The Association of Bulgarian Cultural Organizations Abroad is the newest organization uniting Bulgarians around the world. 26 associations and 6 individual members are among the founders.

"In Sofia we gave a start of the order in the structure and work of Bulgarian associations abroad with the Bulgarian state," Sabina Christov, Chair of the German-Bulgarian Society Ognishte in the German city of Papenburg, wrote us. She is among the members of the elected Management Board, which also includes Diana Hristova from Spain, Dimitrinka Ivanova from Italy, Mira Kopanarov from Canada, Snezhana Galcheva from the USA, Vesela Raytchinova from Israel, Boycho Damyanov from Austria, Irina Gancheva from Ukraine and Gergana Hristova from Italy.

At the first meeting of the Association of Bulgarian Cultural Organizations Abroad, held on July 29 under the auspices of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, our compatriot Vesela Raytchinova was elected chair. She has been living in Israel since the end of the 90s. "The new association will include all organisations that want to be members," Raytchinova told Radio Bulgaria and formulated the goals of the new association:

"Popularization of Bulgarian culture abroad, development of public relations, popularization of the cultural activities of the association members in Bulgaria and abroad, expansion of cultural and information exchange between all of us, representation and protection of the rights of our members. This is an important point that should not be missed when creating an association of such large scale. It is very important to provide information, technical and consulting assistance to both existing organizations and for the creation of new ones outside the borders of Bulgaria. All this is related to the creation of websites, newsletters, organizing seminars, participation in projects related to our activity. I sincerely hope that we would achieve these goals, as I am convinced that there is no need to rush, but rather to make people familiar with this activity," Vesela Raytchinova says.

Among the founders of the new association is the Confederation of Bulgarian Cultural Organizations and Activists Abroad. Its representative for Canada is Mira Kopanarov, who has been living there for 18 years. She has been involved in marketing and communications for 20 years. In the period 19-23 May this year, Mira organized a festival in Toronto dedicated to letters and words. The visitors were more than 1000.

It was this festival that made Mira think about how important and valuable it is for our compatriots both in Canada and around the world to unite, because she believes that Bulgaria needs friends everywhere. Until August 5, her exhibition "Word for Peace” can be seen in the lobby of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad in Sofia. Its official opening was preceded by the founding meeting of the Association of Bulgarian Cultural Organizations Abroad.

“In 2019 I became seriously ill and my roots called me back to Bulgaria. The Glagolitic script became part of my life and while studying it, I found that the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius encourage precisely love for the word, peace, understanding between people, light. That's why I feel that my role is to pass this light back to Bulgarians around the world," Mira Kopanarov told Radio Bulgaria.

Read also:

• Milen Mitev: Radio Bulgaria is the natural partner of the Bulgarian schools and folklore ensembles abroad

• First festival of Bulgarian folklore ensembles abroad

Author: Yoan Kolev

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: Yoan Kolev, Facebook /Rayna Mandzhukova, Facebook /State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad