site.bta Government Provides Grant to Help Roma Neighbourhood Boy Pay for Cambridge College

Government Provides Grant to Help Roma Neighbourhood Boy Pay for Cambridge College

Sofia, August 21 (BTA) - The government said Friday it has
decided to extend a grant that will help a boy from a low-income
 Roma neighbourhood family pay part of his tuition for CATS
College in Cambridge.

The 15-year Marselo Iliev has been admitted to study at this
college in fierce competition with other applicants but the fee
for tuition and accommodation is far beyond his family's means.

The government will pay the initial fee of 4,350 pounds. In a
Bulgarian National Radio interview, he says being admitted to
study in Cambridge is the most amazing thing that has happened
to him and something he is proud of. He also says his life in
Montana's Roma neighbourhood motivated him to work hard on his
studies. "I am aware that education is the most important thing
if a man wants to make progress," he says. Marselo has two
brothers, aged 12 and 9, and works hard to teach them about the
importance of education.

The full tuition fee Marselo has to pay is 34,000 pounds for the
 two years plus 4,000 pounds for accommodation and 2,500 pounds
deposit. The Bulgarian Construction Chamber has offered to help
with the money.
Marselo hopes that he will not remain a rare exception among his
 community in the Montana Roma neighbourhood. LN/
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The government approved a draft agreement between the Bulgarian
executive agency for small and mid-sized enterprises and the
Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turmenistan. The
document provides for cooperation between the two organizations
in encouraging and supporting small and mid-sized businesses of
the two countries through exchange of information on relevant
legislation, encouraging direct contacts, implementation of
investment projects, establishment of joint ventures,e xchanges
of experiences and specialists, joint business forums,
conferences, trade fairs and other events.