Can school be a place where children and young people can speak freely in their own language about difficult but current topics, topics that are vitally important but taboo? Discussing and analyzing topics that are important for young people, related to gender-based violence and other types of violence, is a way to overcome prejudice and stereotypical thinking and behavior.

Such a space was created in 31 SUCHEM “Ivan Vazov” in Sofia, which is one of the participants in the project “Stories about the Power of Difference” implemented by the association “Reflective Learning-Bulgaria” with the financial support of the “Europe 2022” Program of Sofia Municipality.

As part of the project, a podcast was held with teachers and students talking about the topic of violence prevention, which you can see here:

The project involved:

Martin Vachev, history teacher

Krassimira Hristova, teacher of man and nature

Stella Vasileva, school psychologist

And the sixth grade students:

Maria Ivanova

Milena Velcheva

Gergana Todorova

Ioana Ivanova

Victoria Ruseva

Victor Lyudo

Andrea Mandzhukova

Elena Koycheva

Victoria Simeonova

Boryana Angelova

Martina Damyanska

Yana Dimitrova

The project team was supported by Milena Marinova, psychologist from the association “Reflective Learning-Bulgaria” and trainer on the topic of violence prevention in the project. Here is what she shared: “I am glad that I had the opportunity to work with the 31 SUCHEM team, because first of all I met extremely interesting people and teachers who like their work and who, despite their heavy workload, took the time to develop important skills in children that will enrich their personalities. I am impressed by the students in the debate club because they are “passionate” about the debates and because they have a position on the topic of violence prevention. I understood that this is an important topic for them, because they often encounter it in their relationships with each other in different forms and want to learn how to deal with it.”

The podcast was filmed and produced by young activists: Yoana Pencheva (student of sociology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”) and Nikolay Dimitrov (student of cinema at NBU). We thank them for their work and exceptional contribution to the project and the goals of the “Europe 2022” Program of the Sofia Municipality!