U.S. Ambassador Eric Rubin today spoke to children, educators, and parents at St. St. Cyril and Methodius School in the village of Razhdavitsa. The school and Bulgarian NGO Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance invited Ambassador Rubin to welcome students at the start of the new academic year. Kyustendil Mayor Petar Paunov and Regional Governor Victor Yanev also attended the ceremony.
Ambassador Rubin said “I commend St.St. Cyril and Methodius School for providing all children in the area access to education and helping them reach their potential.”
St.St. Cyril and Methodius School, located in the small village of Razhadavitsa in the Kyustendil region, is the only village school in the area. The 80 students come from Roma families living in the Kyustendil and Dupnitsa regions.
St.St. Cyril and Methodius School has a zero percent dropout rate, thanks to dedicated teachers and collaboration with NGO Amalipé. After completing elementary school at St.St. Cyril and Methodius, all the students continue their education at standard Kyustendil schools.
Amalipé is a leading Bulgarian NGO which works toward equal integration of Roma in Bulgarian society. Amalipé runs community development centers and local community clubs in 11 municipalities, and works with over 170 Bulgarian schools to improve Roma education access, prevent dropout, and preserve Roma culture. Amalipe runs the Every Student Will Be A Winner Program with support from America for Bulgaria Foundation.
For more information on Bulgarian NGO Amalipé Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance: www.amalipe.com
For additional photos of the event: https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassySofia/
