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HISTORIES FROM BELENE 2.0 (2025-2027)
Following the successful completion of the first Histories from Belene project (2022–2024), its continuation will broaden its scope and activities. The new phase of the project will be carried out from 2025 to 2027 by the Sofia Platform Foundation, with the support from the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
For over a decade, the Sofia Platform Foundation has supported formal and informal education in history and civic studies in Bulgaria. This new project phase will place even greater emphasis on the connection between understanding the history of the recent past and the current state of democracy in the country.
In this regard, the potential of the town of Belene is undeniable. It is one of the most significant Bulgarian historical sites as it served as a location for the largest labor camp of communist Bulgaria. Additionally, it is one of the few Catholic centers in predominantly Orthodox Bulgaria. Nearby, Persin Island is not only a beautiful nature reserve but also home to over 200 species of birds.
With the help of the local community, represented by Father Paolo Cortesi and Mihail Marinov from the Belene Island Foundation, we organize numerous educational initiatives in the town. Since 2018, the Sofia Platform Foundation has also orgnized an annual summer school on the history of the recent past for students from across the country.
The aim of the Histories from Belene 2.0 project is to preserve the remembrance of the totalitarian communist regime, and in particular the remembrance of the Belene camp, and to contribute to fostering democratic culture in the country through high-quality civic education.
Activities
1. Recording 3 interviews with survivors for the belene.camp webite
In the first phase of the project, we recorded 9 interviews with survivors of the Belene labor camp and political prisons before 1989. These interviews documented not only the life in the camp, but also the experience of what it is like living under a totalitarian regime in general. We also developed a specialized computer algorithm that enables a digital conversation with survivors based on the recorded interviews.
On the belene.camp webite, you can engage in virtual conversations with survivors, take a virtual tour of the Belene camp, or book an actual on-site tour.
2. Organizing 30 training seminars for history and civic education teachers
These Ministry of Education-certified training seminars will introduce modern teaching methods in history and civic education while also including visits to the Belene camp.
3. Developing free teaching materials for history and civic education teachers
4. Organizing visits for around 60 school classes from across the country to hold outdoor history lessons in Belene
The Sofia Platform Foundation will also encourage teachers to independently organize student visits as part of the Ministry of Education's "Bulgaria – Educational Routes" program, which has recently included the Belene camp.
5. Conducting 6 training seminars for university students
These seminars will target students preparing to work as teachers, focusing on modern methods for teaching history and civic education.
6. Organizing 3 summer schools in Belene for students
Since 2018, the Sofia Platform Foundation has organized annual summer schools for students. Over the course of 5 days, participants meet with former camp detainees, local residents, historians and researchers of the communist period, to work together on matters regarding the history of the totalitarian regimes in Europe and in particular the Bulgarian communist regime and the Belene camp.
7. Updating and expanding existing exhibitions at Site 2 of the Belene camp on Persin Island
8. Publishing literature related to the regime and the Belene camp
9. Creating a digital map of all camps in Bulgaria, along with a list of individuals detained at the Belene camp
Materials
For more information, please follow the Sofia Platform Foundation webpage and social media profiles.
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at office@sofiaplatform.org.
Funding organization
America for Bulgaria Foundation
The program is supported by the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonpolitical American grant-making foundation working in partnership with Bulgarians to strengthen the country’s private sector and related democratic institutions. ABF builds on the success of the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund, an investment fund created in 1991 by the U.S. Congress with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Further information: https://us4bg.org/.
The statements and opinions expressed herein are solely those of Sofia Platform Foundation and do not necessarily reflect the views of America for Bulgaria Foundation or its affiliates.
Go Back
For over a decade, the Sofia Platform Foundation has supported formal and informal education in history and civic studies in Bulgaria. This new project phase will place even greater emphasis on the connection between understanding the history of the recent past and the current state of democracy in the country.
In this regard, the potential of the town of Belene is undeniable. It is one of the most significant Bulgarian historical sites as it served as a location for the largest labor camp of communist Bulgaria. Additionally, it is one of the few Catholic centers in predominantly Orthodox Bulgaria. Nearby, Persin Island is not only a beautiful nature reserve but also home to over 200 species of birds.
With the help of the local community, represented by Father Paolo Cortesi and Mihail Marinov from the Belene Island Foundation, we organize numerous educational initiatives in the town. Since 2018, the Sofia Platform Foundation has also orgnized an annual summer school on the history of the recent past for students from across the country.
The aim of the Histories from Belene 2.0 project is to preserve the remembrance of the totalitarian communist regime, and in particular the remembrance of the Belene camp, and to contribute to fostering democratic culture in the country through high-quality civic education.
Activities
1. Recording 3 interviews with survivors for the belene.camp webite
In the first phase of the project, we recorded 9 interviews with survivors of the Belene labor camp and political prisons before 1989. These interviews documented not only the life in the camp, but also the experience of what it is like living under a totalitarian regime in general. We also developed a specialized computer algorithm that enables a digital conversation with survivors based on the recorded interviews.
On the belene.camp webite, you can engage in virtual conversations with survivors, take a virtual tour of the Belene camp, or book an actual on-site tour.
2. Organizing 30 training seminars for history and civic education teachers
These Ministry of Education-certified training seminars will introduce modern teaching methods in history and civic education while also including visits to the Belene camp.
3. Developing free teaching materials for history and civic education teachers
- Adding lesson plans for 7th and 10th-grade history to the grajdansko.bg platform
- Creating lesson plans on current events for civic education
4. Organizing visits for around 60 school classes from across the country to hold outdoor history lessons in Belene
The Sofia Platform Foundation will also encourage teachers to independently organize student visits as part of the Ministry of Education's "Bulgaria – Educational Routes" program, which has recently included the Belene camp.
5. Conducting 6 training seminars for university students
These seminars will target students preparing to work as teachers, focusing on modern methods for teaching history and civic education.
6. Organizing 3 summer schools in Belene for students
Since 2018, the Sofia Platform Foundation has organized annual summer schools for students. Over the course of 5 days, participants meet with former camp detainees, local residents, historians and researchers of the communist period, to work together on matters regarding the history of the totalitarian regimes in Europe and in particular the Bulgarian communist regime and the Belene camp.
7. Updating and expanding existing exhibitions at Site 2 of the Belene camp on Persin Island
8. Publishing literature related to the regime and the Belene camp
9. Creating a digital map of all camps in Bulgaria, along with a list of individuals detained at the Belene camp
Materials
For more information, please follow the Sofia Platform Foundation webpage and social media profiles.
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at office@sofiaplatform.org.
Funding organization
America for Bulgaria Foundation
The program is supported by the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonpolitical American grant-making foundation working in partnership with Bulgarians to strengthen the country’s private sector and related democratic institutions. ABF builds on the success of the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund, an investment fund created in 1991 by the U.S. Congress with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Further information: https://us4bg.org/.
The statements and opinions expressed herein are solely those of Sofia Platform Foundation and do not necessarily reflect the views of America for Bulgaria Foundation or its affiliates.