The Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF) awarded a scholarship to 19-year-old Miroslav – a graduate from foster care, who this autumn begins a new stage of his life as a student of “Software Engineering” at the University of Ruse. The funds for the scholarship are provided by Alexander Savov, an individual donor to the foundation.
The symbolic cheque was presented by WCIF Executive Director Iliana Nikolova on June 3, 2026 during the “Evening of the Successful” – an event organized by the National Association for Foster Care (NAPG). In it, 12 young people from foster care celebrated the completion of their secondary education and the first step towards an independent life, together with their foster parents, partners and supporters.
Among them is Miroslav, whose story is an example of the power of support, trust and education.
Eleven years ago, he entered a foster family without speaking Bulgarian. Born and lived in Italy and the UK, Miroslav went through difficult life changes before finding a new home with his foster mother, Ivanka Cholakova. He started school at the age of nine, without knowing the language, but with a lot of work and perseverance, he gradually caught up and built confidence in his own abilities.
Today, he is graduating from high school with a clear goal – to develop in the field of information technology. This autumn he begins his studies in Software Engineering at the University of Ruse, and his dream is to become a programmer and work what he loves.
Education is at the heart of WCIF’s work. The foundation has been behind various educational initiatives since its inception, because it believes that knowledge opens doors and gives young people the power to build their future
The support for Miroslav is an investment not only in his talent, but also in the future of society. Because when a young person gets a chance to develop their potential and follow their dreams, the whole community wins.
We wish Miroslav success on his new path – and we believe that the best is yet to come.