BTA: More than 1,000 Children Winners of Competitions Held by Bulgarian Agency for Bulgarians Abroad to Be Awarded

The Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA) will present awards to the winners of this year's editions of its three competitions for children and young people – the 30th Stefan Gechev literary competition, the 25th Bulgaria in My Dreams drawing competition, and the 16th Lyubka Rondova singing competition.

The award ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the National Children's Palace in Sofia, the agency said on its Facebook page.

This year's competitions were dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising and the 170th anniversary of the birth of Bulgarian revolutionary Rayna Knyaginya. More than 1,000 Bulgarian children from around the world took part.

Prize winners from more than 10 countries are expected to appear on stage. More than 40 children will also receive EABA's special award – participation in a 10-day educational summer camp in the village of Brodilovo. The initiative aims to give young Bulgarians living abroad the opportunity to become better acquainted with Bulgaria, its culture, traditions and nature, while also making new friends.

Following the ceremony, visitors will be able to view an exhibition of the award-winning drawings, while the festive programme will continue with musical performances by participants in the folk song competition.

"We look forward to welcoming the winners, their parents and teachers, members of the juries, artists, public figures and friends of Bulgarian communities abroad to celebrate together a true festival of talent and the Bulgarian spirit," the agency said.

The Stefan Gechev literary competition was established in 1995 by the then State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad in cooperation with the Rodna Rech magazine, on the initiative of Bulgarian poet, playwright, prose writer and translator Stefan Gechev.

The Bulgaria in My Dreams drawing competition was launched in 2001 with the aim of strengthening ties between the youngest generation of Bulgarians living abroad and their homeland, while preserving Bulgaria's historical memory and cultural traditions.

The singing competition was established in 2010 under the title A Little Bird Flew Over. Following the death of renowned folk singer Lyubka Rondova in March 2016, the organisers decided to rename the competition in her honour.