Education Bulgaria Project #48524

Empower Students through Leadership Training

by Bulgarian English Speech and Debate Tournaments Foundation

Empower Students through Leadership Training

Project Report | Oct 19, 2026
Welcoming our new Student Leaders!

By Vanya Zlateva | Executive Director

Dear friends,

The previous school year ended on a high note with an inspiring wrap-up weekend for our Student Leader Program. Soon after, our BEST coaches nominated the new Student Leaders for the 2026/2027 school year!

Our program gives Bulgarian high school students involved in BEST the opportunity to grow into confident team leaders, become mentors to younger students, and make a positive difference in their local communities.

From 2 to 4 October, we brought together our new Student Leaders at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) in Blagoevgrad for the 2026/2027 Student Leader Training. We were excited to welcome 50 students from 28 schools across 22 towns, out of 52 nominated students. This year, we received so many nominations that we decided to welcome everyone! All the students have been wonderful supporters of BEST, helping their coaches prepare their teams for the tournaments.

The weekend was all about getting ready for the year ahead! We explored what it means to be a Student Leader, discussed the activities and milestones planned for the school year, and shared ideas on how to lead teams, support fellow students, and make the most of the experience. We also talked about the Community Projects, opportunities for personal and professional development, and the requirements for completing the program and receiving a certificate. Just as importantly, the training gave everyone a chance to meet the BEST Management Team, connect with other Student Leaders, and start building friendships that will continue to grow throughout the year.

One of the highlights was discovering “Gen Z Voices,” an inspiring community project organized by Team Veliko Tarnovo last year. The initiative brought high school students together to explore media literacy through expert talks, discussions, and interactive activities. It encouraged young people to think critically about the information they encounter and better understand how they can participate in democratic life beyond the classroom. Behind the event was plenty of teamwork, from careful preparation and volunteer coordination to outreach campaigns connecting with youth groups and debate clubs.

Our Student Leaders also had the opportunity to hear inspiring personal stories and exchange ideas with representatives of leading companies, who shared insights from her professional experience, involvement in various initiatives, and different career paths. Dr. Simeon Simeonov, Chair of the Department of History and Civilizations at AUBG, then encouraged them to explore leadership through historical examples.

And, of course, there was time for fun! Karaoke, pizza, and plenty of conversations helped everyone relax, get to know one another, and form friendships that we hope will last well beyond the training weekend.

Inspired by these experiences and equipped with new ideas and skills, our Student Leaders are now ready to put their learning into action by developing community projects and supporting BEST teams throughout the country. We look forward to seeing them turn their ideas into meaningful initiatives that make a difference in their communities and help fellow students grow through speech and debate!

Dear friends, our community continues to grow, and we want to make sure even more young people across Bulgaria have the chance to discover their potential, build confidence, and become leaders in their communities.

To keep our programs running and expand our Student Leader community, we need your continued support. Please consider sharing our GlobalGiving fundraising page with your friends and making a monthly donation to help us reach even more young leaders.

Every contribution, big or small, helps create opportunities for students to learn, grow, and make a difference. Your generosity has a direct impact on the young people in our Leadership Program, and we are truly grateful to have you as part of our BEST family.

Thank you for believing in our mission and being among our BEST angels!

Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, joyful, and peaceful holiday season!

With gratitude,

Vanya Zlateva

Executive Director

BEST Foundation

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Jun 23, 2026
From Ideas to Action: Celebrating Student Leadersh

By Vanya Zlateva | Executive Director

Dear friends,

After months of preparation and work on their community projects, the time has come for the student leaders to present them and introduce them to the foundation, our judges, and the BEST community.

The 2025–2026 Student Leader (SL) program year came to a successful close with the Student Leader Wrap-Up Seminar, held on May 9–10, 2026, at Hotel Sveta Sofia in Sofia. The seminar brought together 48 Student Leaders, from 22 towns and 29 schools from across the country to present the results of their year-long community projects before a distinguished panel of judges. The panel included Reny Mitkova, author of the Djobnite podcast; Valentina Richanek, Owner of Nature Soul & Face Consulting; Samuil Mladenov, Associate Data Scientist at PwC and long-standing member of BEST Foundation; Bilyana Bagryanova, Speech Program Coordinator at BEST Foundation; Rosen Razpopov, Debate Program Coordinator at BEST Foundation; and, joining online, Svetoslav Dragiev, Executive Director of the Lead by Example Foundation by SiteGround.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation Project of the Year Award, which was awarded to the Student Leader team at the Second English Language High School in Sofia. Under the slogan “Creative Voices Build Real Impact,”the team engaged fellow students and teachers in creating an original short film and handmade artwork. Through a series of fundraising initiatives, including a film screening and an art bazaar, they successfully raised funds in support of the Pediatric Oncology Department at Tsaritsa Yoanna Hospital in Sofia.

This year’s Student Leader projects demonstrated exceptional creativity, leadership, and commitment to community impact. Among the initiatives were:

a TED-style youth forum in Blagoevgrad designed to empower young people to contribute ideas for improving their town (Foreign Language High School, Blagoevgrad);
a campaign supporting a local animal shelter through volunteer work and fundraising efforts (119th School, Sofia);
an event designed to improve political and media literacy among high school students through expert talks and interactive discussions, providing practical civic education called “Gen Z Voices” (Team Veliko Tarnovo);
charity concerts raising funds for educational materials for the speech therapy room at the Community Center for Children and Families in Dobrich (Language High School, Dobrich);
a free public first-aid training seminar organized in partnership with the Bulgarian Red Cross Youth to promote safety awareness and life-saving emergency response skills (Foreign Language High School, Shumen).

