News

14 January 2026

"Welcome to the Ombudsman Institution! Happy holiday, it's wonderful that you keep the tradition alive! Please know that you, your teachers, and your supervisors are always welcome here! Thank you for passing on this colourfulness! I wish you a very successful year! I can see that you are wonderful and intelligent. Keep those smiles, that enthusiasm, and the warmth you radiate for many years to come," said Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva as she welcomed the young survakari from Hristo Smirnenski Primary School based in the village of Tulovo (Maglizh municipality), who visited the institution on the occasion of the Roma New Year – Vasilitsa.

The Ombudsman expressed her special gratitude to the Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance, which organizes "Vasilitsa" in institutions every year to promote Roma culture, and stated that the good cooperation will continue in the future.

In response, she received an invitation for a joint initiative to identify and overcome segregated classes in schools, as well as to train local ombudsmen.

The young guests danced, performed the traditional ritual "survakane," and wished the Ombudsman good health, and she, according to custom, gave them treats.

Valentin Uzunov, principal of Hristo Smirnenski Primary School, said that the school he runs is mixed for students from first to seventh grade, with Roma children predominating. The management's aim is for them to participate in many projects and various initiatives. He also mentioned that they are housed in a new building, constructed in 2002, and emphasized that thanks to the work of the Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance, the children are embracing the idea of developing and continuing their education.

Finally, some of the young guests sat in the Ombudsman's "hot seat" if they wanted to, but they saw that there were many documents on the desk, which led them to think that there was a lot of work to be done.