On the Day of Mother Language we met Iliana Vlasakidou regarding to the Bulgarian Weekend School in Alexandroupoulis with branches in Orestiada, Ksanti and Kavala, North Greece. Iliana is a lawyer as a qualification and experience, but also she helps Bulgarian students to continue their education in Greek universities and Bulgarians to legalize their degrees in Greece, supporting them with translations and procedures. As a Chair of Cultural-Educational Association of Bulgarian Societies in East Macedonia and Trakia Region of Greece, Iliana is one of the founders and an administrative director of Bulgarian Weekend School.
So, we asked her to tell us more about the way how it works.
How came the idea of Bulgarian Weekend School of Aleksandroupoulis?
It was my and the other Bulgarians initiative to create a Cultural-Educational Association of Bulgarian Societies in East Macedonia and Trakia Regions of Greece. One of the main goals is to save and cultivate the nationality, language and cultural identity of Bulgarian emigrants and their children. We also organize events to spread the cultural heritage and traditions of the Republic of Bulgaria. Following the tendency of the rising number of Bulgarians living in North Greece, we decided to open a Bulgarian Weekend School. It is managed by the Management Board of the Association with the support of the School Principal and the Parents Council. It is controlled by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science and is part of its program "Mother Language Across the Border".
Please tell us more about the school. How does it works? What are the teachers' qualifications? What subjects do you teach the students? What are the conditions to become a student in the school?
The teachers are graduated in Pedagogy and other Faculties of Bulgarian Universities.The students in the Bulgarian Weekend School "Vasil Levski" are on different ages. They are separated in classes, based on their knowledge of Bulgarian, not on their age. They start school from 6 years old with a preparation for the first grade and continue until 12-th grade. They graduate with a Certificate which is the same as if they study in Bulgaria. The school is accredited by The Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Bulgaria in partnership with the program educational plan approved by the Ministry. The classes are 4 hours on Saturday or Sunday, because the students are in the Greek school during the working week. The main objectives are 3: Bulgarian Language and Literature, History of Bulgaria and Geography of Bulgaria. There are also classes of Art. The only condition to be a student in a Bulgarian Weekend School "Vasil Levski" is to have at least one parent Bulgarian.
Are the children sincerely interested in learning Bulgarian or are they sent by their parents? Do they speak Bulgarian at home?
The students in our school are personally interested and they are very active in class and participate to the folklore events we organize. The parents are also very active but mainly the students are self-motivated. In all the families, no matter if there is one or two Bulgarian parents, the spoken language is Bulgarian.
What motivates you to work for the Bulgarian School?
First of all, I am happy that we found the right form to save Bulgarian folklore and Bulgarian language- spreading it between Bulgarian society across the border. This makes me proud and motivated.Above all, what makes me really happy in my work with Bulgarian school is the desire of the students to attend classes , but also their parents, to support the development and continuation of our goals. What impress me a lot is the readiness of the Bulgarian Government and Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science. They support indeed the overall activities of the Bulgarian Weekend Schools abroad and maintain our efforts, such as always be at our disposal as well.
We finish our meeting with a smile and a message of Iliana for the International Day of Mother Language:"I would like to wish to all young people to remember and study the language of their ancestors because every language is a treasure which needs to be saved and when it is mother language we have the moral obligation to save it as a part of our family roots. A tree without roots cannot stand in time."
Written by Iva Veneva
