Emiliya Velikova, University of Ruse and DANET e.V.
Abstract: As a sign of respect and appreciation from the academic community, the Rector’s Office of the University of Ruse awarded Mr. Valentin Atanassov, Mayor of the Municipality of Slivo Pole, with the Crystal Prize of the University of Ruse. prize was awarded for his contribution in promoting the university locally and in the Danube region by creating financial and organizational conditions for carrying out numerous and large-scale activities on the implementation of 15 international educational and social projects and initiatives, with main organizer Mrs. Veska Uzunova from Ruse University, Assoc. Prof. Emilia Velikova and coordinator Mrs. Carmen Stadelhofer, and more than 1400 participants..
More than 1400 Bulgarians of all ages of the Municipality of Slove Field have participated in 15 international projects and initiatives supported by Mr. Valentin Atanasov, Mayor of the Municipality of Slivo Pole which have been coordinated by Mrs. Veska Uzunova, President of 19 pensioners’ clubs, Assoc. Prof. Emilia Velikova, PhD, University of Ruse and Mrs. Carmen Stadelhofer, President of ILEU e.V. and DANET e.V. Some of these project and events:
- DANET: Danube Networkers – Neighbours аt Work;
- DASUN: Danube Seniors’ Universities (Danube Concept for an Academic Program for Continuing Education of Seniors in the Danube Region as a Bridge between Science and Citizens);
- Danube Stories (DASTO);
- Danube Networkers Lectures (DALEC 1), Media Project Old and Young Along the Danube;
- Danube Networkers Lectures (DALEC 2) – Changes of Perspectives – Intercultural Exchange between Generations and Cultures along the Danube;
- Workshop in Bad Urah;
- The Wanted Danube – 240 km. knitted carpet, 180 participants, presentation of the carpet knitting, participation in the presentation of the festival project in Ulm, Germany, collection of songs for the Danube River;
- DANET Day – May 17, 2015 Reproduction of 4 ancient customs to preserve traditions and families, visits to homes to develop communicative skills, 250 participants;
- The Tastes of Danube: Bread, Wine and Herbs – reconstruction of 3 Parintic Uses “The Road of Bread”: Sowing grain, grain harvesting and beard making; the ritual “Chopping Cow to the Well”; the ritual “Breaking bread by the well”;
- Christmas Packages;
- The Tastes of Danube: Bread Connects – conduct the custom Epiphany, May, 2017;
- Competition “Bread Binds Us” with 121 bread and bakery products to 97 participants; jury with chairman Ivan Zvezdev, concert with folk songs and dances related to bread, August, 2017;
- Bread Connects: Give a Sign for Friendship Along Danube;
- Celebration of the International Day of Older People, October 2017;
- Bread Connects: Bread Week – concert “Bread in our European Family” – folk songs and dances related to bread, etc.
More than 190 officials, representatives of the national, regional and mayoral leadership such as Mr. Valentin Kolev, Vice Governor of Ruse Region, Mrs. Katya Petrova, Vice Mayor of the town of Ruse Mr. Galin Grigorov, Cor Mem Prof. DSc. Hristo Beloev, DHC Mult., President of the Ruse Region Council, Mrs. Rositsa Georgieva, President of the Inspectorate of Education, Ministry of Education and Sciences, Mrs. Valentina Nikolova, President of the National Council of the Union of Pensioners of Bulgaria, Mr. Yodan Kazakov, President of the Union of Pensioners – Ruse Region, Prof. Juliana Popova, PhD, Prof. Diana Antonova, PhD, Prof. Plamen Daskalov, PhD. – Vice Rectors of the University of Ruse, Assoc. Prof. Desislava Atanasova, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Education, Directors of 11 Chitalista, Mrs. Carmen Stadelhofer, representatives of the international ODDA project partners, university students, school principals, school students, representatives of many social organizations and institutions, and supporters of rich activities and personality of Mr. Valentina Atanasov, attended the awards ceremony.
Prof. Pencheva congratulated Mr. Valentina Atanasov on his contribution in promoting the university locally and in the Danube region by creating financial and organizational conditions for carrying out numerous and large-scale activities on the implementation of 15 international educational and social projects and initiatives.
Mr. Atanasov thanked for his honor to the Rector and to all members of the pensioners clubs and the chitalista of the Slivo Pole Region.
Prof. Pencheva also awarded the Plaque of the University of Ruse to Mrs. Stadelhofer on her achievements in the development and implementation of joint projects with the University of Ruse and thanked her for the confirmation and elevation the prestige of the University of International Educational and Cultural Space.
Greetings and flowers were presented by all officials, representatives of the district and mayoral leadership, the education inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Science, the municipality of Slivo Pole, the National Council of the Union of Pensioners in Bulgaria, school principals and others.
Many representatives of institutions and organizations congratulated both Ms. Stadelhofer and Mr. Valentina Atanasov with loaves of bread as symbols of mutual respect and friendship. They sent their “Sign of Friendship Along the Danube”.
Students at the High School of Tourism organized an exhibition of bread related to various European festivals and leaflets with recipes.
Students from the Friedrich Schiller German Language School performed modern pop songs and delivered greetings in German and in Bulgarian.
The women’s choir for folk songs “Rosna Kitka” by retired people from the village of Chervena Voda with the manager M. Markov presented three-traditional folk songs about bread.
Finally, the bread and bread products were shared among all participants to enjoy with a glass of Bulgarian red wine.
We wish Mr. Valentina Atanasov and his teams health, joy and happiness!