice they call “the rounds.” Yulia is always available to parents and answers their calls even on weekends, because she and her team are looking after what is most precious to them: their children. “For us, there is no Saturday or Sunday; care is constant,” she emphasizes.
Yulia learned about the REYN Network through professional contacts and has been following it since its inception. “REYN is a space for sharing and learning, and through its training sessions and resources, we gain new ideas and approaches that we apply in our work. The most valuable thing is meeting people from different institutions with a shared goal of supporting children and families. Such meetings show that our efforts are not in isolation; we exchange best practices and draw inspiration.” She applies what she has learned through initiatives like the “Toy Library” and the “Book Library,” where they collect toys and books from older children and donate them to younger ones. Yulia points out that the REYN Network implements initiatives that even the participants themselves would not have proposed, such as eliminating kindergarten fees to secure state funding.
Yulia offers young teachers practical advice drawn from her many years of teaching experience. “First, be good people; then, be good teachers. Don’t view children as statistics or a duty, but as individuals. Every child has potential, and our role is to help them discover it. And one more thing—don’t belittle your work. The first seven years lay the foundation of a person. Strive for high standards and leadership in early education. Always involve the family. When parents see that we believe in their child, they begin to believe too. That changes everything.”
This interview is part of the “Voices of REYN” series, which features stories from members of the Network.