site.btaState Agency for Bulgarians Abroad Director Highlights Importance of Engagement with Bulgarian Diaspora, Media in Shaping Shared Vision

Raina Mandzhukova, Executive Director of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, Sunday highlighted the importance of engaging with the Bulgarian diaspora, particularly the Bulgarian media, in order to maintain a shared vision for the future. She spoke at the event "Minutes for BG Institutions – A Bridge to BG Media Around the World", part of the programme of the 20th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, hosted by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

Mandzhukova recalling that in 2005, the Agency brought together in Sofia representatives of 18 Bulgarian schools abroad - many of which were previously unknown in Bulgaria - and helped establish the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad. Thanks to their efforts, they were able to convince the Bulgarian state to provide partial funding for these schools.

She also spoke about the work of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad, which has been holding annual meetings in Bulgaria for the past four years. She added that the Agency, together with the association’s members, has developed a project proposal for a funding programme for Bulgarian cultural organizations abroad, which has already been presented to the Culture Ministry.

Mandzhukova also highlighted an initiative in collaboration with the Labour and Social Policy Ministry. The programme with the working title "I Choose Bulgaria" aims to support Bulgarians who wish to relocate to Bulgaria.

At the end of the event, Zhivka Milova, editor-in-chief of BG Factor - a digital media outlet for Bulgarians in Cyprus - and director of a Bulgarian school in Paralimni, presented Mandzhukova with a plaquette as a gesture of appreciation for the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad's support.

BG Factor was this year’s recipient of the 13 Centuries of Bulgaria National Endowment Fund award for its contribution to the promotion of Bulgarian culture through Bulgarian-language media abroad.

The 20th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media took place in a hybrid format in Sofia, the St Cyril and St Methodius Klisura Monastery, and the town of Varshets (Northwestern Bulgaria) on Saturday and Sunday. The event featured three discussion panels: “Culture in the Media,” “New Knowledge in the Media,“ and “Bulgarians in the 21st Century World and the Media.” The meeting was held with the support of A1, Aurubis Bulgaria, BGR Group Ltd., Geotechmin, Glavbolgarstroy Holding, Logistic Systems Ltd., the 13 centuries Bulgaria National Endowment Fund, SFA Automotive Ltd. (the official importer of Opel in Bulgaria), Postbank, Pachkov Ltd., and SOF Connect (the operator of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport).