A good year for the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, in which everything was happening as it should. This is how the agency’s head, Rayna Mandzhukova, summed up 2024. In an interview with Radio Bulgaria, she expressed satisfaction with the exceptional cooperation that the institution has with both compatriots and nearly 1,000 of their organizations abroad, as well as with nearly all Bulgarian ministries and institutions, in order to carry out its mission of being a link between our compatriots abroad and Bulgaria. One of the achievements this year was the program for targeted financing for Bulgarian cultural associations abroad:

"We presented it to the Minister of Culture, who recognized it and moved it forward within the institution, connecting us with Deputy Minister Kalin Velyov. We prepared the necessary package of documents and in the meantime the holidays came, but we made a huge step forward. When it comes to education we have the program ‘Native Language and Culture’ and decree No. 90, with which the state supports the financing of Bulgarian educational units abroad, but we don’t have such things for cultural institutions and they do a huge amount of work. But we made a huge step when the Ministry of Culture recognized them as its partners and this year the meeting of the Association of Folklore Ensembles Abroad was held on the territory of the ministry. When I talk about financing cultural associations, I do not mean only folklore ones, since we also have many literature clubs, theatre groups and various other associations and this program applies to everyone."

An important element of the essence of Bulgarian communities abroad is the media created by them and for them. In order to exist, they also need support from the Bulgarian state.

"In 2025, the twentieth edition of the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, which we will organize jointly with BTA, will be held in Sofia. I hope very much that we will open the big topic of financing Bulgarian media abroad. Bulgarian folklore ensembles represent Bulgaria with the means of culture, but Bulgarian media abroad do so in printed or electronic form. Next year, by May, the analysis that we will do will be ready and I promise you that it will be very interesting."

The Agency continues to provide the administrative service "Certification of Bulgarian Origin" to young people from Bulgaria’s historical communities applying for education at Bulgarian universities under Decree No. 103, but also for the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, for whom they certify whether persons starting work in this country have Bulgarian origin.

"All this requires serious flexibility both from us and from the Ministry of education and the Ministry of Labour. We know whether these individuals are of Bulgarian origin, but the way in which the two departments can obtain this information has not been regulated," Rayna Mandzhukova says.

When it comes to our historical communities, although the Agency's commitment to the Ministry of Education and Science is only to certify their origin, the institution continues to help anyone who seeks assistance from it:

"These young people come from different countries and need time to adapt to Bulgaria. In order for this to happen more easily, stress must be reduced and we have agreed to assist them by explaining the legal procedures the must go through. In addition, every year the Agency organizes a meeting with representatives of universities in our country that have students under Decree 103, which allows them to exchange experience. In 2025, we will hold meetings with the students themselves in different cities to find out how else we can be of help to them."

The Executive Agency for Bulgarian abroad already has an information portal "103 steps to success", the purpose of which is to collect information about all Bulgarians from abroad who studied under Decree 103, but also under the previous decisions from 1992 and 1991. In 1990, some also came and they are still in Bulgaria today.

The meetings with Bulgarian compatriots in Sweden and Denmark were among some of those highlighted by Rayna Mandzhukova:

"The meeting in Malmö was touching. There the Bulgarian Orthodox community has existed for 40 years. It is valuable, however, that unlike many countries in which such organizations existed before November 10, 1989, but were unable to accept the new immigrants from the 90s and onwards, those in Sweden have succeeded. I was incredibly lucky and I express my gratitude also to our compatriots in Boston for the invitation to visit one of the oldest Sunday schools abroad, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary."

The Executive Director did not miss the opportunity to send her wishes to Bulgarians in this country and around the world for the upcoming year 2025:

"I cannot miss the fact that as a Bulgarian born in Ukraine, my first wish for everyone is for peace to come. I say this to everyone not just to Bulgarians in Ukraine, as we have seen that such a thing as war is possible in the 21st century and how important it is to cherish peace. Of course, I also wish for health, because only a healthy person can be useful to their family. I wish for prosperity and peace in families, as only when a person is calm for their family, they can be useful to society. Let us protect our families, our health, and try to be useful to people!"

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: BGNES, Facebook /Rayna Mandzhukova, posolstvo.eu