Create Bright Futures - University Scholarships

Lyubo’s Journey to Medical School

When Lyubo was accepted to the Medical University in Sofia, people in his hometown of Knezha stopped him on the street to congratulate him. For a young Roma man from a working-class family, this moment was more than personal success—it was hope shared by an entire community.

Lyubo’s dream of becoming a doctor never changed, but the path was uncertain. Preparing for medical school demands intensive preparation that remains out of reach for many capable students from small towns—especially those growing up in under-resourced Roma communities.

Through the support of one of our programs, Lyubo joined preparatory courses in biology and chemistry—part of a long-standing effort that has already helped dozens of Roma students enter Medicine, Dental medicine, and Pharmacy across Bulgaria. With mentorship, encouragement, and academic preparation, his confidence grew. After two years of hard work, he was accepted to every university he applied to.

Today, Lyubo is one of many future healthcare professionals continuing their journey with the support of people and organizations that believe in him. When young people know there is a place like TSA that believes in them, they feel seen, trusted, and brave enough to try—and when they try, they succeed.

Your support ensures that Lyubo’s story is not the exception, but part of a growing future filled with doctors, pharmacists, and dentists ready to give back to their communities.

Thank you for making these journeys possible.

As the 2025–2026 academic year begins, we’re proud to share a powerful update: five determined Roma women and girls have just started their first semester as nursing and midwifery students!

Meet Fabiana from Kyustendil, Fize from Burgas, and Ina, Asya, and Stefani from Montana. These young women joined our Home-Visitors Scholarship Program earlier this year. With support from you—our donors—they spent six months preparing intensively for university entrance exams. Today, they are one step closer to their dreams of becoming healthcare professionals.

Why This Matters

Bulgaria faces a critical shortage of nurses. According to the Bulgarian Association of Healthcare Professionals, our country needs 30,000 more nurses to meet minimum care standards. Yet, the current workforce is aging, and recruitment remains a major challenge.

At the same time, Roma women represent an incredible source of untapped potential. Many of the women we work with are the first in their families to attend university. Some are young school-leavers, while others are mothers or women in their 40s and 50s—motivated to serve their communities as trained nurses and midwives.

This is not just an education project. It’s a response to a healthcare crisis, and a model for social justice.

Our Impact So Far

Since launching the program in 2020, together with your support:

• ‍ Over 50 women from more than 20 towns and villages have received scholarships, prep courses, and mentorship.

• 19 graduates are already working in Bulgarian hospitals.

• Participants benefit from a full support system:

  • Annual scholarship

  • Mentorship from university professors and medical professionals

  • Volunteering in Roma communities

  • Peer gatherings for learning and support

Each of these women is a role model—proving to other girls and families that education can open doors.

What We Need Now

As always, summer and fall are times of high pressure for our team. We receive urgent inquiries from newly admitted Roma students hoping to begin university but unsure how to afford it. Right now, we’re working hard to raise funds for:

• Tuition and living stipends for the incoming class

• Continued mentorship and support for current students

• Preparation and outreach for the 2026 applicant cohort

Your gift goes beyond paying for school—it builds a pipeline of qualified professionals, strengthens communities, and helps close long-standing equity gaps in education and healthcare.

Thank You

We’re deeply grateful for your ongoing commitment to this work. With each donation, you're not only helping a young woman realize her dream—you’re helping entire communities become healthier, more just, and more hopeful.

Stay with us. Share the campaign. Keep believing in their potential.

Links:

• https://socialachievement.org/en/what-we-do/news-and-publications/news/a-new-academic-year-a-new-beginning-for-dreams/589/