Like any other 18-year-old, Karina Yonkova from Sofia loves hanging out with her friends. But their meetups aren’t just about sharing the latest gossip—they also exchange bags of organic waste that Karina and her family compost at their villa.
Karina cares deeply about the environment, and it shows in the little things she does, like making reusable gifts. Filip Froloshki from Varna takes it a step further, constantly reminding everyone around him to save energy by turning off unused lights—something he admits drives his friends and family a little crazy.
Alexandra Vasileva from Ruse and Tatyana Petkova from Sofia have also ditched plastic bags and disposable items, while Alexander Georgiev from Sofia follows a lesson instilled in him since childhood: “Leave the environment as you found it—or better.” He’s been recycling since childhood, accompanies his parents on clean-up efforts, and repairs public spaces, such as gazebos in local parks.
Across Bulgaria, young people like Karina, Filip, Alexandra, Tatyana, and Alexander are increasingly aware of the importance of living in harmony with nature. They are not only adjusting their personal habits but are also searching for ways to actively contribute to environmental protection. The five met through their involvement in Panda Labs, a youth program for green entrepreneurship run by WWF Bulgaria.
Launched globally in 2017 and introduced to Bulgaria in 2021 with support from the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Panda Labs offers 15- to 25-year-olds the chance to work on business solutions addressing critical environmental issues like plastic pollution, energy waste, and fossil fuel depletion. With guidance from mentors in science, business, and the nonprofit sector, participants tackle real-world problems. Kremena Dervenkova, executive director of the Association of Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE) and a vocal proponent of sustainable food production, who also serves as a jury member for the program, sees firsthand how this approach resonates: “Young people are more and more engaged with environmental issues and are acutely aware that they are the generation who will live with the consequences of today’s problems.”
The practical aspect of the program is crucial, allowing participants to see their ideas come to life. According to Lilia Arakchieva, head of WWF Bulgaria’s youth programs, this hands-on approach “sparks curiosity even in those who aren’t naturally proactive.”
To date, more than 650 young people from 55 towns across Bulgaria have participated in Panda Labs, working on dozens of sustainability-driven ideas. Several teams have gone on to develop prototypes with WWF funding, such as eco-pellets made from coffee grounds, biodegradable egg packaging from algae, and a high-protein ice cream made from leftover pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
Karina and Filip worked together for two consecutive editions of the program, developing a cooling system for rooftops that heats water for household use and a concept for food packaging made from mushroom mycelium. Though their projects didn’t move forward after the program, their innovative ideas captured the attention of the jury.
Beyond equipping youth with entrepreneurial and teamwork skills, Panda Labs deepens their sensitivity to climate change. Many participants, inspired by the program, remain committed to sustainable development long after it ends. In 2022, graduates of Panda Labs and other young environmentalists founded PanGea, a youth ecological organization now boasting over 100 active members and 400 followers on Discord. Tatyana is the president, Karina and Alexandra are part of the communications team, and Filip remains one of the group’s most engaged members.
Today, Alexander, now a member of the WWF Bulgaria team, helps orient new participants in Panda Labs and coordinates communication for the PanGea community. His goal is clear: “It’s important to show people that environmental issues affect all of us. We can’t just turn away and pretend these problems won’t touch us. They will, either affecting us or the people who come after us.”
PanGea combines the symbol of WWF and Panda Labs, the panda, with the name of the ancient supercontinent Pangea, which once united all of Earth’s landmass. This reflects the organization’s core belief: that united efforts are essential in the fight against climate change. This philosophy drives everything PanGea does. Its members organize clean-up events and awareness campaigns throughout the country, with membership and participation in the PanGea Discord community open to anyone, no matter where they are.
In recognition of their efforts, in 2023 PanGea was nominated for a Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation award for their campaigns and initiatives supporting environmental awareness. But for these young activists, it’s not about the awards; it’s about the very real and alarming climate changes happening around them.
“Every evening when I sit with my family and watch the news, we hear about fires or storms. Seeing the climate change right in front of us, knowing it’s ruining lives—this motivates me to keep going,” Karina says.
Other graduates of Panda Labs also align their career plans with environmental work. Alexandra, an architecture student, dreams of focusing on sustainable building. “At first, I wanted to restore old buildings. Cultural heritage is important, but so is our future. That’s why I’ve shifted my focus to designing the future, rather than rebuilding the past,” she says. Filip, on the other hand, plans to dedicate himself to science, starting his molecular biology studies this fall.
When Alexander joined the WWF Bulgaria team in 2022, he already had five entrepreneurial projects under his belt, along with successful fundraising efforts to bring them to life. Though deeply interested in entrepreneurship and confident that business can offer lasting solutions, he chose to focus on education—believing that this is the key to reaching the widest possible audience and making a greater impact.
“I want to change the environment here, to mobilize both material and human resources toward improving the world we live in,” Alexander says. “I hope the future will be guided by nature, not driven by short-term profits.”
These young changemakers remind us that making a difference starts with small actions—whether it’s composting, saving energy, or finding creative solutions to big problems. And they’re showing that together, we can leave the world better than we found it.
