YC 2023 – Inherited Culture

Our journey start in the summer of 2023.

42 youth and 4 assistance from 9 EU countries arrived in Sofia for a preparation for volunteering activities. Let us show you what they did and achieved for 45 days:

On arrival training

The first days of our activity began with training ON ARRIVAL. The training took place in Sofia and brought together all 42 of us, participants in the 3 groups, who would later be distributed to 3 different locations in Bulgaria: the town of Petrich, Veliki Preslav and the town of Targovishte.

These first days were an emotional start! With team building activities we got to know each other, learned more about Bulgaria and the culture, the places we would be, made plans for the period we would spend together. And we celebrated 3 birthdays together! Cheers!

Volunteering activities split us in 3 teams:

Team 2 – Veliki Preslav town

One of the main activiy was excavations in the ruins of the second capital of the firts Bulgarian kingdom

“Open doors” or meeting with the new generation of archaeologists. Group of kids visit the cite and try to be archaeologists for 3 days. History games and a lot of fun we have with them!

You cannot imagine how funny is to pretend that you are from another epoque! Costumes that local club “Traditions” collecting are amezing! To exchange historical facts and date about European history was awesome!

One of the topics that bring us together with museum specialists and students from Veliko Turnovo University in Bulgaria was a Seminar “Young people and History: how we can contribute?”. The ideas from this event will be published in a book on the same topic. Stay tuned.

Another important part of the work of the archaeologists after digging, is cleanning the found artecats. What they told us is a miracle that the specialist after that could “translate” for us.

Again with kids, this time is a game for investigate and resque people. Probably from Veliki Preslav one day will have a lot of people that will help and volunteering.

Team 1 – Petrich town

First meeting with prof.Vagalinski – the head archaeologist on the Ancient city Heraclea Sintica. Exsept everything else, he is an amazing tour guide and super talentent story tellar.

One fo the main volunteerig activity was cleaning the archaeological infrastructure.

We, young people as a new generation of Museum Workers, or a Tour Guide, or play Games that make history interesting subject for kids…. a lot of ideas that will be presented in a book very soon.

Team 3 – Turgovishte town

Historical museum in Turgovishte – first meeting with the local history and team meeting to split the tasks.

Our team working on digitalizing the artefacts in the storage of the museum: pictures, discribtions, categorize and organzie in e-catalog, after that… carefully pack them and ready for exhibitions.

A lot of materials were translated in different languages: Italian, Latvian, Turkish, Spanish. Some of them are also audio recorded. So, the museum now offer you audio tour guide in all those languages.

Missionis fortrest is located 7 km west from Turgovishte. A Part of our team help of the archaeologists their.

A lot of events with local people: Language coffee, presenting participant countries, learn traditions, cooking and dance together… and all the time fun and good people around!

Seminar “How youth can contribute for the history in school?”. The mayor of the towm greeting us and our contribution for preserving of cultural heritage of Turgovishte town and the region.