The Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad (ABSA) is holding its XVIII annual conference in Veliko Tarnovo, bringing together members from around the world.

The motto of this year's conference is "Learning by Playing! Playing by Learning!", the organisation's largest yearly forum will see representatives of Bulgarian educational institutions abroad review the past school year and set priorities for the next.

The conference is being hosted by Veliko Tarnovo University "St. Cyril and St. Methodius". The discussions opened with a performance of the Bulgarian national anthem by a folk group as part of the First Festival of Bulgarian Dance Ensembles Abroad, which begins in Veliko Tarnovo this evening.

The outgoing ABSA chairperson, Petya Tsaneva, handed over leadership to Zornitsa Gogan, head of the Bulgarian school "Raina Knyaginya” in Dublin. Gogan emphasised the association's members' shared mission of preserving the Bulgarian language, culture and national identity among the children of the Bulgarian diaspora.

Among the attendees were writer Zdravka Evtimova; Rayna Mandzhukova, head of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad; Milen Mitev, director general of Bulgarian National Radio (BNR); Vanya Balcheva, director of the Department for Education of Bulgarians Abroad and School Network at the Ministry of Education and Science; and Assoc. Prof. Anna Ivanova, vice-rector of the Veliko Tarnovo University.

Ms Mandjukova highlighted the significance of ABSA as the first organisation to unite Bulgarian communities from different parts of the world.

Mr Mitev, whose organisation was a media partner of the conference, emphasised the importance of education in building a successful society. He described Bulgarian schools abroad as a vital link between the homeland and the millions of Bulgarians living overseas, adding that it is the duty of a media outlet such as BNR to help ensure their voices are heard.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova based on text by Krasimir Martinov

Publication in English: E. Radkova

Photos by Krasimir Martinov