The 15th Anniversary of the Union of Pensioners (UP) of the Slivo Pole Municipality was held in May on the Day of Europe. The event was titled „Preserving the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Danube Region”. Union of pensioners, the organizer of the event, was greatly supported by the local Government represented by its Mayor Valentin Atanasov, the Mayor of the Slivo Pole Municipality and all members of the 20 Clubs of Pensioners of Slivo Pole, Babovo, Ryahovo, Brashlen, Borisovo, Golyamo Vranovo, Malko Vranovo, Kosharna, Yudelnik, Chereshovo. Organisers were assisted by secondary and primary schools, members of the community centres etc.
The event was meant to present the community building teaching and learning methods that have been used in different organizations over the last 15 years. Naturally the drama, which in its own right is a community building method, has been amply used by the Union of Pensioners in the field of intergenerational learning and more generally in the building of an inclusive community through education and learning.
The event was joined by the official guests: Mr. Galin Grigorov, the Governor of the Ruse Region; Prof. Hristo Beloev,Rector of the University of Ruse, Assoc. Prof. Emiliya Velikova, PhD; the President of ILEU and DANET Mrs. Carmen Stadelhofer, Ulm, Germany; the Presidents of the Union of Pensioners’2004 Mrs. Valentina Nikolova; the Presidents of the Union of Pensioners – Ruse Region Mr. Yordan Kazakov; heads of schools, social organizations, NGO’s, etc.
Using the drama as a central method, the participants in the event depicted the connecting role of bread which may unite communities, countries included. Intangible cultural heritage- customs, traditions etc. – acquires new life in contemporary cultural events. To enumerate some of them: Sirni zagovezni (Forgiveness); Blagovestenie (the Annunciation); Lazarovden (the day of St. Lazar); Veliki Chetvartak (Maundy Thursday). Many pensioners actively participated in events such as afforestation of 2000 trees by 215 pensioners, celebration the European Generation Awareness Day, participation in the international project “The Wanted Danube” etc.
Mr. Valentin Atanasov awarded the leaders of 20 pensioners’ clubs and Mrs. V. Uzunova, Mrs. C. Stadelhofer and Assoc. Prof. Emilya. Velikova. (Source: Emiliya Velikova, Angel Kanchev University, Ruse)