Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Iliana Stoilova: I want to live and work in Bulgaria

БНР Новини
Photo: courtesy of Iliana Stoilova

Radiant and full of optimism, Iliana Stoilova is a young lady capable of capturing beauty and showing it to others. She recently graduated engineering design at the University of Forestry in Sofia and started out her career at the Urban Art Factory in the capital city, where she works with two other girls. Instead of eye shadow and lipstick, her bag is frequently full of all kinds of tools.

Снимка

“You don’t see girls working with drills or saws very often, but we have been endeavouring to improve our skills every day,” says Iliana. “I am very happy to be doing design and creating beautiful things. We designed the furniture for the information centre at the Roman Wall market in Sofia. The people who gave us this commission also organize what are known as the “farmers’ markets”. This is a campaign that is very close to my own way of thinking and way of life. The idea for this kind of market is to bring together farmers and to offer customers all kinds of home-made food and home-grown farming produce.”

Снимка

Unlike many young people, who see no future in Bulgaria, Iliana wants to make her dreams come true, here, where she was born. What is her motivation?

“I love to travel because that is the best way to see all kinds of different cultures and people. Still, Bulgaria is the place I was born and raised and it is here we should Снимкаdevelop. It is no use complaining all the time, what we should try and do is change the things we do not like. What I want to do is furniture design, because the things I create can change our surroundings and bring joy to their owners. It is very important what kind of furniture surrounds us because it has an energy of its own. That is why I endeavour to put my own positive energy into it so it can bring joy to others.”

The young designer loves nature and has been windsurfing since childhood. That is why she spends her summers by the sea, where she trains children and adults – how to hold the sail and other techniques of windsurfing.

“Direct communion with nature gives one power and self-confidence. People tend to take nature for granted without a thought to the fact that we are all part of it. I myself try to keep to a healthy diet and to recycle. That is a principle I apply when I am making furniture – I breathe new life into something old. One of the interesting things I made was a sleigh on wheels – “a summer sleigh” using the back of an old chair. Together with a colleague we also made a TV set we called “positron” – only for good news. I myself always try to see the good things and to show people that anything is possible if you put you mind to it. I see a great deal of negativism around me. What I have been trying to do is see a different angle. I would somehow like to show people that things can be different if you have the eyes to see them. If we really try to probe more deeply, we shall see that even the world around us if very different from what our eyes see.”

English version: Milena Daynova

Photos courtesy of  Iliana Stoilova




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Students from the Bulgarian Sunday school in Lisbon

Teachers from Sunday schools abroad - with Bulgaria in their hearts also in Portugal

An open lesson on patriotism at the St. St. Cyril and Methodius Bulgarian Sunday School in Libson put an end to the educational forum in the Portuguese capital, which brought together teachers from Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad, experts from..

published on 3/22/24 7:15 AM

Iliana Iotova: "Sunday schools are the most visible result of the policy for Bulgarians abroad"

The University of Lisbon hosted the educational forum "Innovative methods and materials for teaching Bulgarian history and geography of Bulgaria in Bulgarian schools abroad" .  The event which took place between March 14 to 16 was carried out under..

published on 3/21/24 4:53 PM

Habitat Bulgaria: The big problem with dangerous housing is not among the state's priorities

The home is the place where all the unresolved problems in our society can be easily seen. It is difficult to talk about early childhood development if children sleep in the same bed or live in the same room with their parents until..

published on 3/20/24 10:20 AM