Education Bulgaria Project #57242

Help 200 students stay in school

by Teach For Bulgaria/Zaedno v chas

Project Report | Nov 25, 2025
The Journalists from Fakulteta: START Academy

By Denitza Manova | Senior Development and Fundraising Specialist

Dear supporters,

This year marks the ninth consecutive edition of the STRAT Academy in Sofia’s Fakulteta neighbourhood, initiated by Teach For Bulgaria alumni Milena, cohort 2011 and Elitsa, cohort 2013.

This summer, 52 children from 1st to 4th grade embarked on three weeks of exciting and focused learning. The main goals of the academy are to help them catch up on any learning gaps from the school year and develop crucial skills like teamwork, responsibility, and emotional intelligence.

The START Academy’s central theme this year was "Journalists." By linking academic lessons in Maths, Bulgarian and English language to the world of media, the teachers turned learning into a hands-on adventure. The children transformed into mini-journalists, learning how to ask insightful questions, research information, and speak confidently in front of an audience. Each team worked together to create their own media broadcast, which they proudly presented during the final week, showcasing their incredible progress. The students also welcomed guest speaker Zlatina Georgieva from Forbes magazine, who shared her real-world experience with them!

A key part of the approach is the daily Reflection Hour. This is a dedicated, safe space for the kids to share their thoughts, recognize their emotions, and develop self-awareness and empathy skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom.

This year, the teachers were supported by 12 amazing high school student volunteers, nine of whom were former START Academy participants. Seeing them return to mentor and inspire the younger students is the best evidence of the academy's long-term impact. One of them - Kostadin - even became the Deputy Principal of the Academy this year and helped lead the entire planning process.

Opportunities like the START Academy allow underserved students to apply themselves and find meaning in the classroom. This has been made possible with your support. Thank you!

Gratefully,
The Teach For Bulgaria team

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Jul 29, 2025
7 START Academies Are Taking Place This Summer

By Denitza Manova | Development and Fundraising Specialist

Dear supporters,

This summer, children aged 7-14 from seven towns across the country have the opportunity to learn, have fun, and develop in completely free Summer START Academies. The academies are held in Sofia, Burgas, Shumen, Razgrad, the village of Brestnitsa, and the village of Razhena with the support of the Teach For Bulgaria Foundation, local partners, teachers, and dozens of volunteers.

They combine learning Bulgarian language and Mathematics with social, emotional, and practical skills such as teamwork, communication, creativity, physical activity, and nature orientation. For the children, this is not just school during the summer, but a place where they feel valued, heard, and inspired.

Each START Academy has an overarching theme that students explore throughout the three weeks as a way to connect what they are learning to the real world.

Journalism is the lens through which students in Sofia’s Fakulteta neighborhood, Shumen, and Razgrad will learn this July. The children will be guided by their teachers as well as journalists from several publications who joined the academies as volunteers. Meanwhile, in Brestnitsa, students are exploring careers in the world of hospitality.

Over 200 children will take part in the START Academies this summer.

The Summer START Academies are a model for sustainable education with a focus on students. Every year, they prove that when children receive support, attention, and the opportunity to learn with meaning and joy, results follow—not only in school, but also in life.

The Summer START Academies would not be possible without the support of people like you. Thank you for making them happen!

Gratefully,

The Teach For Bulgaria Team

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Apr 1, 2025
Summer START Academy: Lessons in Healthy Living in Burgas

By Denitza Manova | Development and Fundraising Specialist

Dear supporters,

Most of us are probably looking forward to the summer sunshine that awaits us in a few months. Typically, summer break for students means playing outside, visiting family and, hopefully, following the summer reading lists that teachers assigned at the end of the school year.

For some students, however, the summer break gives an opportunity to make up for knowledge and material they have missed during the school year. This is true for the students of the Vasil Levski Consolidated School in Gorno Ezerovo in Burgas. Allow me to take you back to July 2024, when the second edition of the Summer START Academy took place.

For three weeks, classrooms were filled with children, aged 7 to 13, working to strengthen their reading and math skills while also exploring the overarching theme of the Academy - healthy living. The Summer START Academy, led by Teach For Bulgaria alumna Vasiliya and a team of dedicated teachers, combined academic support with engaging activities designed to foster curiosity, confidence, and well-being.

Each day, students played math games that turned calculations into fun challenges, while Bulgarian language lessons encouraged them to express themselves through reading and storytelling. Beyond academics, they learned about the importance of a balanced lifestyle through interactive discussions and guest visits. The students met with two fitness experts, one of whom is the organiser of the 5k run in Burgas. Together, they explored the benefits of strength training and healthy eating. Following these visits, students were inspired to see movement as a source of joy.

The Deputy Mayor of Burgas was another special guest during the Summer START Academy, who left the students with three key lessons: go to school regularly, stay active, and eat in moderation.

The three-week academy culminated in the Knowledge and Health Fair, where students proudly showcased the projects they had been working on in front of parents, teachers, and special guests. The final day was a celebration of their efforts, marked by an outdoor excursion to Mineralni Bani Park and the awarding of certificates, recognizing their dedication and progress.

“What brings me back each year is that the children remember the experiences they had. They remember the warmth of their teachers and the activities. They even remember the teachers’ names,” shares Vasiliya, for her motivation to organise the Summer START Academy again.

Thanks to your support, these students had the chance to not only bridge learning gaps but also build memories and skills that will stay with them far beyond the summer months. Thank you for making this journey possible!

Gratefully,
The Teach For Bulgaria team

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