On April 24, 2024 in the city of Sofia, a charity initiative “Help youth from Ukraine” was launched, related to raising funds to help Ukrainian children and youth in Bulgaria to continue their education, training and qualification in our country. The subject of the campaign is also to support the education of Ukrainian children from large families and those with special educational needs that require specific conditions and care. The campaign lasts for one month – until May 24.
The initiative was organized by the eleventh-grader from the American College in Sofia – Nikola Bobokov, the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in the city of Ruse and the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Bulgaria “Mati Ukraine”. The collected donations will be clearly distributed to those in need in all Ukrainian educational centers in Bulgaria. The launch of the campaign was hosted by the Sofia City Art Gallery, courtesy of the artist Gredi Assa in the cozy atmosphere of his jubilee themed exhibition “Travels”.
The patron of the campaign is the Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria – Her Excellency Mrs. Olesya Ilashchuk.
As a high school student and future student, Nikola Bobokov is not indifferent, he notes and analyzes the unequal situation of Ukrainian youth who wish to receive an education in Bulgarian schools and universities, but are financially challenged, pressed by the cruel reality of the war. Nicola strongly believes that “only a well-educated person can be truly free.”
There are thousands of young people and children remaining in Bulgaria after February 2022, and their education depends entirely on the financial and social stability of their families. According to a survey at the end of 2023, there are 1,050 Ukrainians who want to be students in the country. Some of them are representatives of Bulgarian communities and receive benefits as Bulgarian citizens. The rest pay a high tuition fee, as non-EU citizens. This is especially troubling to any young person who wants to develop and learn, but is pressed by the circumstances which the crises of war create.
“I am happy that during the months in which I was preparing this campaign, the institutions did not remain indifferent to the cause, and just today, on the day of its launch, some of the problems that I treat in it found their legislative solution. Last week on the first read, and yesterday on the second, changes were adopted in the Law on Higher Education, which provide for a relaxed education regime for foreign citizens with the status of temporary protection in our country. We hope that soon everything will be finally voted on in the Parliament. I consider this a victory of sorts. Of course, it is significant, but not enough, since the issue of supporting the education of many Ukrainian children from large families and those with special educational needs, which we all together must notice and take care of properly, still remains open. at the start of the Nikola Bobokov campaign.
The campaign “Help the youth of Ukraine” is in the context of the world’s political upheavals, which hurt the most vulnerable, the young, the socially weak, life plans and destinies are changed in the most unscrupulous way.
To support the cause, use the following bank accounts:
Holder: Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Bulgaria “Mati Ukraine”
BGN: IBAN: BG79UNCR70001522046600
BIC: UNCRBGSF
EURO: IBAN: BG28UNCR70001524785246
BIC: UNCRBGSF
USA: IBAN: BG68UNCR70001524785496
BIC: UNCRBGSF
Basis for payment: DONATION FOR UKRAINIAN EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Tags: Honorary Consulate Ukraine Ruse organizes initiative young people Ukraine
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