A bold idea, a great deal of hard work and a strong spirit of volunteerism – this is how the creation of a significant place began, breathing new life into closed and forgotten educational centres and restoring them to the heart of the local community.
“Books build bridges between generations. Through them, we not only preserve the past, but also integrate young people into an active, thoughtful and creative civil society.” – Maria Doncheva – Chairwoman of “Knigini”, Deputy Chairwoman of IOB.
Together with the team at Lesto Product, the interior of the ‘Knigini’ Centre was revamped with fresh and innovative solutions. To create an inspiring environment, we designed the event awards, crafted and installed an entrance art arch, a world map made from high-quality materials, and acquired themed hand crafted tables and chairs. The space was also enhanced with display units housing a temporary exhibition of Bulgarian glass artworks, kindly provided by a colleague from the Lesto Product team.
We are proud that this project has become a true unifying hub, attracting the support of volunteers, local businesses, schools and institutions. The refurbishment of the centre was successfully completed just before an exceptionally important event for the region – hosting the World Meeting of the International Organisation of Book Towns in September.
This year also marks the third edition of the Festival of Books, Good Deeds and Traditions. The event takes place on 26 and 27 September in the village of Chelopek and brings together children recognised for their good deeds, distinguished authors, musicians and literature enthusiasts.
We believe that by supporting culture, education and worthy causes, we are helping to build a successful future for our region.
