Saturday coffee break with Katerina Dimitrova - PTPI Varna Vice- president
One more Dolphin to start the Saturday with. Make sure the warm coffee is beside you. Katerina Dimitrova is the vice-president at PTPI The Dolphins Varna. She reveals that the volunteering in PTPI was the most memorable experience in her life. She loves to travel , but we know that she cooks really great. Let the smell of hot coffee and tasty banitsa take you directly to Varna.
1.Tell us something about you briefly.
Hey . My name is Katerina Dimitrova, but everyone calls me shortly Kate. I am from Varna, Bulgaria and this year is my last one at the Language High school in my hometown. When I have free time I use it to travel. I really enjoy traveling, meeting new people and discovering different cultures. I also like painting and doing handmade stuff.
2. What chapter are you currently member in ? How do you like the atmosphere in your chapter?
I am a member of the PTPI Student Chapter – The Dolphins in Varna. Now I am a Vice President, but sadly there is no time left till somebody else will be on my position. I really like and enjoy the atmosphere in the chapter, because there are a lot of creative people with fresh ideas, who want to contribute for the idea of PTPI, which is ‘’people to people’’ – to work together.
3.Can you tell us something more about the current projects you have in your chapter?
What I mostly like in our chapter is that t always something interesting happens . We are a lot of people with different characters and ideas, which helps for developing our chapter in positive way. One week ago we had a St. Valentine charity campaign + flashmob with another organization and we sold origami paper hearts. Every week we have events in the orphanage, where we go to play with the children, to help them with homework and to join the work with our EVS volunteers.The wide section of our events – movie nights, carnival day, math and sport competitions, talent show and others.
4.What changes has PTPI brought in your life?
PTPI really has changed many things in my life and in my personality in a positive way.
Firstly I made a lot of international friendships, which helped me to become more open-minded to the world and to understand that stereotypes are just borders that don’t let people feel free. Secondly, when you are a volunteer you grow up for a very short time, because every day you have to work with people, organize events and you are responsible for what you do and for the organization, where you are a volunteer. In my opinion to be a volunteer is the best job, although it isn’t paid. It helps you to improve you communication skills and to develop you character and personality.
5.Have you been given the opportunity to travel via PTPI programs? How would you describe this experience ?
Via PTPI programs I was on a homestay provided by our Sister Chapter CreACTive in Skopje-Macedonia. I attended the trip together with the president of The Dolphins Tsvetiana Zaharieva. It was a GREAT experience. After this homestay we built a really strong and close relationship between the both chapters. We also planned projects together.
6.What would you recommend to the youth that are still thinking whether to be part of a local PTPI Chapter or not?
I really recommend them to join immediately, because it will change their life for sure in positive way. To be a volunteer is not a waste of time. It is a great opportunity, if you want change something in your life.