Listen to the story: 10:38 min

“They don’t come from space, they were born right here, but their hearts simply echo like the purest sound.”

Blagovesta Tsenova often returns to this line by Bulgarian poet Valeri Petrov. Not just because it sounds beautiful, but because it reminds her who she is. She’s not from another planet, and there’s nothing particularly unusual about her. Blagovesta is an “ordinary girl from Ruse,” but her heart seems big enough to hold a whole world of children’s questions, experiments, and dreams. She is someone who never stops looking for ways to help kids discover what excites them—that special something that will carry them forward and give them wings to grow into kind, fulfilled people.

When someone says you can’t

As a child, Blagovesta often heard she wouldn’t succeed—that she was too small, too quiet, that things weren’t meant for her. But those words didn’t discourage her. On the contrary, they sparked a quiet determination to prove otherwise. Over the years, the shy girl from Ruse became a true fighter—calm, but resolute and driven.

She started far from the world of education—first studying public insurance and welfare, then international economic relations, and later European studies. She worked at major companies like Economedia and Coca-Cola before returning to her hometown, Ruse, where she joined the logistics company Econt as quality manager.

When her daughter was born, something shifted. At first, her goal was entirely personal: to create an environment where her own child could thrive and feel inspired. But Blagovesta doesn’t do things only for herself. Very soon, her ideas began to attract other families. She has a knack for creating more value than originally planned—from a small spark, she builds a fire that draws in the whole community.

At first glance, the leap from corporate life to education might seem huge. But for someone like Blagovesta, who’s spent a lifetime proving the impossible possible, it was a natural move. Her current work is built on the same foundations: organizing others, overcoming challenges, building strong teams. And, above all, a belief that every “can’t” is just the start of a future “can.”

Small workshops, big discoveries

It all began with a simple idea: make learning exciting. Instead of choosing a quiet, formal venue, Blagovesta launched her first science workshops in a shopping mall. Children mixed ingredients, watched chemical reactions, ran hands-on experiments—and had a blast. The space quickly filled with laughter, exclamations, and curious questions. Parents began calling to ask when the next event would be. Teachers brought their classes, even outside school hours.

What began as a modest experiment turned into a magnet for young minds. Seeing the packed halls and shining eyes, Blagovesta realized: the need was immense, and her approach worked. Learning didn’t feel like a chore—it felt like an adventure. And that made all the difference.

“With a small resource, we create great value,” she says. Because those moments don’t just share facts—they create memories that turn children into true explorers.

Projects with deep roots and wide wings

After the science workshops came hands-on programming and robotics classes, archeological adventures, gardening missions, and beekeeping brigades. Blagovesta’s ideas never stand still—each one grows into something new and even more engaging. Kids plant herbs and vegetables, amazed to see them sprout and grow. They build scooters from scratch, learning the basics of engineering with their hands and hearts.

One of the most popular initiatives is called Dig into the Past, developed in partnership with the Regional History Museum of Ruse and one of its foremost archeologists, Kristina Yanakieva. It has reached thousands of children and parents across Bulgaria and become so beloved that the museum director joked: “At this rate, in ten years, everyone in Ruse will be an archeologist.”

Of course, Blagovesta knows that not every child will become an archeologist or an engineer. Her goal is for each of them to find what truly excites them. Like the girl who joined a summer program and insisted, “Nothing interests me.” Until she got into a kayak. A few years later, she’s still training—completely in love with the river and the sport.

It’s because of stories like this that Blagovesta often says, “My goal in life is to help every child find what motivates them, so they can become a happy person.”

To make that possible, she always invites real-life professionals to work with the kids: archeologists, engineers, mountain rangers, artists, beekeepers. “You can’t create something lasting alone,” she says. For her, projects must stay alive even after the funding ends. They need deep roots and strong wings.

A palace for curiosity

Until 2019, Blagovesta called herself an “educational nomad.” She and her team held events in parks, schools, malls—anywhere they could. Each space brought its own adventure, but none felt like home. Then, one day, the logistics company Econt offered something remarkable: a building in the heart of Ruse. A former agricultural bank and architectural landmark, waiting for new life.

Little by little, the building became the Children’s Palace—a bright, welcoming space where curiosity feels right at home. It now hosts educational programs, creative workshops, and a community of young minds eager to learn. Half of all activities are free to ensure that everyone can participate—because learning should never be limited by circumstance.

Behind all this is a growing community of supporters: donors, volunteers, and partners like Econt, Lidl, Vivacom, Teach for Bulgaria, AGORA Platform, and the America for Bulgaria Foundation. Thanks to them, the fire of curiosity never goes out.

The core team of the Children’s Palace includes just ten people, but they are surrounded by volunteers, mentors, and parents who bring it to life. “I love helping people grow—and watching them inspire others to grow, too,” says Blagovesta. And you can feel that spirit in every corner of the Palace.

Raising kind, generous people

One of Blagovesta’s proudest initiatives is the Generosity Academy—a program where children learn about kindness and giving not from books, but through experience. They come up with ideas, make products with their own hands, organize charity markets, and choose causes to support: a sick child, a local dog shelter, a talented classmate in need of travel funds.

“I never ask them to donate everything. They should keep something they made, something to remind them that doing good begins with them,” Blagovesta says.

The program also includes Kindness Boxes, where kids write down and share stories about good deeds they did or witnessed. There’s even a toy library, where children can borrow educational toys, care for them, and return them so others can enjoy them too.

Alongside this, they explore civic education through storytelling. They produce video podcasts and comic books on social issues. They learn to interview, listen, create narratives, work with sound and visuals. They become active participants in the world, not just observers.

All of this will culminate in a theatrical performance on the theme of doing good, inspired by the works of Valeri Petrov. The production will be created in collaboration with director Denitsa Doncheva (Denkata) and her children’s theater troupe, Patilantsi. It will premiere in December 2025 and include stories from the Kindness Boxes. The children will also share the message at the heart of everything they learn: “I may be small, but I matter. And I can help.”

Never stop following your spark

Where does Blagovesta find strength when things get hard? When the challenges seem too big, or when someone tells her it just won’t work?

She pauses for a moment and smiles. “Sometimes all I need is to read a poem by Valeri Petrov to get my hope back.”

Other times, she draws strength from the community she found through the America for Bulgaria Foundation’s leadership program, LEAP, where she was a 2024 participant. There, she came to a powerful realization: even an “ordinary girl from the provinces” can do extraordinary things.

She often repeats Petrov’s lines: “People of goodwill, don’t fade away! Don’t stop chasing your first impulse!”

And she doesn’t. She keeps going—with her spark, her dreams, and her unwavering belief that doing good is always worth the effort. Come what may.