From the support of teachers to their own steps in education – Bulgaria
The year is 2013. Natalia Ivanova is a fifth-grader at the Neofit Rilski Primary School in her native village of Dermantsi, Lukovit municipality.
At the beginning of the school year Natalia that there will be a new class, understood by the head. A young teacher who has just started working at the school. Her name is Violeta Taseva, a teacher of Bulgarian language and literature and a participant in the “New Way in Teaching” program of the “Together in class” foundation. A teacher who will leave a deep mark in Natalia’s life.
For the next two years, while Violeta taught in Dermantsi, she became a support for the girl in every sense of the word. She and the other teachers in the Together in Class program in the region teach students not only the lessons in the curriculum, but also the lessons of life: how to believe more in themselves, to use them as an opportunity to participate in events and competitions, and to develop their strengths.
“It can be the biggest plus of my available teachers of “Together in class” is, thanks to them I learned to believe more in myself. They showed us that everyone has a chance to develop, that everyone can. I am not saying that the specialists in the last village are less competent, but with Violeta Taseva and other representatives of “Together in class” we had quite pleasant hours and we can say that they understood us. They helped us feel good as students. “, remembers Natalia, who is currently studying “Non-formal education” at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Natalia’s potential is visible to everyone. She comes to school every day, full of enthusiasm and desire to participate in competitions, extracurricular activities and new projects. Her pursuit of self-improvement is supported by hard work and perseverance.
“There was one essay because I told the students that I could fix the assessment if I saw my comments, integrated them and gave them to me again. And Natalia rewrote this work several times. You don’t give up, you don’t get lazy, you just want to do your best. “, says Violeta, who joins the “Together” program because she knows from personal experience the good education and the teacher’s faith in the abilities of students that can change their lives in a positive direction.
With her curiosity and initiative, Natalia, on her part, helps Violeta to feel at home in Dermantsi.
After two years the teacher returned to Sofia. But their common path with Natalia does not stop there.
Inspired by the development of Natalia and the other children in it, Violeta continues to support students from the region of Lukovit and Yablanitsa within the initiative “School Miracles”, which begins as an inter-school event organized by New Way of Teaching teachers in the region. In the following years, the initiative is constantly evolving to grow into the state program for scientific leadership in the region.
Natalia continues her intensive training, participation in the events of “School Miracles”, and at the same time has the opportunity to participate in the first edition of Summer Leadership Academy “It depends on us” and the global conference of Teach For All in Bulgaria in 2016. During these events and inspired by her teachers, Natalia developed a huge interest in education.
Meanwhile, Violeta continues to support Natalia as her mentor for years after joining her job at Dermantsi. I connect with representatives of various professions to help orient me in my career. And Violeta’s mother, also a teacher, gives additional lessons in Bulgarian language and literature to prepare for applying to the university.
Since October 2021, Natalia has been studying Informal at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Apart from being satisfied with the quality of the training in the specialty, Natalia has another reason for joy, which reminds her of the free communication and the trust built with the teachers from the program “Together in class”.
“I expected that when I went to university, it would be impossible to be so close to the teachers, but in our faculty it is the opposite. Teachers understand us, help us. I feel like what he says again at school and people teach me, with whom I can talk quite calmly. “
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Special thanks
As in any story, in ours also the characters who help the main ones on the way to their goal. In Lovech district, where the village of Dermantsi is located, a long-term corporate partner of “Together in class” is “Titan Zlatna Panega Cement” AD, with special support “Together in class” leaves a mark in the lives of many students, teachers and schools in the region.
Neofit Rilski Primary School in the village of Dermantsi, Lukovit municipality, is among the first schools – partners of “Together in class” in the region and works with teachers and graduates of the program “New way in teaching” to date.
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Natalia’s story is just one of the many success stories of students who have received a quality education and are supported by their teachers, and thus – it is possible to dream and work for your future.
The “News of the Future” section is part of “Couriers of the future“- An initiative of Econt and” Together in class “, which aims to help ensure students’ access to quality education.
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