Magdalena Lindova is a Roma woman who knows her community inside out and works tirelessly for its development, setting a personal example. She was born in the village of Rogozen, Vratsa region, where she holds the position of deputy mayor in the municipal administration. Her professional career has taken her through various positions in local government. She has been a municipal councilor and a junior expert on ethnic and demographic issues
Read more “Magdalena Lingova – “A good example inspires trust and opens doors””

Ferdane Hyuseinova is the director of the Vresovo kindergarten in the village of the same name in Ruse. She was born in the village of Cheresh and has been walking 6 kilometers to work every day for several decades. “I always wanted to be a teacher, it has always been in me and I never imagined that I could do anything else,” she says.
Read more “Ferdane Hyuseinova – a life devoted to children”

Stella Kostova is the chairperson of RAKO – the Roma Academy for Culture and Education in Sliven, established in 2008. Prior to that, she headed a Roma youth organization, but decided to create a new structure focused on culture, education, and human rights. Stella is a psychologist by profession and works at a school in Sliven, combining her academic work with active civic engagement. Read more “Stella Kostova – Lending a Hand to Your Community”

Teodora Kolakova has been a social worker in Stara Zagora since 2011, dedicated to caring for children and families in need. Her professional portfolio includes various positions, from child protection and work at a European-funded Early Childhood Development Center to her current position at the Center for Public Support for Children and Families, managed by the municipality of Stara Zagora. “The position requires you to understand everything and be able to handle everything,” says Teodora, “but the biggest motivation is the contact with people and the opportunity to be useful.” Read more “Teodora Kolakova – “Trust, patience, and support – the key to change””

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.”
Read more “Petya Sokolova – A calling to help every child”

Desislava Boshnakova has been the director of the Elena Gruncharova kindergarten in Gorna Oryahovitsa since 2007. She was born in Veliko Tarnovo, but has been living and working in Gorna Oryahovitsa for years, where she began her professional career as a primary and kindergarten teacher. She is herself a mother of three children. She says she always finds time for walks—her way of recharging her batteries for her dynamic everyday life.
Read more “Desislava Boshnakova – The mission to give every child a chance”

In this interview, we will meet Arso Ganev, deputy mayor of the Iztok neighborhood in Kyustendil, a place with a rich history and a strong community. Arso is also an educational mediator in two schools, as well as a housing mediator—a position related to the process of legalizing illegal buildings. Arso is also an educational mediator in two schools, as well as a housing mediator—a position related to the process of legalizing illegal buildings, which is being implemented for the first time in Bulgaria in this very neighborhood.
Read more “Arso Ganev: “I want the Roma community not just to integrate, but to develop.””

Stories of the people behind the change in the education of children from the Roma community. Read more “The Voices of REYN Bulgaria Network”