"We are kids from the capital city. Everything we ask for is provided to us almost immediately. We have a home, food and social environment. Have we ever thought if all people live the same lives? The reality is that there are people with collapsing houses, little food, and they barely make the ends meet. For them life goes day by day. Almost no one knows about them or they receive very little attention."

This was written by 11th grade students at the private English School "Prof. Ivan Apostolov" in Sofia, who decided to visit the villages of Prolaznitsa, Granichak, Krachimir and Struindol in the region of Vidin and help the elderly people there. Indeed, the task of choosing a volunteer initiative was set by the school. But teenagers decided not just to support a cause and raise money for it, but to engage themselves with the organization and to personally participate in every step of the process.

“When we discussed what kind of initiative we should choose, our class teacher Atanas Dimitrov told us about a girl who went to the villages in northwestern Bulgaria and helped people there. We were very inspired by this idea and we also decided to do something like this,” Margarita Strateva told us about the initiative.

Students chose four nearly depopulated villages with about 10 inhabitants each, no shops, as the only thing that is delivered there is bread. Students know nothing about people there, but they are full of enthusiasm to learn as much as possible about them for the time they spend there.

“We have decided to stay two days - December 1 and 2, because we want to get to know them better,” Dimitar Stoyanov says. "We would talk to them to find out about their lives. We want to help with food and clothes, because we think this is important and would make their lives better. We also want to go there because of the social contact, as there are not many people near them, but the elderly have things to say and we would like to hear them.”

Students participating in the initiative study Economics and Management. At first sight charity has little to do with these studies. But students understand that organizational skills and teamwork are beneficial to the noble cause they are engaged in. The idea has received broad response and support:

“My parents were very happy to hear that there was such an initiative and that I take part in it. My best friend also said he wanted to join," Dimitar says and Margarita adds:

“Actually, a lot of people helped us and many of my friends joined, which surprised me. And I am very glad that somehow we inspire people around us. My parents are also very proud of what is happening.”

Young people will bring to the elderly living in nearly desolate villages some durable products, canned food, toilet paper, clothes. For this purpose, they will open a gathering point on November 23 and 24, when people will be able to make their donation. There is also a donation bank account as the money will go again for food, medicines, electricity bills or other needs.

“We hope to continue helping these people. We are very glad that we have made people think of someone else rather than themselves. One should not just focus on their busy life in the city but to think of what is happening in village and how people live there. One does not even need to give big sums to be helpful,” Dimitar Stoyanov says.

“Yes, we would like to continue with the cause, because it has a great positive effect on all of us, gives us a lot of experience, and if we help somebody, it would be wonderful,” Margarita Strateva says, speaking on behalf of the class.

"Our class teacher shows us how to be better persons, because nowadays everything is very hectic, everyone is staring at the phone or computer, and we forget to be humane to each other.”

English: Alexander Markov