Iliana Yotova: The most effective vaccine against the virus of hatred and alienation is education and culture

The most effective vaccine tested over the centuries against the most terrible virus of hatred and alienation are education and culture.

“There is but one tyrant of mankind, and that is ignorance.” Victor Hugo wrote this truth in Les Miserables. Education and culture are the invincible weapons against this tyrant. That the volleys of these weapons are heard more loudly, and not of the weapons that take lives, is my hope for the sake of young people. This is our responsibility.”

With these words, Vice President Iliana Yotova welcomed in Varna the participants in the XXVII Festival of Francophone School Theatrewhich was held under her patronage.

Students from PEG “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” – Veliko Tarnovo, from 35 SEU “Dobri Voynikov” – Sofia, from 4 EG “Fr. Joliot-Curie” – Varna, from 9 FEG “Alphonse de Lamartine” – Sofia, from EG “Acad. Lyudmil Stoyanov” – Blagoevgrad, from PGRE “G. S. Rakovski” – Burgas, from the “Romen Rollan” PGCE – Stara Zagora, and from the “Simeon Radev” PGCE – Pernik. The festival was organized by “Alliance Française” – Varna, the Association of French Language Teachers in Bulgaria, the French Institute in Bulgaria, in partnership with the State Opera – Varna, 4 EG “Frédéric Joliot-Curie” – Varna, and with the support of the Municipality of Varna and the Ministry of Education and Science.

Vice President Yotova defined the festival as a celebration of the talent, the beauty, the richness of the French languagea celebration of meaning.

“With your creative spirit, diligence and love, you have turned our sea capital Varna into a capital of spirit and meaning – the true meaning, which is often tried to be drowned out by the daily routine. You have returned us to the primal human values ​​that have been passed down through the centuries – freedom, justice, equality, love, kindness, understanding of the other. Values ​​since the age of Voltaire”, Iliana Yotova addressed the participants and congratulated the organizers for the motto of the festival “The Other”. She quotes Jacques Préver, according to whom speech is not only a way to tell a story with words, but also to make the other person feel with you.

“To want to understand and know the other, to accept him as he is – this is also one of the values ​​of the Francophone community. In Francophonie, we are not only united by a common language and culture. It’s a universe where people feel free, united in their difference.”the vice president said in his welcome.

She recalled that Bulgaria has been a full member of the International Organization of Francophonie for 31 years.

“The francophone tradition in Bulgaria is much longer, since the years of the Renaissance”Yotova pointed out.

She thanked the French teachers for the professionalism and love with which they maintain this tradition.

“You are building thinking and literate young people, competitive with their peers around the world”the vice president emphasized.

Iliana Yotova presented her special award – theatrical mask, for the worthy performance of the students of 9 FEG “Alphonse de Lamartine” in Sofia.

A bus caught fire in traffic in Varna. Are there any casualties?