Education Bulgaria Project #55595

Help 90,000 Bulgarian students thrive

by Teach For Bulgaria/Zaedno v chas

Project Report | Aug 19, 2026
How this school opened its doors for Teach For Bulgaria

By Denitza Manova | Senior Development and Fundraising Specialist

Dear supporters,

While the Model Schools team is busy with the summer trainings for the new cohort of schools, we thought we’d share with you the story of a school that has already completed the program and has seen the results in their students.

Meet the Hristo Botev Secondary School in the town of Kozloduy. Over 500 students from all grade levels attend the school, where they are taught by 54 teachers. Similar to many small town schools across Bulgaria, prior to joining the program, Hristo Botev Secondary School faced challenges in finding teaching methods that keep the students engaged with the learning process and serve their needs in the 21st century.

The two-year program, full of learning opportunities and work with their dedicated mentor, gave the school team the resources that they needed to transform the ways they work. From stepping into their students’ shoes via role-playing, to support in opening their classrooms and sharing knowledge, to reminders of the progress they have made, the program allowed the school to make the change sustainable.

“The children are calmer, they are more confident, they have the opportunity to ask questions and to make mistakes. They have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes,” shares Ms Rusanova, the deputy principal, about the change she observed in the students after introducing project-based learning as a result of the program. This change is a reflection of the change in attitude the teachers showed in the classrooms.

A key takeaway for the team is that the program helped them reevaluate their own position within the education system and the role that the students have in the classroom - to build confidence, agency, and have the freedom to develop their creativity and knowledge.

We believe that such change is possible in classrooms across Bulgaria, which is why we continue growing the network of Model Schools every year. This is made possible by your continuous support. Thank you for believing in our shared mission!

Gratefully,
The Teach For Bulgaria team

Links:

Permalink

Apr 20, 2026
11,000 students will learn better with the new cohort of Model Schools

By Denitza Manova | Senior Development and Fundraising Specialist

Dear supporters,

We are pleased to inform you that 32 schools from 15 regions of Bulgaria will be joining Teach For Bulgaria’s Model Schools program this summer!

With them, the community of Model Schools exceeds 180 schools across the country, and the children who spend their time at school more meaningfully are already over 73,000. All of them will spend their daily lives in classrooms where their participation is encouraged, mistakes are part of learning, and expectations for them are high.

For the first time, the program reaches three schools in the Smolyan district, and in Blagoevgrad, it significantly expands its presence. Thus, Model Schools now has a reach in all 28 districts in Bulgaria and continues to reach new communities.

Within the free two-year program, 296 teachers and principals will upgrade their teaching skills by not working alone behind closed doors, but by planning together, visiting their classes, and improving their lessons based on real-world feedback. When school teams act as a cohesive professional community, the effect is felt directly by students – in clearer lessons, more meaningful assignments, and higher engagement.

The first major event for new participants is the summer training, where school teams will meet their personal mentors, all of whom are experienced principals, teachers, and educational experts. They will support them throughout their participation in the program and help them adapt the new knowledge to the specific needs of the school.

The Model Schools program shows that sustainable change in education starts with the team in the school, but the most important result is always with the children, in the form of more motivated students who develop knowledge and skills for life and believe that they can achieve more.

Thank you for your continued support in making this program possible!

Gratefully,
The Teach For Bulgaria Team

Links:

Permalink

Dec 22, 2025
We Asked 3 Model Schools Principals How They Motivate Their Students

By Denitza Manova | Senior Development and Fundraising Specialist

Dear supporters,

As we close 2025, we like to look back on what we have achieved this year and spotlight members of the Teach For Bulgaria community who embody our mission to ensure equal access to quality education for each child in Bulgaria.

We interviewed several principals whose teams completed the Model Schools program and asked them questions about

In this report, we will highlight the question "How do you motivate students to learn and believe in their own abilities?". The quotes have been edited for brevity.

Lyudmila is the principal of the Textiles and Fashion Design Vocational High School in Varna. The school was part of Cohort 2022-2024 of the Model Schools program. On relating learning to real life, she shares:

Our students have good academic results, but their strength lies in creativity and creative activities, so we offer them clubs based on interests, a stage for performance, and real-life tasks. We create conditions for them to practice their chosen profession through partnerships with business representatives and through Erasmus+ mobilities, where they see how their work turns into a skill. They feel supported because they know that even after they graduate, they can return and seek advice from a teacher for a specific situation at their workplace.

Ivanka is the principal at St. St. Cyril and Methodius Primary School in Haskovo. The school was part of Cohort 2023-2025 of the Model Schools program. On teaching with creative freedom, she shares:

I teach them to think through role-playing games, debates, and case studies that require teamwork. I break tasks down into small steps so they can feel the success, not be afraid of the challenge. I give them freedom to choose how to work, and this makes them empathetic. But the most important thing is support – a kind word, a smile, recognition for the effort.

Roumyana is the principal of 68th Secondary School in Sofia. The school is part of Cohort 2024-2026 of the Model Schools program. On developing confidence in her students, she shares:

I motivate students by giving them space to discover their strengths and express them through projects, research, and practical tasks. It is important for me that they understand that learning is not a mechanical memorization, but a process of thinking, searching, and argumentation. I teach history and civilizations, and I see a huge opportunity in history because it teaches children to think critically, make connections, ask questions, and defend their own position.

These are just a few examples of ways that the Model Schools program supports whole school teams in facing the everyday challenges in school while maintaining focus on the students, their development, and creating an environment where they feel supported and empowered to learn.

This would not be possible without your support - thank you for helping us reach over 170 schools over the past 5 years. Your contributions are bringing real change in those schools!

The Teach For Bulgaria team wishes you happy holidays and a prosperous 2026!

Gratefully,
The Teach For Bulgaria Team

Links:

Permalink

1 2 3 4 5 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.