Education Bulgaria Project #48524

Empower Students through Leadership Training

by Bulgarian English Speech and Debate Tournaments Foundation

Empower Students through Leadership Training

Project Report | 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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Oct 28, 2025
New Generation of Enthusiastic Student Leaders!

By Vanya Zlateva | Executive Director

The Student Leaders during the SL Training

Dear friends,

The previous school year ended on a high note with an inspiring wrap-up weekend for our Student Leader Program, followed by our BEST coaches nominating the new Student Leaders for the 2025/2026 school year.
Our program empowers Bulgarian high school students who participate in BEST to become team leaders, mentors to younger peers, and active changemakers in their local communities.

On October 2nd, 2025, we hosted our first-ever in-person fundraising event — Impact Jam 2025! We welcomed representatives from some of Sofia’s leading companies to introduce them to the mission and impact of the BEST Foundation. About 60 guests attended, enjoying performances in duo, poetry, and prose by our talented students.

Our alumni and former Student Leaders spoke with heartfelt emotion about what BEST means to them and how their participation in the Foundation’s programs shaped their personal and professional journeys. Guests also had the chance to learn more about some of our most successful community projects.

The evening was filled with fun and energy thanks to icebreakers, raffles, and prizes, and many guests chose to support our cause either with on-site donations or future commitments.

From October 3rd to 5th, 45 out of 49 nominated Student Leaders from 29 schools across 21 towns gathered for an immersive weekend of training at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) in Blagoevgrad. Those unable to join in person participated virtually with the help of our dedicated SL Co-Coordinators.

Throughout the weekend, students explored their new responsibilities, reviewed the yearly program schedule, and discussed key upcoming events — including the Fall and Spring Tournament mini-projects, the Mid-Year Conference Call, and the Wrap-Up Seminar in May. They also learned the criteria for graduating from the program and earning their certificates. Most importantly, they built strong connections with the BEST Management Team and with one another.

Our Student Leaders had the opportunity to learn from several exceptional speakers:

Vyara Bagryanova and Stoil Mirchev, our new SL Co-Coordinators, kicked off the weekend by walking participants through the program’s structure, goals, and the key leadership roles SLs play throughout the year.
Samuil Mladenov, Data Science Intern at PwC Bulgaria and long-time BEST advocate, led a thought-provoking session titled “Telling Stories with Data: A Tool for Leadership and Community Impact.”
Nedislav Veselinov, founder of the Sofia Planetarium, shared his incredible journey in “How to Start a Business from Scratch,” telling how the Planetarium was created entirely from a zero budget.

Additionally, Maria and Martina, Student Leaders from High School for Foreign Languages "Y. Radichkov", Vidin, presented their inspiring community project, a charity concert which was organized in support of the children's ward at the hospital in Vidin.

A central focus of the weekend was Community Projects. Through a series of interactive sessions, students worked in teams to develop their own project proposals. Each group was paired with a mentor who guided them through brainstorming, refining ideas, and evaluating feasibility. The atmosphere buzzed with creativity, questions, and collaboration — a perfect reflection of the spirit of BEST!

Despite a busy schedule, our Student Leaders found time to relax, connect, and form friendships that will continue to grow throughout the tournaments and beyond.

As the weekend concluded, they returned home energized, inspired, and ready to make a difference in their schools and communities. We can’t wait to see the results of their first projects in the months ahead!

Dear friends,

To keep our program running and expand the Student Leader community, we need your continued support.

Please consider sharing our GlobalGiving link with your friends and making a monthly donation to help us empower even more young leaders across Bulgaria.

Your generosity directly impacts every student in our Leadership Program — and we’re endlessly grateful to count you among our BEST angels.

Thank you again for your unwavering support, and we wish you a warm and joyful holiday season!

Impact Jam 2025

Sl Training 2025

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