The number of Bulgarians living abroad is about 2 400 000 people. This figure is based on data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The reasons for their choice are different and, unfortunately, despite the fact that some compatriots return to Bulgaria each year, the number of those leaving the homeland remains higher. That is why society has been increasingly interested in knowing about the successes and problems of the Bulgarian communities abroad. Problems, however, remain in the background in the days of official holidays when many events and meetings are organized by the Bulgarian community abroad.

A new initiative, which has set the ambitious task of uniting Bulgarian emigrants in the EU around their native culture, comes from Scotland. Its aim is to deepen contacts between Bulgarians abroad, as they are often divided into small communities not interacting with each other. Prevention of alienation processes among our compatriots abroad is at the core of the project "New Time Bulgarians". Such an undertaking has become necessary, as many Bulgarian children are born abroad. That's why it is especially important that they do not grow up in an environment far from Bulgarian culture, books and art, and that we do not allow them losing a sense of identity, values ​​and homeland. This is a long-term project and we would not give up, Kaloyan Bucovsky says. He is at the heart of the initiative and he himself has graduated in Scotland and now works in London:

"New Time Bulgarians is an idea born in cooperation with people whom we share common interests and life with. Our goal is not to organize just one or two events, but to turn New Time Bulgarians into a travelling festival with a stage open to various musicians. We have been discussing the idea with friends from the Bulgarian communities in central and northern England, as well as those from Germany and we hope to be able to organize a festival in another city or other country in the autumn. It is very important for us to provide access to Bulgarian culture to Bulgarians abroad as we know how valuable this is for people who rarely return to their homeland.”

The first event of New Time Bulgarians is a concert on March10 in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh. Some of the most popular Bulgarian pop and rock performers - BTR, Teddy Katsarova and Rafi Bochosyan will be on stage. The program will be opened by a Bulgarian folklore group from Vienna, whose music is an interesting mix between bagpipe, bass and drums. In addition to Bulgarians from the Austrian capital, two Bulgarian folk groups from Edinburgh and Glasgow have also been invited to participate. The event has been conceived as a gift to the Bulgarian community in Scotland on the occasion of the Bulgarian National Holiday - March 3rd. According to unofficial data, Bulgarians in Scotland are about 40,000-50,000 people, among whom students are predominant. Most of them live in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

Scottish James McDonald Reid, who is an excellent Rhodope bagpipe player, will also take part in the concert in Edinburgh.

“James is a very interesting person with whom we have been in contact for a long time,” he says. “He is a lover of all Balkan bagpipes, and although he is 75 years old, he has been travelling all over Eastern Europe in pursuit of his passion. He also has a rich collection of bagpipes. We Bulgarians should be proud of our culture because it has been attracting people of different nationalities.”

The number of foreigners living in Bulgaria and respecting local traditions and customs has also been growing. Others, like James, visit Bulgaria because of their love for Bulgarian culture, making them its ambassadors around the world.

English: Alexander Markov