Georgi Panteleev is in his fourth year at university and reads Special Pedagogy at St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. His plans are to become a teacher training children with impaired sight how to improve their mobility. His own vision comes to just 5 to 10% but he is optimistic about his studies and career. „I try to use my vision at its maximum and many people believe I can see normally. And this is not precisely the case”, he says. Georgi was born in the southern town of Nova Zagora and studied in the local school until the 4th grade. „All the time I was among people with normal vision and I was trying to be like them because people in Bulgaria do not easily accept differences.”, he admits. Ten years ago he moved to Sofia to a specialized school for children with impaired sight. Georgi is among the very few youths with physical disabilities who have continued their education at university. Many of them have to face a range of humiliating problems. 

"I tend to be positive and to ignore problems but they are too many”, Georgi says. “For example, I need assistance to find the auditorium at the university. Also, I really need textbooks in an electronic format but most professors argue that if these are in an electronic format no one will buy the hard copy. I buy them OK, but I cannot use them because of my problems with vision.” 

Despite hardships, Georgi is determined to go on and be useful to others. He wants to live and work in Bulgaria. Georgi argues that many Bulgarians readily help disabled persons but often wonder how to deal with certain situations.

The Club of Cool Grannies is one of those ready to help. The club unites the holders of Bulgaria's Missis Granny annual contest. „We decided that we can do more than just wearing our crowns and find new ways to be useful, so we set up the club”, explains Tatiana Traykova, winner of the contest in 2013. 

"In the beginning, the foundation focused on children with cerebral palsy. We continue with this commitment. Last year we were contacted by Chris from Power for Life foundation for a joint action in supporting university students with physical disabilities, because once they finish secondary education, the state no longer takes care of them. We give socially disadvantaged children with disabilities a chance to go to university.” 

During the last academic year, the cool grannies supported 12 young people, and this year they are 16. For the purpose they organize various charity events. Recently a concert was held to raise charities and buy various devices including computers to serve the needs of students. Most of them read Special Pedagogy. One of them is Georgi whom we have told you about. There is also a medic and a few students at the Academy for Music, Dance and Fine Art in Plovdiv. One of the beneficiaries of CCG is a paralympic sportsman. He is trained at the National Sports Academy and plans to work as a coach of other paralympic athletes. A donor found by CCG is going to buy a scanner for users of the Sofia University reading room for persons with impaired sight. „It has turned out that universities can only scan 15% of the necessary material, and they have to pay for the rest”, explains Tania Traykova. CCG also plans to raise charities for a virtual library with science literature and textbooks for students with impaired sight.

English Daniela Konstantinova 

Photos courtesy of Club of Cool Grannies