As I promised you last Saturday 21st April 2018, it’s about time to tell you about our inspirational visit to Hristo Smirnenski school in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
Who did we meet over there?
Very often friends and acquaintances feel sorry for me for working over the weekends. And I’d probably feel sorry for myself too if I was doing work I didn’t like which thank god, is not the case. In fact, quite the opposite, I love what I do because it introduces me to plenty of inspiational people.
The heroes of this story are two 11th grade students- Ilcho and Stanil and their 2 inspirational teachers-Mrs. Geri Chobanova and Mrs. Vanesa Slavova.
How did our visit start?
We left Plovdiv at 10:30 am together with Mrs. Slavena Bozveliyska, you remember her from our visit to Saint Cyril and Methodius school in the village of Vedrare, Karlovo, right? We were greeted by a joyful bunch of kids running around the school yard. Although it was Saturday the children were full of enthusiasm and ready to begin the activities. This time we were just visitors. The main organisers were the above mentioned Ilcho, Stanil and one more boy who couldn’t attend the event. The three boys had even made posters and leaflets inviting teachers, classmates and friends to participate.
What had they planned?
We started with a short presentation about the importance of eliminating the use of plastic, suitable alternatives and the importance of recycling. Then we were split into teams and started collecting trash from the school yard. It was amazing to see the children’s enthusiasm for cleaning the school yard. Looking back that was the time when I’d “secretly” sneak out to go home when I was a student. Now my old school friends find it hilarious that I often get involved in school yard clean ups. I couldn’t figure out the reasons for my lack of enthusiasm as a teenager and shared my experience with the 3 teachers- Mrs. Bozveliyska, Mrs. Chobanova and Mrs. Slavova and they all suggested that it was probably due to a dull way of presenting the activity itself…And I agree.
How did Ilcho and Stanil manage to keep their peers and teachers’ attention?
The team that gathered most trash from the yard clean up won a prize. Afterwards the same teams from the school yard clean up had to do a relay. Each participant had to move 1 piece of trash at a time and put it into either the group for plastic or the one for paper. The team that moved most trash for 2 minutes won.
The organisers received special certificates from both their wonderful teachers and Revolucia.
What made a strong impression on me?
The children and teachers’ energy and enthusiasm. The teachers were equally involved in all of the activities, encouraging the children the whole time. It was obvious how fond were the children of Mrs. Chobanova and Mrs. Slavova. Now it’s the time to note that all the three above mentioned teachers- Mrs. Bozveliyska, Mrs. Chobanova and Mrs. Slavova are working for the program “Тeach for Bulgaria“. Mrs. Chobanova even came back from Denmark to devote her time to the work with children. The connection between the teachers and the children was obvious. The kids would confide in them. If all teachers had such a great, personalised approach to all of their students, there wouldn’t be any dropouts.
How do Mrs. Chobanova and Mrs. Slavova manage to keep the kids’ attention in class?
They allow the children to find their own way of learning and develop their creativity. They want to prepare the children for the life outside of the walls of the school building and inspire them to work on themselves. They believe that one day their students will turn into responsible and well educated adults who’d inspire other children to grow.
Thank you, lovelies, for recharging me with so much optimism and reminding me that we are the creators of our own future and the best way to build it is if we walk together in the same direction.
Love,
Vera