For the second time, the Open Society Award for Civic Contribution goes to the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development. Svilena Velcheva and Georgi Krastev, creators of the documentary series ‘The Unknown Paradise’, received the award during the 33rd annual awards ceremony of the club in Hall 1 of the Festival and Congress Centre. ‘It is awarded for their strong civic stance, their ability to advocate for environmental causes and to seek public support for the protection of natural resources,’ reads the jury’s motivation.
In 2016, the same prize was awarded to Ilian Iliev, one of the founders of the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, for the long-standing environmental causes he has championed.
In 2014. Darina Ivanova, also a member of the association and one of the founders of the Sea Club ‘Friends of the Sea’, received the “Sea” award of the ‘Open Society’ for the implementation of the project ‘Summer Sea Academy’.
This year’s award winners were featured in a 50-minute documentary that allowed the audience a glimpse into their world.
The other awards this year went to:
Dr. Irena Radeva – Head of the Regional Department of Education in Varna, whose team promotes the state policy in the field of vocational education, received the award ‘For contribution in the field of education’.
Teacher Dimitar Avramov from the Vocational School of Electrical Engineering – winner of the award ‘For contribution to vocational education’.
For the outstanding style in upholding the mission to preserve and present the artistic heritage of the artists of the seaside town, the award ‘For contribution to the development of culture’ goes to the team of the City Art Gallery and its director Dorothea Pavlova.
The traditional award ‘Sea’ this year has two winners. Raicho Raychev and the company EnduroSat, creator of the largest educational platform for space science and technology in Europe, which invited the VVMU ‘N. Y. Vaptsarov’ for a space trip.
The second recipient of the Sea Award is Navy Admiral Professor Doctor Kalin Kalinov – Rector of the Naval Academy, who uncompromisingly established the name of the Naval Academy as a leader in the field of maritime education, maritime science, technology, maritime security and safety.
The award ‘For contribution in the field of medicine and health care’ this year goes to Prof. Dr. Elitsa Encheva – Head of the Radiotherapy Clinic at the University Hospital “St.. She is also the Head of the Department of Encephalomyelitis at the University of Medical Sciences in Varna. It is awarded for the remarkable style and dedication to the cause of the Clinic to apply all world standards in the field of cancer treatment.
The ‘Great Award for Civic Contribution’ in 2025 is for the most recognizable and uncompromising in her search for answers Varna journalist – Daniela Stoynova.
The Open Society Club also awards an unusual posthumous prize ‘Beautiful Mind’ to one of the brightest and most beautiful minds of our time, our fellow citizen, our spiritual teacher and friend – Father Lyubomir Popov.
Traditionally, the club gave everyone in Hall 1 of the Festival Complex a theatrical performance. The guests watched a performance of the Satirical Theatre “A. Konstantinov.
