Vasil Levski School in Zaragoza - fostering the memory of Bulgaria and its heroes ‎for 14 years

Lilia Dimitrova: To be respected in Spain, we must know our history and ‎legacy, proudly declaring that we are Bulgarians‎

published on 4/25/23 1:45 PM

Author: Joan Kolev

Photo: Bulgarian Sunday School "Vasil Levski", Zaragoza

The image and the work of Bulgaria’s Apostle of Freedom Vasil Levski arise in ‎the mind of every Bulgarian when they need to name a Bulgarian hero. And ‎although historians argue about certain moments of Levski’s life, he does occupy ‎a central place in the heart of Bulgarians. Proof of this is the multitude of ‎monuments scattered from Serbian Tsaribrod to distant Argentina, the names of ‎various institutions, including countless schools in the country, as well as dozens ‎abroad.‎

‎"For children, this is the hero with the brightest ideas”, says Lilia Dimitrova, ‎director of Vasil Levski Bulgarian Sunday School in Zaragoza, Spain. “He was ‎the first to come up with the idea that Bulgaria will not be freed without the ‎preparation of organizations in every town and village. For our students, it is ‎very interesting from the point of view of the modern world, how the Apostle ‎travels from place to place, risking his life, keeping his ideals pure and giving ‎everything for freedom. They know all his covenants and are proud that their ‎school bears the name of the purest and brightest hero in Bulgarian history."‎

Before the pandemic, the Bulgarian community in the second largest Spanish city ‎of Zaragoza numbered 800 people, and in the region of Aragon there were about ‎‎5,000. Bulgarians there are mainly engaged in agriculture and manufacturing, as ‎many factories have been built in the area. ‎

The number of students attending the Vasil Levski Sunday School is different - ‎between 28 and 37. "Some children born in mixed marriages, in which they do ‎not have the opportunity to practice the Bulgarian language, refuse to attend ‎classes. Others are persistent and continue, despite the inconveniences that ‎travelling every Sunday creates for them," Lilia Dimitrova tells us.‎

‎"The biggest heroes are the parents, I always say that! In Spain, the distances are very long. ‎I can give an example of a family that has been traveling 80 kilometers every week for 8 ‎years so that their child can attend our school”, says the director. “At that, on the only free ‎day they have. Over the years, a second generation of children has already grown up in ‎Spain, who, although they live here, feel Bulgarian because their roots are Bulgarian. In ‎order to be respected, we must respect and know our history and lineage, proudly declaring ‎that we are Bulgarians."‎

Lessons on patriotism are an important part of working with children at the Vasil Levski ‎school in Zaragoza. The Bulgarian girls enthusiastically participated in Radio Bulgaria's ‎initiative "Levski Revisited" on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the ‎Apostle, by sending us a video and photos from the lesson on immortality, in which students ‎from all classes of the school participated. ‎‎"We are proud to bear his name and try to follow ‎his covenants!", they wrote to us.‎

‎"Our school participates in many initiatives organized by schools and institutions ‎in Bulgaria! In the preparation and organization of the anniversary of Levski's ‎death, the students from the University of Veliko Tarnovo, who are on an ‎internship here, also took part," Mrs. Lilia Dimitrova told Radio Bulgaria.‎

Established in 2009, at the beginning the school worked entirely on a voluntary ‎basis in premises provided by the municipal council of Zaragoza. Since 2014, it ‎has been operating under the "Native Language and Culture Abroad" ‎programme of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science. The funds they ‎receive from there allow them to be one of the few Sunday schools that do not ‎charge fees for the children's education. ‎

As a reward for their care and dedication, the teachers there receive incredible ‎respect, gratitude and love from the Bulgarian children and families. This is the ‎reward for the time, knowledge and emotions dedicated for already 14 years for ‎the benefit of the family - to keep alive the spark of love for Bulgaria in the ‎children, some of whom were born in distant Spain.‎

Read also:

Photos: courtesy of the Bulgarian Sunday School Vasil Levski in Zaragoza, Spain

English translation and publication by Rositsa Petkova

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Share

Vasil Levski Revisited

Vasil Levski School in Zaragoza - fostering the memory of Bulgaria and its heroes ‎for 14 years

Lilia Dimitrova: To be respected in Spain, we must know our history and ‎legacy, proudly declaring that we are Bulgarians‎

Gallery

More from category

Mulled wine, survachkas and Ferris wheel - the spirit of Christmas in Sofia

Melitopol University hosts online conference uniting scholars of Bulgarian studies

Bulgarians in Albania need state support in order to preserve their national identity

Residents of village of Zmeyovo celebrate pelin wine whose recipe they jealously guard

Christmas tales made of glass, or how a forgotten tradition is revived

Knitting enthusiasts unite in a community to preserve the traditional craft