Support Teach For Bulgaria Teachers

Dear supporters,

With another school year now behind us, we are looking back on the impact of Teach For Bulgaria's teachers. Today I’d like to tell you the stories of two students.

The first student has just graduated from the 4th grade. On his last day of school, he receives a certificate of achievement and is among the most curious and hardworking students in the class, scoring an almost “Excellent” grade in his external exams. He likes doing extra homework and bringing his creations from the classroom home to show them to his father. He loves the praise and support he receives from his parents. He loves asking his teacher questions and feels supported by her and the trust they've built over the years.

The second student is in the 2nd grade. At the start of the new school year, he has a new teacher for the third time. He expects her to leave the class like the previous teachers have. The boy doesn’t recognize the alphabet and cannot count to ten. He refuses to participate in class, is aggressive, and hits himself on the head when he makes a mistake. In the breaks, he hides from all but one of his classmates, and in pictures, he hides behind them.

What if I told you that these two boys are actually one and the same?

The road to change started when he met his new teacher - Stasi. Confused and unsure of his behavior, Stasi tried different approaches with little success until she discovered that the reason for his behavior is the messages he heard at home - “you’ll embarrass me,” “you can’t do it,” “I’ll be ashamed again.” Firm in her belief that the parents want the best for their child and just don’t know how best to approach the situation, Stasi begins regular communication with them. She gives them advice and examples of statements and demonstrates faith in the child’s capabilities. In the classroom, she shows the boy that she sees his successes and slowly but surely earns his trust. Over the next three years, they work hard and persist together, and, as a result, the student now feels proud of his achievements and supported by his teacher and family.

We believe that every child in Bulgaria deserves someone who believes in them, and with your continued support, we have been working tirelessly for this mission.

Thank you for your support!

With gratitude,
The Teach For Bulgaria team