A Week Full of Emotions

It has been a week full of emotions, songs, dances, music and rejoicing. It all began on December 15th with the making of children’s Christmas sticks and Christmas loaves, combining the 100 year anniversary of the community center with the components of the Christmas and New Year holidays. The day continued with the opening of and exhibit of local artists, and concluded with a magnificent concert by the Trakia Folk Ensemble from Plovdiv.
The second day of the celebration was also quite interesting and instructive. The children from the kindergartens in town had the opportunity to be introduced to Mary’s Puppet, a production of The Puppet Theater of Stara Zagora. The evening continued with Egocentric café-theater, As a Bulgarian, Am I an Idiot?
For lovers of wedding music, The Young Thracians Orchestra performed a one hour concert which a number of young local singers took part in. Earlier in the day, the kids were glad to meet with Santa Clause in the community center.

With the oncoming of the big date the events started to become progressively more thematically intense. An exhibit featuring local photographer Nedelcho Stoikov called The Community Center Through the Years had opened, the event finished with a large variety of colors and patterns as well as the rich sounds and voices of the students from Luben Karavelov High School in Plovdiv.
The amateur variety program of community centers from the Municipality of Rakovski was rich with local talent. The Hristo Botev Community Center from the Village of Stryama were represented by their always-dominant “Stryaman Brides”, and the young dancers from Enlightenment Community Center in the Village of Belozem brightened the audience with the rhythms of Cha-Cha and Samba.
The Slav Boikin Folklore Ensemble from Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" was in rather larger form due to the addition of participants from almost every incarnation of the group that has passed through the community center over the years.
The culmination of the week was on December 20, 2008, when the 100-year anniversary of the community center was marked with a concert by The Pirin Folk Ensemble from Blagoevgrad, a bonfire, and fireworks featuring the kukeri group from Vasil Levski Community Center in the Village of Kliment and the kukeri group from Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" in Rakovski.

A tale of the people and the men and the young people with character

On September 13, 2008 a group of young enthusiasts thought, considered and determined that six years is more than enough time for a community center to exist without a stage. A stage, which solely for the entire town, and more, that this community center after one or two months would be turning 100 years old. What did they do? -Martin, Phillip, Nikolai, Andre, Boiko, Penka, Maria and Victoria!
They rolled up their sleeves and for months in a row, in defiance of everyone and everything, worked day and night in order to attain their one secret dream – to dance on the stage of the local community center.
And… they made it from a pile of wood, two hammers, nails, nuts, bolts and one cementer. In under three months they crafted the stage, on which to dance, to frolic, to teach themselves, and to spend every free minute on something healthy and creative.
From here began everything…
The community center staff thank these young people, who didn’t waste their talent and time and decided instead to voluntarily make something beautiful and healthy for the whole city!

100 Years Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius"

Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, becomes a centenarian. The event will be marked during the week of December 15th - 20th, 2008 under the patronage of the mayor of the Municipality of Rakovski and the Chairman of the Municipal Council of Rakovski.

PROGRAM

MONDAY
December 15, 2008

2:00 The making of children’s Christmas sticks and Christmas pastry-rings with kids from the applied art club



Organization of Christmas borough



5:30 Opening of gallery show of local artists

6:00 Concert: Trakia (Thrace) Folklore Ensemble, of Plovdiv



TUESDAY
December 16, 2008

10:00 & 11:00 Children’s puppet theater – Mary’s Puppet

6:00 “Egocentric” café-theater presents As a Bulgarian, am I an idiot?, with Simeon Alexiev



WEDNESDAY
December 17, 2008

9:30 Opening of exhibition of children’s Christmas sticks and Christmas bread

2:00 Santa Clause at the community center

5:30 Concert: Mladi Trakitsi (Young Thracians) Orchestra, featuring soloists Vania Vulkova and Violeta Kalinova


