Strashimir Bardarov
Founder and president of the Foundation, owner of the Bistra and Galina Hotel

He was born in the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa.
Since the age of two he has been living with his family in his mother’s native town of Byala.
He graduated from the Professional School – the department of “Hides” – in Sofia. He worked in the capital till his joining the army. He did his military service as a submariner.
After being discharged, he worked at the Meat-processing Plant in Rousse. He graduated as an extra-mural student from the Leather Industry Technical School in Lovech. He worked as production organizer in the “Prista” joint-stock company. For 25 years he was in charge of the import leather for Bulgaria, and visited almost any country on the five continents.
After 1989 he registered the “Sasha Impex” firm with the subject of leather trading.

Diana Antonova
Executive Director of the Foundation

She was born in Rousse. She graduated from the “Dimitar Tsenov” Academy of Economics in Svishtov, in the department of “National economy management and planning”. She has a Doctor’s degree in Economics and is a head assistant professor in the “Business and Management” at the faculty of “Law, administration and business” of Rousse University of “Angel Kanchev”. She is a lecturer of marketing-management and advertising. She has specialized in Portugal, UK, Greece, Ireland and France. She is the author, independently and in team, of more than 40 scientific publications in Bulgaria and abroad. A visiting lecturer and consultant in marketing-management at CMFR – Rousse. She is the manager of “Primako”Ltd –workout of recipes for the “Prima” fruit syrups and juices. Marketing consultant at “Primax”Ltd, Rousse – advertisement strategies, preprinting design and publishing and an expert at the Economics Committee of the “Open Society” club – Rousse.
Speaks English and Russian. Hobby – classical music.

Lyubov Draganova was born in Sofia.
She graduated from the “St Kliment Ohridski” Sofia University, department of “Classical and Modern Philologies”, subject – French philology.

She started her professional career as a French language teacher at a secondary school. For many years she was a journalist at BTA – Head Editorial of “International News”. For 12 years she was an editor of the “Panorama” magazine for contemporary foreign literature. Later on she was in charge of the “International relations” section of the “Bulgaria Hunting” Belgian-Bulgarian company. At present she is a head expert in the “International activities” department at the Ministry of Education and Science and is in charge of international programmes and projects within the framework of UNESCO, the International Bureau for Education, the Council of Europe and some international NGOs.

She is a member of the Consultative committee of UNESCO on Education for peace, human rights, democracy, international understanding and tolerance.

National coordinator of the UNESCO-associated schools’ system. Representative for Bulgaria in the Committee for Education at the Council of Europe. National coordinator of the European Year of Languages 2001 declared by the CE and the European Union.

The translator of more than 20 books from the French and French-speaking literature (novels, novelettes, short stories), of encyclopedias, political articles, scientific literature. Author of articles and reviews.
She speaks French, Russian, English and Polish.
Married. Her husband, Sergey Nachev is a journalist; her son is a student.

Milen Nachev was born in Silistra (1957).

He was admitted at the Instrumental Faculty of the Bulgarian State Conservatoire, in the piano class of Prof. Konstantin Ganev and at the Faculty of Theory and Composition, in the choir conducting class of Prof. Vassil Arnaudov. A year later after a competition he entered St. Petersburg Conservatoire, in the conductorship class of Prof. Ilya Mussin. He graduated with honors as an opera and symphony conductor and started work at the Opera House in Rousse.

He specialized with Prof. Genady Rojdestvenski at the “Chiggiana” Academy in Siena, Italy. After his specialization, he was appointed a head conductor and head artistic director of the Opera of Rousse. Later on he became a scholarship student of ANFIAC with UNESCO, and his practice as a manager was with the Symphony Orchestra of Paris. He got his diploma from the University of Bourgundy – Dijon, France. He started work as a conductor at the Opera of Sofia.

Invited as a conductor of the Symphony orchestra of the Bulgarian national radio, a year later he became its head conductor. With this cast Maestro Nachev realizes exceptionally successful tours in Germany, France and Spain. He releases a lot of records, including world premieres of contemporary works for the fund of Bulgarian national radio.

