"Contemporary Witness DIALOGUE"

Regional library "Hristo Smirnenski" | 26/02/2019

In an emotional conversation with Vasco Krapkata ("The Huckle") the students learned more about the decisive year of the democratic change in 1989. The meeting of the Pleven students on 26th February, 2019 with the famous blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, front man of the Sofia rock band "Poduene Blues Band", Vasil Georgiev, popularly known as Vasko the Patch, was extremely emotional. This made history come alive. The event was hosted by Regional Library Hristo Smirnenski in Pleven.

The musician was a witness to the "revolutions" of the 20th century, which brought together young people from five schools and grammar schools in Pleven: from the Vocational Schools of Restaurant, Commerce and Service, Vocational School of Electronics and Chemical Technologies, Secondary School "Ivan Vasov", State School of Finance and Economics "Intellect" and Secondary School "Yavorov".

"I do not measure my life by what I have contributed, because I do not think about these things. But I love the life I have lived. I'm glad we're living in interesting times. I am against defeatist thinking, against the depression that has overwhelmed the nation". "The best thing that happened on the planet after the Second World War is the United Europe, and the best thing that ever happened to us is that we are part of it", concluded the musician.

At the final, Vasco played two more of his legendary songs - "No Going Back" and "Let It Be Light". The meeting ended with many group and individual photos and autographs.

International event "History of Europe in DIALOGUE with its future – contemporary witnesses-DIALOGUE"

Hall "Europe" of the secondary school "Ivan Vazov" | 21/11/2019

On 21st November, 2019, students of the ninth and tenth grades of the Ivan Vazov Middle School in Pleven had the opportunity to hear live the exciting description of a personal odyssey of a prisoner of totalitarianism in Bulgaria, told by his daughter, Mrs. Stanimira Radulova-Valcheva.

Mrs. Valcheva is a lecturer at the Panayot Pipkov School of Arts in Pleven. She shared the experiences of her father, Tsvetan Radulov, who was imprisoned in the Kucian and Bogdanov Dol camps at the age of 20 after unsuccessful escape attempts across the border. The fact that he studied at the American College in Sofia before 9th September, 1944, left its mark on him and limited his development. With a strong will to live and freedom, he survives and thanks to his tenacity, ingenuity and luck, he still manages to realize his dream of becoming an actor. What he shared with his daughters and only 30 years later, how they felt the lack of freedom, hypocrisy and falsehood, the pressure of the "people's militia" of the totalitarian years, Stanimira Valcheva shared in front of a silent audience. According to her narrative, which was applauded, the students could view an album of the American College with photos of faculties and students of the College.

Faces and stories of Europe

All partners supported pupils in the search for contemporary witnesses.
Contemporary witnesses who could tell about their experiences with the military dictatorship in Greece, the democratic change in Bulgaria and the fall of the wall and its consequences in Germany.

Young citizens from Greece, Bulgaria and Germany received a vivid historical insight and overview of the EU and its important milestones. National identity was understood as part of European identity. A questionnaire for the Contemporary Witness Dialogue was developed in transnational dialogue with the partners. Audio and video recordings were prepared and organised.

For further information please have a look on:
www.lernwerkstatt-bg.eu

Radio campaign "Faces and stories of Europe – Stories of challenges – shaping the future of Europe with contemporary witnesses"

Radiointerview with Penka Spasova on Darik Radio Pleven | 26/11/2019

Interview-time: 10 minutes

From the interview:
"We have experienced the faces and stories of the so-called revolutions of 1968 and 1989 and the events after the fall of the Berlin Wall. We were looking for interesting conversation partners who wanted to tell us their stories, hopes and disappointments, how they lived and what restrictions they had with regard to freedom, dictatorship and peace …".