Prepare Bulgarian Kids for the Jobs of the Future

Over the past six months, Telerik Academy School has continued to empower the next generation of digital leaders and innovators. Our commitment to providing excellent education, focusing on essential digital skills and programming, has resulted in equipping hundreds of students with the knowledge and tools to excel in the technology-driven world. Our community of learners, educators, and supporters has grown stronger, driven by our shared vision of a brighter future through quality education. This report highlights the significant milestones and achievements that your generous contributions have made possible.

Celebrating the Finale of a Very Successful School Year

In June we celebrate the end of a great academic year at Telerik Academy School. Over the past year, we have launched 100 cohorts in 40 cities and villages across Bulgaria, providing quality digital education to diverse communities. Our training programs have reached over 2,000 students, equipping them with essential digital literacy and programming skills. We owe our success to the dedication of our 72 talented teachers, who have delivered impactful and engaging training sessions throughout the year.

As most of our cohorts have come to an end, we are currently gathering feedback and data from both students and teachers to improve our programs and enhance the overall student experience.

Introducing a New Model and Digital Platform to Reach Every Student in Bulgaria

As highlighted in our previous reports, we are actively exploring innovative models to ensure our programs are accessible to all Bulgarian schools and students across the country.

During the 2023/2024 academic year, we successfully integrated two of our programs, Cybersecurity and Web Programming with HTML & CSS, into 48 schools across 17 locations. A total of 2,800 students enrolled in these programs. The valuable feedback we received from teachers has helped us identify sustainable solutions to reach even the most remote parts of the country.

In January, we joined forces with another educational organization, Technorati. By uniting our teams, we aim to offer more opportunities for quality digital education to all Bulgarian students. Through this partnership, we aim to leverage our collective expertise and resources to create a broader spectrum of learning opportunities for students, schools, and educators nationwide. Technorati is a well-established institution with a skilled team dedicated to developing and teaching cutting-edge programs in robotics, electronics, and sustainable technologies. They are credited with establishing Bulgaria's first STEM showroom as part of the collaborative innovation space Rezonator, and have successfully organized the national student competition for hydrogen-powered cars for five consecutive years.

In March, we launched Buki.bg, an educational platform designed to provide schools with fully developed and original educational programs. These programs focus on digital literacy, green technologies, programming, and essential skills for the 21st century. All programs can be integrated into schools as supplements to the general curriculum, elective courses, or extracurricular activities. The platform supports schools in implementing these programs by providing all necessary materials and valuable guidance for teachers to ensure that lessons meet the needs and interests of the students.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, we are proud to announce the 15 ready-to-use programs tailored for students from grades III to XII, covering a wide range of school profiles and specialties. These programs have been developed by experienced educators and have been successfully conducted in schools and our free cohorts. Teachers have reported that the programs are engaging and captivating for students, with well-prepared materials that require minimal adaptation and effort to teach.

The Interest from Schools Exceeded Our Expectations

In March, we launched a campaign to promote Buki.bg among Bulgarian schools. Within less than a month, over 300 schools from all 28 regions of Bulgaria and 171 different locations showed applied to introduce new subjects and additional activities for their students using the ready-made educational programs available on Buki.bg.

All public schools across the country had the opportunity to apply for a free subscription to the new educational platform. The regions of Sofia, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, and Veliko Tarnovo showed the highest demand for the programs. The largest applicant school has 1,700 students, while the smallest has just 10 students.

The applicant schools have diverse profiles, ensuring that the programs reach students of all ages, interests, and social backgrounds. The majority of applicants are primary schools, followed by secondary schools, vocational schools, and specialized high schools. Additionally, two sports schools, a special needs school, and a school for the education and support of students with hearing impairments have also applied.

Meanwhile, the municipalities of Burgas and Stara Zagora have ensured that all schools under their authority will have full access to Buki.bg and all its programs for the upcoming year.

Looking Forward: Preparing for the Next School Year

During the summer we are excitedly preparing for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. Our main focus is enhancing the user experience and design of our educational platform, Buki.bg. We want to make sure it is intuitive and accessible for all teachers who will be using our programs.

We are gearing up to open 30 cohorts in the upcoming school year. This fall, around 700 students again will have the chance to apply and start their digital learning journey with us. Our expectations are to reach more than 10,000 students with Buki.bg.

Furthermore, we are fully committed to expanding access to quality education and inspire students to find new passions in the digital world. We are actively seeking partnerships and engaging in fundraising efforts to ensure that more schools and students across the country can benefit from our programs. None of this would be possible without the incredible support of you - our donors. Your contributions drive our mission forward, empowering us to make a tangible difference in the lives of many students. Thank you and join us as we continue to pave the way for a brighter, digitally literate future for all.

Dear donors and supporters,

As we reflect on the achievements of the past year, we are thrilled to share the strides made at Telerik Academy School in 2024. Guided by our unwavering commitment to transformative education, we are proud to continue our expansion and enhance our impact with your generous support.

Expanding Access, Empowering Minds

Thanks to your contributions, including the steadfast support of our donors, partners, municipalities, and educators, we are poised to extend the reach of our programs across Bulgaria. Our vision of seamlessly integrating digital education into the national curriculum is steadily becoming a reality.

Currently serving 100 cohorts nationwide, we are actively exploring innovative models to ensure that our programs are accessible to all Bulgarian schools. Our ongoing efforts are geared towards making it easier for schools to integrate our programs into their curricula, thus fostering a generation of digitally literate students poised for success in the modern world.

In recent months, our focus has been on:

• Collecting valuable feedback from our early adopters regarding the new platform, program effectiveness, integration methods, and the specific needs of educators.
• Advancing the development of an informative website slated for release in March 2024, aimed at enhancing accessibility and transparency.
• Initiating the development process for 15 distinct programs within our platform, scheduled for implementation in the forthcoming school year.
• Strategizing and preparing comprehensive marketing and PR campaigns to broaden our reach and encourage more schools to utilize our platform's programs.
• Formulating plans to secure essential financial support from donors to sustain and expand our initiatives in the upcoming year.

These endeavors are pivotal in our mission to continuously improve and expand our offerings, ensuring greater accessibility and impact in digital education. 

In retrospect, highlights from 2023 include:

• A record number of students, exceeding 3,000, received digital literacy training across 140 schools in 47 municipalities in the 2022-2023 school year.
• The inaugural End-of-Year Festival, attended by over 700 visitors, showcased the digital prowess of 250 children from 23 cities, presenting over 150 original digital projects.
• We commenced the new academic year (2023-2024) with 2,000 students across 100 schools in 40 cities.
• Efforts to integrate quality digital literacy programs into the educational system saw significant progress, particularly in Burgas, Stara Zagora, and Yambol, with 48 schools and over 2,700 students engaged in extracurricular activities.

Looking Ahead

With immense gratitude for your unwavering support, we anticipate a year of continued growth and achievement in 2024. Our ambitious plans aim to provide quality education and digital literacy to nearly 10,000 students nationwide. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for Bulgaria's youth.

Your steadfast support is pivotal as we embark on this journey to empower the next generation for success in an increasingly digital world.

Thank you once again for your invaluable contributions to Telerik Academy School. Together, we continue to make a profound difference in the lives of our students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge for a prosperous future.