Saturday coffee break with Iliyana Dadarova - PTPI Sofia Secretary
Last Saturday we drunk our coffees in Varna – Bulgaria. This time we are still in Bulgaria but now in Sofia. Iliyana Dadarova is telling us her story about volunteering in PTPI. She writes poems and stories but also as a Secretary at PTPI The Doves Student Chapter she is taking care for the current projects and the one that will be organized in future in her chapter. Warm up your coffee, fasten your seatbelts and we are traveling at the capital of Bulgaria- Sofia.
1. Tell us something about you briefly.
Hello! My name is Iliyana Dadarova but my friends call me Illy. I am a student in the 11th grade at First English Language School in my hometown Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. I love reading books, listening to music and feeling inspired. I write poems, short stories and articles. I am also the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.
2. What chapter are you currently member in? How do you like the atmosphere in your chapter?
I am the secretary of Sofia, Bulgaria (The Doves) Student Chapter. I really enjoy being part of this chapter - our members are creative young people who want to change the world. We believe that a lot of people x small actions = big change.
3. Can you tell us something more about the current projects you have in your chapter?
We have a lot of ideas for projects in March. We are planning to visit an orphanage near Sofia and spend time with the children. On Monday (March 4) we are starting a charity campaign which will be aimed at collecting old books for them.
Another initiative is creating an international edition of our magazine for art and literature called “Dedoodle”. The project is called “Art Knows No Boundaries”. Members of all PTPI chapters can send us their poems, stories, essays, drawings and photographs and we will get them published in “Dedoodle”. Do not hesitate to participate! The deadline is April 1.
On the International Women’s Day (March 8) we will be selling hand-made origami-flowers. The motto of the project will be “Do not buy a flower which will fade, buy never-dying one instead”.
On March 10 we will honor the memory of the innocent victims of the Holocaust by laying flowers on the Memorial plaque in Sofia.
We are also thinking of volunteering in a shelter for dogs in Bogrov, organizing projections of old Bulgarian movies, organizing a street show “Smile Zone”, creating another video for our Sister Chapter in Syracuse, New York, USA (you check out the first one here ) and many other useful and fun activities.
4.What changes has PTPI brought in your life?
I have participated in PTPI since 8th grade. I dare say it made me a better person. It sounds like a cliché, I know. Being part of the chapter gave me the opportunity to realize how happy I am - I have my parents, my house, my friends, my life; I do not need to fight against a terminal illness, I am healthy and alive. I became thankful for what I have and more sympathetic to those who are not that gifted. Now I really want to help my community, to change, to make people think, believe and hope.
5. What would you recommend to the youth that are still thinking whether to be part of a local PTPI Chapter or not?
Hey! There is not much to think about - I would STRONGLY recommend they join the chapter. In PTPI one meets people who share the same ideas, who want to make changes… people who are inspired and inspiring. Being a volunteer is good thing, it makes you feel and be important and useful. I believe that volunteering should not be only a single action; it should become a way of life.
1. Tell us something about you briefly.
Hello! My name is Iliyana Dadarova but my friends call me Illy. I am a student in the 11th grade at First English Language School in my hometown Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. I love reading books, listening to music and feeling inspired. I write poems, short stories and articles. I am also the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.
2. What chapter are you currently member in? How do you like the atmosphere in your chapter?
I am the secretary of Sofia, Bulgaria (The Doves) Student Chapter. I really enjoy being part of this chapter - our members are creative young people who want to change the world. We believe that a lot of people x small actions = big change.
3. Can you tell us something more about the current projects you have in your chapter?
We have a lot of ideas for projects in March. We are planning to visit an orphanage near Sofia and spend time with the children. On Monday (March 4) we are starting a charity campaign which will be aimed at collecting old books for them.
Another initiative is creating an international edition of our magazine for art and literature called “Dedoodle”. The project is called “Art Knows No Boundaries”. Members of all PTPI chapters can send us their poems, stories, essays, drawings and photographs and we will get them published in “Dedoodle”. Do not hesitate to participate! The deadline is April 1.
On the International Women’s Day (March 8) we will be selling hand-made origami-flowers. The motto of the project will be “Do not buy a flower which will fade, buy never-dying one instead”.
On March 10 we will honor the memory of the innocent victims of the Holocaust by laying flowers on the Memorial plaque in Sofia.
We are also thinking of volunteering in a shelter for dogs in Bogrov, organizing projections of old Bulgarian movies, organizing a street show “Smile Zone”, creating another video for our Sister Chapter in Syracuse, New York, USA (you check out the first one here ) and many other useful and fun activities.
4.What changes has PTPI brought in your life?
I have participated in PTPI since 8th grade. I dare say it made me a better person. It sounds like a cliché, I know. Being part of the chapter gave me the opportunity to realize how happy I am - I have my parents, my house, my friends, my life; I do not need to fight against a terminal illness, I am healthy and alive. I became thankful for what I have and more sympathetic to those who are not that gifted. Now I really want to help my community, to change, to make people think, believe and hope.
5. What would you recommend to the youth that are still thinking whether to be part of a local PTPI Chapter or not?
Hey! There is not much to think about - I would STRONGLY recommend they join the chapter. In PTPI one meets people who share the same ideas, who want to make changes… people who are inspired and inspiring. Being a volunteer is good thing, it makes you feel and be important and useful. I believe that volunteering should not be only a single action; it should become a way of life.