Radio Bulgaria

The smartest people on earth will gather in Sofia on October 13. Mensa’s heads from over 40 countries of the world will discuss different issues in Bulgaria: how to stimulate intelligence; how to discover and train gifted children; how to expand and support the organization.

“This is a regular meeting of the International Board of Directors of Mensa International that takes place each year in a different country”, Mr. Boyan Aleksandrov, member of the Board of Directors of Mensa Bulgaria explains. For the first time the event takes place in Bulgaria. This is, no doubt a recognition for us, for our work in this country and it also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Bulgarian organization.”

Mensa is the oldest and largest international organization of high IQ people. It was established back in 1946 by Roland Berrill, an Australian barrister, and Dr Lancelot Ware, a British scientist and lawyer. They had the idea to form a community with the only membership criterion – high IQ. Currently Mensa unites more than 100 000 people from over 100 countries. Its Bulgarian branch was established in 1991. Over 2 000 people from this country have passed the membership test. 600 people of different professions and age from across Bulgaria have become permanent Mensa members.

“Mensa’s goal is to discover and support intelligence in all its forms”, Boyan Aleksandrov says. “There are many kinds of intelligence – verbal, mathematical, musical, etc. Mensa can help via sponsorship, discovering of talents, support for state and educational institutions… I must say that Bulgarian children love to study; they are intelligent and can do things… All the awards from different international Olympiads in natural sciences, math, etc. prove the fact that there are many intelligent kids in this country.”

Is life easier for people of high IQ?

“It helps, if it is properly used”, the expert explains. “It is the same like having a super powerful computer. You opt for its usage for games or serious work. The intellect can also be used for both serious stuff and leisure activities.”

Mrs. Daniela Simidchieva chairs Mensa Bulgaria. She is among the smartest people worldwide – her IQ is 192 under the test of John Raven, while the average result from this test is 100… At the moment Mrs. Simidchieva is participating in the polls and her seat is frozen. That is why Bulgaria will be presented by Galya Bozhinova, deputy chair of our branch of the organization. The foreign participants in the forum will have the opportunity to visit sites that are emblematic for this country, such as the Boyana Church, Rila and Bachkovo Monasteries, King Assen’s Fortress, the Thracian sanctuary of Starosel. They will also be able to visit the cities of Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa, Kazanlak among others.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev