This year we are proud to celebrate the admission of four talented students to the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). Each of them brings an inspiring story and remarkable achievements.
Ivayla Sandeva is ambitious and determined to study Psychology at AUBG. Carrying pride in her deep Roma roots, her wish is to help her community by working in the field of mental health and social justice. Her aspiration is to inspire young people from the Roma community to overcome prejudice and achieve their full potential.
Katrin Ivanova, also of Roma origin, has chosen to study Business Administration and Economics. Full of determination, Katrin believes that education is the key to overcoming social barriers. Inspired by the support of her family and the personal experiences of her sister, she sees AUBG as an opportunity to achieve high results and contribute to the development of her community.
Kostadin Dimitrov is one of the admitted students who has already won the prestigious “Prof. Dr. Lachezar Tsotsorkov” Scholarship, which covers his tuition for all eight semesters. Having grown up in Sofia's Fakulteta neighborhood, he is inspired to improve the future of the Roma community. With experience teaching English at the Summer START Academy at AUBG, Kostadin plans to pursue a degree in European Studies, and is also interested in Economics and Information Systems.
Mihail Manev is another ambitious student who aspires to graduate in Business Administration and European Studies at AUBG. He is an activist in the Roma community and coordinator of a volunteer group at the Arete Youth Foundation. With his experience in community work and participation in projects such as "Careers without Borders", Mihail sees his education at AUBG as a step towards becoming a leader with responsibility towards society.
Kostadin and Mihail are also supported by the Alexander Foundation. Our partnership with the Alexander Foundation plays a key role in supporting young talent from the Roma community. Thanks to their generosity and commitment, these students get a chance to study at a prestigious educational institution like AUBG, which significantly improves their future career opportunities. This joint initiative aims to support not only academic success, but also societal change. "When I was a student - right around the hyperinflation in 1996, I was looking for all kinds of ways to access good education. Scholarships from various foundations and institutions, as well as accurate advice from a few good mentors, helped me to graduate in Bulgaria, study for a master's degree at the Central European University and then a PhD in Vienna. Now I am in a position to help and have the opportunity to do so. Congratulations for the successful admission and for the exciting academic journey at AUBG!", says Alek Petrov, co-founder of the Alexander Foundation.
In addition to the four newly admitted students, we are also pleased to support two other students who are continuing their studies at AUBG. Ani Kovacheva and Radko Mishev are successfully moving into the third year of their academic journey, showing excellent results and commitment to their education and the life of the entire student body at AUBG.
We are also happy to note the success of our three graduating students. Elvira Sashova, Mikhail Mishev and Tsvetana Ilieva graduated this summer and are ready to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their careers, proving that their efforts have paid off. Stay tuned for interviews with the three successful graduates to learn more about their dreams and plans after graduation.
From the start of the 2015/2016 academic year to the current 2024/2025 academic year, the Trust for Social Achievement has supported 16 young people of Roma background who have been accepted to AUBG. Of these, 9 have successfully graduated. Some of them are continuing their studies in master’s programs, while others are already successfully working in Bulgarian or foreign companies.
If you would like to support more Roma youth to fulfill their dream of studying at the American University in Bulgaria, you can make a donation in your preferred way (link to donation page or https://buy.stripe.com and https://www.globalgiving.org).
If you would like to discuss further, please email us at donations@tsa-bulgaria.org