THURSDAY
December 18, 2008

5:00 Gallery opening: local photographer Nedelcho Stoikov – The Community Center Through the Years
5:30 Concert: Students from Luben Karavelov High School (Plovdiv) with soloists:
Svetelina Carlakasheva
Ivalina Carlakasheva
Mariana Oreshkova
Lilia Stancheva
Veronica Borgodjieva

FRIDAY
December 19, 2008

10:00 Debate including community center chairpersons, secretaries, librarians, trustees, and the public: The Community Center – Naturally Attractive Center of the Community

5:30 Mixed program including amateur performers from the community centers of the Municipality of Rakovski



STAURDAY
December 20, 2008

6:00 Grand concert including the Kukeri Collective of Community Center “Vasil Levski” (Climent Village, Municipality of Karlovo), the Kukeri Collective of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" (Town of Rakovski), and the Pirin Folklore Ensemble (City of Blagoevgrad).

SUNDAY
December 21, 2008

5:00 Christmas Pageant organized by the children of “Holy Heart Jesus” parish

Kukers in Kurjali

The kukeri collective from community center "Св.св.Кирил и Методий" took Kurjali by storm on October 4th to celebrate 95 years of active community centers in the province of Kurjali, and more specifically the 95th anniversary of community center "Обединение" (Society), City of Kurjali.

The smallest participant in the kuker procession was the tiny Йоана, who is one year and 11 months old. One of the newest members in the kukeri collective of community center "Св.св.Кирил и Методий", Town of Rakovski.

For the excellence of their presentation, the collective was rewarded a certificate and a gift from the Regional Director of Kurjali Province. After the young people’s presentation at the 95th anniversary followed a short, two-hour tourism lesson. The group visited the area "Перперикон" (Perperikon), of course climbing to the top, and the smallest kuker didn’t quite make it.

Plovdiv on the night of the museums and the galleries

Despite the rain which fell throughout the entire day on September 26th, in the old part of the city of Plovdiv the night of museums and galleries was carried out. Surprisingly, even with the unusually wet and cold weather for this time of year, the old city was full of people who wished to visit the prepared events which occur once a year in the museums and galleries. One of the participating museums was the Ethnographic museum, which exhibited folklore wool this year. Participants included the ensemble and kukeri collective from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий”, Rakovski, amateurs from the city of Isperih and the village of Malevo. The ring of cow bells and from the kukeri from the community center and the cries of the devils in the streets of Old Plovdiv took command of the night, followed by a performance by Anna Mandrajiska, the presentation of the custom "Попрелки" from from the amateurs from the village of Malevo and the performance of the a cappella group "Бели карамфили" (White Carnations) from the Historical museum in Isperih. After completing their performance, the program continued until the early dawn and the dance and improvisation school of the folklore ensemble from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий” drew countless visitors to the museum.

For the people and the places the rulers

Community Center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий” has gone six years without a stage, but despite the wishes of many people for it to remain that way even longer still, we turned to the community for help with the reconstruction of the stage. The appeal to them did not go unanswered. Ten volunteers were collected starting this week, and the stage is already almost ready. With this attitude we are already sure that there is at least a real possibility of the planned events from December 15th to 20th, 2008 will take place in the auditorium of the community center.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the people who believe in us helped us to check up on the problems at the community center. We would also like to extend the sincere gratitude to the representatives of businesses who believe in our accomplishments and help us to organize activities. Sincere thanks to the municipal administration of Rakovski for their tireless work concerning the community center building, events which are organized by the community center, and the contribution for the lack of staff in the community center through the transfer of such in non-working community centers in the municipality.

The community center in Kurjali turns 95

The community center “Обединение” (Society) in the city of Kurjali will celebrate its 95th anniversary week from September 30th to October 5th.
On October 4th the kukeri collective from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий”, Rakovski, will take part in the celebration in the anniversary of community center “Обединение”. And on October 2nd the Director of the community center will be part of a round table discussion on the theme: “The community center secretary – traditionalist or modern manager.” A presentation on good practices of community centers from southern Bulgaria, organized by community center “Обединение”, Kurjali.

