Mariana Angelova is part of the team at the “Umienie 2003” Community Centre in Yambol, where she has been working with children and young people for years, helping them discover, develop, and assert their talents and voices. For her, culture, art, and human connection are not merely tools for development – they are the foundation for nurturing responsible, thoughtful, and confident individuals who believe in themselves and know that they matter. Her work within the Megaphone Programme and the National Network for Children has led her to realise that care is action, not words.
“The most powerful experience for me has been working with children and young people through the Megaphone Programme. This is not just a project – it is a journey in which I have grown myself. At first, I wasn’t even sure I would manage. But something simple and powerful happened – the children began to believe that their opinions mattered. And that is when I realised that everything was worthwhile.”
The programme has given us the opportunity to build trust, relationships, an authentic connection that has nothing to do with “formal” work. When you see young people – uncertain, withdrawn, hesitant – begin to express themselves clearly, assert themselves, and take action… you feel that something real is sprouting from the seeds you have sown. From those who have always sought a stage but never had one.
When I first started at the community centre, I had many doubts about myself – whether I would cope, whether I was in the right place. But the children quickly showed me that the meaning is not in perfection, but in the desire to be there for them. In the desire to be where you are needed.
At our community centre, we have always believed that art is a path to personal growth. Here, young people discover and develop their talents – in painting, folk dancing, pop and jazz singing. We see what happens when they are given a chance – how they shine, how they transform, how they start to express themselves and step out of their shells. And the library at the centre is a quiet ally on this journey – a place for reading, dreaming, and self-education.
When you are close, you hear what truly matters. We work directly with children. We talk to them. We listen to them. And from their words, we begin to understand what they need – not only here and now, but as part of a larger community. We encourage them to connect with other children, to exchange experiences, to think, to hope, to dream.
And most importantly – to realise that they have rights. The right to good parents. The right to adults who respect them. The right to a quality education, good healthcare, and a safe space for growth.
And what better place for learning than the library? And what better place for self-discovery than the stage?
The Network is our support. When you are part of the National Network for Children, you are not alone. You have access to different perspectives, resources, support, and inspiration. You have people with whom you can share, seek advice, and find solutions. Being part of the Network means being part of something meaningful – a living structure in which care is not a slogan, but a practice.
Remaining committed? It is not a matter of motivation. It is a matter of love. Being resilient in this work does not come from some superpower. It comes from a simple realisation – that children are our future, and that the care we give them today shapes that future. The way to never give up is to keep loving, believing, and caring.
And the people who do all this? They do not simply organise events. They do not simply teach or provide support. They believe. They endure. They persevere. They listen. They give stage and heart. They know that every child carries talent waiting to be seen, that every opinion deserves to be heard, and that every step, however small, leads to change.
This is not just work. This is a mission. It requires willpower. It is sustained by faith. And it moves forward by one word that says it all: Care.
Some children and young people are still waiting for their chance, their stage, their voice. With your support, we can give them the opportunity to be heard, to develop their talents, and to believe in themselves. Join us at www.nmd.bg/dari and help the next story begin with hope!
This article is part of the National Network for Children’s new series, “Stories from the Heart of the Network”, inviting you into the world of those who, every day – often quietly and unnoticed – work for the rights and well-being of children in Bulgaria. We will share real stories of specialists, activists, and professionals from NNC member organisations – people who do not simply carry out their professional duties, but live the cause of a better future for every child.
