This past November, the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF) organised two events under the umbrella of the CEV School Project ‘Play Volleyball – Grow with it’.
The 8th SU Vasil Levski school in Sofia is where such an event took place. Children from the fifth grade of the school in Musagenitsa district took part in a demonstration exercise held on November 21. The kids received valuable lessons from coaches Svetozar Ivanov and Anton Vasiliev, who work for the Stoychev-Kaziyski Volleyball Academy (VASK) and under the watchful eye of Volleyball legends and former captains of the men’s national team, Evgeni Ivanov and Nikolay Ivanov. Enthusiasm quickly took over the pupils and for an hour they happily enjoyed the various exercises and tasks that were set for them in the cozy and warm gym. The children were divided into four teams – two for girls and two for boys, and everyone had equal opportunities to perform and impress.
“It is very important for us as a federation, and we are very happy that we can be partners in this project. We are part of a large-scale European project that aims to introduce the game of Volleyball to kids, for them to see how beautiful it is, how pleasant and how many things it will teach you. Play, learn, have fun with the coaches!”
Evgeni Ivanov
SU Alexander Ivanov–Chapai is an exemplary school. Nestled between three mountains – Rila, Rhodope and Sredna Gora, and near two rivers – Maritsa and Yadenitsa, it successfully combines the traditions of history with a modern and technologically up-to-date look. Over 500 children study there, and there are about 60 teachers, most of whom are young people. Cleanliness and warm comfort emanate from every room and corridor in the building, which also has an elevator for children with disabilities, an event hall, a library, a gym, a canteen, and the rooms for individual subjects are equipped with all the necessary tools. Transport is also provided for the children. The school in Belovo is proud of its many extracurricular and entertaining activities – such as robotics, mathematics, drawing, folk dances, a cheerleading squad and of course – Volleyball.
The interest in Volleyball motivated the school management to renovate one of the courtyard courts as well, so that more children could practice the game. The official opening was combined with the CEV School Project, and the ribbon was cut by Spaska Kuzmanova, director of the Alexander Ivanov – Chapai Secondary School, as well as Stoyko Stefanov, the newly elected mayor of Belovo. This happened in the presence of representatives of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, among them Vice-President David Davidov, Administrative Director Stanislav Nikolov, the coordinator for the national teams Nikolay Ivanov and BVF School Project Manager Adriana Marinkova.