Night of the museums

The annual Night of the Museums will be conducted once again this year in the old part of the city of Plovdiv. The event takes place on September 26th and the doors are open for everyone. One of the participants in the night pageant are the dnacers from the folklore ensemble “Слав Бойкин” (Slav Boikin) from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий”, who will perform at one of the museums in Plovdiv.
The mission for the youth, however, is not only to perform at the event, but also to take on the role of instructors of folk fitness for the visitors of the Ethnographic museum – Plovdiv.

New association of the hard-working community centers

A new association of the hard-working community centers from the south central district was founded last week. The staff of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" participated in the establishment. The name of the association is "ЧАР-ЮГ" (or “Magic-South”), whose entire goal is to help the development and approval of the intellectual value, the civil society, the education and the culture through the community centers in the Southern central system region -- the traditional social center; to ensure favorable circumstances for the stable development of the area community, through the development and implementation of strategies, projects and programs, connected with the community centers in the Southern central system region; to further the development of community center work, through the help of community center projects and initiatives, consistent with the development and endorsement of the local cultural traditions, the aid of socially isolated social groups, educational – learning activities, social integration, and character development.
Membership of the association may be community centers, who have received two recommendations from members of the association.

Take the things in your hands !

This year, the “Komunitance” Foundation has announced a competition for talented and studies students from the 6th to the 13th grade – “1000 Scholarships”. The competition has two rings. The first ring is connected with the preparation of documents and applications, and the second ring consists of interviews with approved candidates from the first ring. Registration in the competition can be on the internet, but after July 15th.
Candidates may participate alone or together with a teacher. For more information, you visit the site of the “Komunitance” Foundation -- www.1000stipendii.org, or the library of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", where you will find paper copies of application forms, the brochure for the eligibility requirements for application a description of the project.

“Global Libraries – Bulgaria” Project

The research and assessment of the needs of the libraries for the new project “Global Libraries – Bulgaria” from the “Bill and Melinda Gates” foundation has begun. The project is accomplished in two phases: the first is the evaluation of the needs of 1,500 libraries from general number 2,814.
From the municipality of Rakovski, seven of the eight community center libraries are included in the evaluation of the needs, one of which is the library at Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Town of Rakovski.
For the second phase, 1,200 libraries will remain and will be aided with the project. In these, the entire program will be carried out with a duration of 3 to 5 years.

Together we achieve more

For the third straight year, the staff of Community Center “ “ and the class instructors together with their graduates from “Hristo Smirnenski” Elementary School celebrated the big Bulgarian holiday – May 24th – The Day of Bulgarian Characters and Culture.


In what has practically already become a tradition, 45 kids participated from the 2nd grade class. Each and every child participated in a number of activities such as skipping rope, orienteering with maps and collecting the pieces of a puzzle, tug of war, forming sentences out of jumbled words, and a number of games in which the kids gave everything they from themselves both creatively and physically.



Of course, this year we didn’t forget the primary game


“What I made with Mom and Grandma” which includes the presentation of the dishes


which the kids had cooked together with their parents.


For the fulfillment of the undertaking, the teachers and the community center personnel would like to express their gratitude to the Director of the Budgetary function “Education” for the municipality of Rakovski, who provided transportation to the area in which the event took place.

National Library Week

The community center is joining in the campaign under the heading “The Library Days Series,” and from May 12th to the16th the community center library will be participating with “Open Doors Days” and Days Without Fines.” The campaign includes students from Hristo Smirnenski School, who are helping to assist in the operation of the library and they are giving every visitor a ribbon bearing the inscription “Friend of the library.” The goal of the campaign on the national level is for librarians to participate in the daily process of forming legislation to encourage bills which support public libraries. The measures, which are implemented through the community center library as part of the national campaign, will be going on all week.

The kuker group at Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius” have returned from Montenegro

The kuker group at Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius” were part of the carnival fiesta in Budva, Montenegro. The carnival takes place every year and ushers in the beginning of the tourist season and activities that take place during this period.


