site.btaWeek of Bessarabian Bulgarians Organized for First Time in Moldova Schools

For the first time, educational institutions in Moldova organized a Week of Bessarabian Bulgarians on occasion of the holiday of Bulgarians living in Moldova and Ukraine - October 29. The week was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova in 25 schools, where the subjects Bulgarian language and literature and History, traditions and culture of the Bulgarian people are taught.

During the open lectures during the Week of Bessarabian Bulgarians significant aspects of the history and culture of the Bulgarian community in Moldova were discussed. According to the President of the Scientific Society of Bulgarians in Moldova Ivan Duminika, the main highlights were the contribution of prominent Bulgarians in Moldova, including historians, writers, poets and cultural figures who have contributed to the development of Moldovan society; the preservation of traditions and culture; the ties between Bulgaria and Moldova through cultural and educational programmes, strengthening the ties of Bulgarians in Moldova with their ancestral homeland, etc.

Duminika stressed the importance of the initiative, saying that the Week of the Bessarabian Bulgarians is a significant step towards preserving the cultural memory and identity of the Bulgarian community in Moldova. "Through these educational initiatives, we give the young generation the opportunity to connect with their roots and appreciate the contribution of the Bulgarians to our society", Duminika said, adding that this week is not only a celebration, "but also a valuable moment to strengthen the ties between Moldova and Bulgaria and to strengthen the intercultural dialogue".

According to the data of the National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova from 2014, the number of ethnic Bulgarians in Moldova is about 54,000, which represents 1.9% of the population of the country (2,804,801 people). The largest number of them live in the Taraclia region. The Bulgarian community can also be found in the Autonomous Territorial Entity of Gagauzia, as well as in the Cahul, Cantemir and Leova regions.