The Student Leader of the Year Awards were given to the Student Leader from the American College Arcus in Veliko Tarnovo and the Student Leaders From the Foreign Language High School in Shumen. The seminar also marked the launch of the first-ever Pitching Idea Challenge, inspired by the popular “Shark Tank” format. Each Student Leader team was given three minutes to pitch an innovative project idea to a jury consisting of Vanya Zlateva, Executive Director of BEST Foundation, Reny Mitkova, and Samuil Mladenov. The award was given to the Student Leaders from the Foreign Language High School in Shumen

Beyond celebrating the achievements of the past year, the seminar provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on their growth, share lessons learned, and recognize the dedication, initiative, and positive impact demonstrated by Student Leaders across Bulgaria. The event served as a fitting conclusion to another successful year of empowering young people to lead meaningful change in their communities.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being part of another inspiring year of the Student Leader Program. Thanks to your support, students across Bulgaria were able to transform ideas into meaningful projects, address real needs in their communities, and develop the confidence and skills to become future leaders.

The impact of these achievements extends far beyond a single school year. Every project completed, every challenge overcome, and every young person empowered is a testament to what can be accomplished when students are given the opportunity to lead.

We would be grateful if you could share our GlobalGiving link with your network and consider continuing your support through a small monthly donation. Your generosity helps ensure that even more young people can access life-changing opportunities for leadership, service, and personal growth.

With sincere gratitude,

Vanya Zlateva

Executive Director

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Feb 26, 2026
Student Leaders in Action: Mid-Year Achievements

By Vanya Zlateva | Executive Director

Dear friends,

Student Leaders in Action: Mid-Year Achievements and Community Impact

The 2025–2026 academic year began with a highly successful Student Leaders Opening Weekend in Blagoevgrad in October 2025.

From the very start of the school year, Student Leaders have played a key role in supporting their BEST teams within their schools. As dedicated BEST ambassadors, they recruit new participants for tournaments, assist their English Coaches, and actively contribute to weekly BEST club meetings by helping peers select, prepare, and perform their pieces.

So far this academic year, we have successfully held three Regional Tournaments as planned—two in November (Fall West and Fall East) and one in February (Spring West). The fourth tournament, Spring East, is scheduled for March. For each event, Student Leaders designed and displayed promotional posters in their school corridors, generating excitement and increasing engagement throughout the tournaments.

Student Leaders continue to be the driving force behind team spirit, fostering a strong sense of community and inspiring enthusiasm and motivation. During the opening ceremonies of each tournament, SLs from the host school or nearest city are invited to deliver short performances. This year, their creative and engaging speeches were warmly received by all participants.

Throughout the year, Student Leaders have participated in regular online meetings with their SL Coordinators, Vyara B. and Stoil M. They submitted their project proposals in mid-December and have since provided updates on their selected topics and project progress. To ensure consistent support, the coordinators host weekly office hours every Friday, offering guidance and feedback. In January, we also conducted Mid-Year Conference Calls with each team to review their development and next steps.

Among the most inspiring community projects so far are:

Independent School of Thought, Varna
SLs are planning to organize a fundraising campaign to support a local animal shelter and promote pet adoption. In addition to raising funds for food and medical care, the initiative raises awareness about responsible pet ownership and encourages adoption over purchasing animals.

American College Arcus, Veliko Tarnovo
The team is preparing a youth-led civic education event introducing high school students to their fundamental legal rights. By engaging legal professionals and supporting a local volunteer cause, the project promotes informed citizenship, critical thinking, and long-term civic engagement among young people in Bulgaria.

FLHS “Peter Bogdan”, Montana
Students are advocating for improved mental health support and emotional well-being at school by promoting access to a school psychologist. Their initiative aims to create a safe and supportive environment where students can seek professional help and strengthen their emotional well-being.

2nd English Language School, Sofia

The project Street Culture Sofia – Youth Art & Performance Festival
celebrates youth creativity through organized public art and performance events in Sofia. By providing a structured platform for artistic expression, the initiative promotes positive use of public spaces and encourages constructive community involvement.

FLHS “Zahari Stoyanov”, Sliven
A one-month environmental competition in local primary schools and kindergartens encourages children to collect plastic caps and cans for donation to hospital-support campaigns. The initiative combines environmental education with social responsibility, rewarding participation with a small prize and a shared cultural experience for all classes involved.

FLHS “Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov,” Shumen
In partnership with the Bulgarian Red Cross Youth, students are organizing school-based donation drives alongside a free public first-aid training seminar. The project strengthens emergency preparedness, builds practical life-saving skills, and supports vulnerable groups within the community.

Looking ahead, we anticipate the completion of all Community Projects and the final wrap-up seminar and award ceremony in May to celebrate the participants’ achievements.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your incredible support. The success of our Student Leader Program would not be possible without your generosity and encouragement.

We would be truly grateful if you could share our GlobalGiving link with your network and consider continuing your support through a small but regular monthly donation. Your contribution makes a meaningful difference in the lives of every student in the program.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Vanya Zlateva

Executive Director

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