This year the event was conducted under the title “The Spring Night Behind the Mask.” The participants numbered over 2,000 present from cities on the coast of the Adriatic Sea and from countries all over Europe.



After the parade, the participants continued with their presentations in the streets of Budva and in the square in the old section of the city, followed by thousands of masked and non-masked people.


Of course, the group’s stay didn’t pass only with its participation in the festival. As part of the Federation of European Carnival Cities, we took part in the cocktail party organized in honor of Henry Van der Croon, founder of the Federation.

National Fund "Culture" approves a project of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius"

In the competition of National Fund “Culture” for financing participation of representatives of Bulgarian culture and art in international cultural forums in foreign countries and visiting foreign managers and programmers in the area of culture and the arts for the Program for Cultural Contacts – Mobility – 2008 /session 1/, Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski participated and was approved.

The project proposal from the community center , submitted to National Fund “Culture” under the name “International dialogue through ‘The Spring Night Behind the Masks’”, will be used to fund the forthcoming traveling of the kukeri collective from the community center to Budva, Montenegro, which will be carried out in the beginning of the month of May. The goal of this proposal project is for the kukeri collective to represent Bulgarian culture and at the same time to accomplish a lasting intercultural dialogue between participants in the carnival in Budva, who represent non-governmental tourist and cultural organizations from all over Europe.

Drama - Kavala - Thassos Island

This is the route which we propose to you together with tourism firm "ILFI". The trip is two days for the price of 99 leva, which includes transportation from Plovdiv – a bus with climate control, video, and a minibar / one night of lodging including breakfast, a ferry boat taxi to Thassos Island, medical insurance for the period of travel.
The dates for the two-day trip are: March 29, April 4, May 24, and June 14

Travel with only your personal identification card for the promotional price!

Visit picturesque places!

We are taking orders!

We’re waiting for you!

130 Years Since the Liberation of Bulgaria

130 years since the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish slavery is the theme of the exhibit which opened today at community center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius”, Rakovski.
It covers the period from the creation of the BRCC (Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee), through the preparation of the April uprising and ultimately its suppression. On display are some pictures representing the cruel atrocities that occurred in the Bulgarian villages after the suppression of the insurgency and the following actions – the calling of the Istanbul Conference, the explosion of the Russian-Turkish liberation war, the role of Bulgarian volunteers in the war and the dismemberment the Bulgarian lands after the climax of the liberation war.
The exhibition is hung in the lobby of the community center, where there is a display area, and everyone who wishes may visit the exposition.

Happy 3rd of March to everyone!

Grandmother March hurries along...

And this year Grandmother March visited the children’s day center of community center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius”, Rakovski. While a little bit hastened, instead of on the first of March it started on the 29th of February, she tied martenitsi on every child for health and good luck. Like a prize for the kids having learned the verses and songs for this unique traditional Bulgarian holiday, she told them the legend, handed down from generation to generation, of the origination of the martenitsa.

Like this the kids were told throughout the day to receive their blessing from Grandmother March, which her wish for every child to be smart, happy, smiling, to be healthy and obedient, to be white and red throughout the entire year.
Out of their gratitude for the blessing, the kids also fulfilled their piece of the custom and returned the gesture to Grandmother March and, like her, tied martenitsi!

Happy Grandmother March to you all!

On February 19th we observed the 135th year since the hanging of Vasil Levski – the deacon. A simple display in the lobby of the community center was organized, which included a spot with a bust of Levski, and a little later during the day we lead a brief lecture about the deeds, the life and the mishap of the apostles with a group interested in the doings of Vasil Kunchev’s students, regularly visitors to the library.
At the moment the community center is preparing an exhibit to commemorate 130 years since the liberation of Bulgaria, which will be opening on February 29th. The show covers/includes the period from the April uprising to the end of the Russian-Turkish Liberation war.