As a visiting conductor, he works with the orchestras of the Prague National Opera, the philharmonic orchestra of the town of Klaggenfurt – Austria, the orchestra of Academia “Concordi” – Rome, Italy and the orchestra of the Bucharest national radio. Head conductor of the symphony orchestra of Belgrade TV and radio.
He realizes master degree classes of conductorship at the “Liceo” Academy in Barcelona, Spain and Opava, Czech Republic.

Winner of the prize: “For a contribution to national culture” of the Parliament of the Bulgarian republic and of “Crystal Lyra” of the Ministry of Culture for greatest achievement in the sphere of music.
Speaks French, Russian and Italian.

Yordanka Nenova was born in the town of Koubrat.

She has a degree of English philology from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and a second degree of philosophy.
A teacher of English, British and American Literature at the English Language School of Rousse since 1968. Awarded a distinction of First Class of Qualification for contribution to the development of English language teaching methods in Bulgaria. She has participated in a number of national and international conferences of language teacher associations both with reports and as a lecturer. Author of a textbook for advanced English learners “Life Skills”, and a reviewer of the textbooks of English literature for the 10 and 11 grade for English Language Schools.
She was awarded a Fulbrait grant for American studies in 1988 and attended a two-month course in Temple University, Philadelphia.
She works on UNESCO associated school projects. Participates in seminars, conferences and congresses on the problems of human rights and peace and international education in Malta, Finland, Germany, Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Hungary, Sweden and Denmark.
Author in team of five textbooks and practice books on international education in English assigned by UNESCO and the Ministry of Education.
Editor and publisher of a collection of educational materials on ecological education “Views and Voices” and the periodical bulletin “The Blue Danube”, “The Art of Synergy”, “Bulletin of UNESCO associated schools in Bulgaria”.
National coordinator of the UNESCO project for Bulgaria of human rights and peace education; international coordinator of the ASP “The Blue Danube”.
For distinguished innovatory work in international education she was awarded the prize “Best UNESCO teacher for Bulgaria”. In 1995 received the “Sexaginta Prista” regional award for outstanding results in teaching. In 1997 was – nominated and received the award of honour of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education “Neofit Rilski”. President of SAGE – School Association for Global Education since its foundation.
An expert on intercultural education at the CE.
Member of the Managing Board of the “Open Society” Club – Rousse.
Member of the national committee of the “Europe at School” competition and the national committee on the EU initiative of European Year of Languages 2001.
Coordinator of interclub project of the “Open Society” clubs of Rousse and Smolyan and SAGE.
Married. Her husband, Todor Nenov, is a teacher of literature; her son is a student.

Bojidar Nikolov was born in Rousse.

He graduated from the Medical College in Rousse as a Medical Auxiliary. Immediately after his graduation he started work in the village of Mogilino as a medical auxiliary in the village and in the orphanage for mentally retarded children.
Later on he was invited to work at the Transport Hospital in Rousse as a district medical auxiliary.
He graduated from the medical university in Varna and worked at the department of internal diseases in Transport Hospital, 2nd department of internal diseases in the Regional Hospital and as a regional doctor with Bulgarian State Railways. At present he is a free-lance specialist in internal diseases.
Member of the administrative body of the “Danubian Sounds” choir.
Married. His wife Emilia Nikolova is an artist; his daughter Yoana is 6 years old.

Velina Tsekova was born in Popovo.
She graduated from the “Angel Kanchev” Rousse University, in “European Studies”. Speaks English and French.
Married. Her husband Nikolai Tsekov is an engineer. Her daughter Vassilena is a few months old.

Maia Paskaleva was born in Rousse.
She graduated from “Vazrajdane” Secondary school and “Geo Milev” English Language School. Now she is a student of “Economic management” at the “A.Kanchev” University of Rousse. She has won a competition with the award of three-month specialization at the University of South Lancashire, Preston and UK under the Socrates Programme. She speaks English and German.