Our third club meeting brought us together for a truly memorable evening at YUGO by Džaferović – Authentic Balkan Grill in Sofia.
The gathering was a lovely, relaxed affair, providing the perfect backdrop for engaging conversations and meaningful connections. We were especially pleased to be joined by several special guests of the club, whose presence added wonderful new perspectives to our discussions and made the evening feel even more celebratory.
Beyond the great company, the culinary experience was a definitive highlight. The food was absolutely lovely, showcasing the very best of authentic Balkan grilling, and the service was nothing short of amazing from start to finish.
On 19 October 2026, Ani Hristova, President of Rotary Club Sofia International for 2026–2027 and Chair of the Rotary Friendship Exchange Subcommittee of District 2482, Bulgaria, had the pleasure of visiting Rotary Club Blagoevgrad Center at the kind invitation of Venko Papaliygov.
It was an evening that beautifully reflected the true spirit of Rotary – friendship, fellowship, meaningful conversations, and a shared commitment to building connections that reach beyond borders.
Ani was warmly welcomed by Past District Governor Borislav Kadrekov and Rotary Club Blagoevgrad Center President Todor Dimov. The meeting was also an excellent opportunity to meet fellow Rotarians and friends, including Blagoy Grozdanov, his wife Mariana Grozdanova, a prospective member of the club, Vasil Pipev, and Filka Ananieva. The evening brought together people whose enthusiasm for Rotary helps strengthen the bonds between clubs and communities.
The gathering took place at Frame Restaurant, owned by Rotarian Radoslav Mitrov, whom Ani also had the pleasure of meeting. His hospitality and excellent cuisine provided the perfect setting for an enjoyable meeting and the kind of conversations that remind us why Rotary friendships are so valuable.
Following this lovely visit, Ani Hristova would like to express her sincere gratitude to the members of Rotary Club Blagoevgrad Center for their participation in Rotary Friendship Exchange and for welcoming international visiting teams to Bulgaria. The club has already welcomed visiting teams from Germany, the United States, and Canada, helping international guests discover Bulgaria through the eyes of local Rotarians and experience the warmth of Bulgarian hospitality.
On 19 October 2026, the renewed paediatric ward at St. Ivan Rilski Hospital in Dupnitsa officially opened its doors, marking an important achievement for the local community and another inspiring example of Rotary in action.
The transformation was made possible through the collective efforts of Rotary Club Dupnitsa, the Za Dobroto Foundation and its Firefly project, Dupnitsa Municipality, the hospital, donors, volunteers, and the wider community.
The story reflects years of dedication and the determination of Rotarians to improve healthcare for children. During the 2020–2021 Rotary year, under President Slavcho Pavlov, the club continued its service through the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022–2023, under President Iliyana Vakavchieva, Rotary Club Dupnitsa launched its “Let Us Give Health to Children” fundraising campaign. Beginning with its Christmas charity ball in December 2022, the initiative mobilised local schools, businesses, donors, and citizens. The first event raised BGN 45,000, while school Christmas bazaars contributed a further BGN 13,000. By the end of December, total contributions had exceeded BGN 75,000. Subsequent fundraising events brought the amount raised by the club to more than BGN 125,000.
As the scale of the necessary renovation became clear, the club joined forces with the Za Dobroto Foundation and its Firefly – A Hospital That Doesn’t Look Like a Hospital project, alongside the municipality and the hospital. The shared ambition was to create a welcoming, child-centred environment where young patients and their families could feel safer and more comfortable.
An important chapter in this story began through Rotary Friendship Exchange with Germany. During the German Rotarians’ visit to Bulgaria in April 2023, the needs of the hospital in Dupnitsa were presented. The friendship continued during the return visit to Germany in June 2023, when Iliyana Vakavchieva joined Rotarians from Bulgaria, including members of Rotary Club Sofia International.
These personal connections helped turn a local need into an international act of solidarity. Rotary Club Obereichsfeld-Heiligenstadt in Germany organised a generous donation from St. Vinzenz Hospital in Heilbad Heiligenstadt: 34 specialised hospital beds, mattresses, bedside cabinets, and an ultrasound diagnostic machine, with a reported value exceeding BGN 30,000. Rotary Club Dupnitsa covered the transportation costs to bring the equipment to Bulgaria. This is the power of Rotary Friendship Exchange: friendships built across borders can lead to practical, lasting benefits for communities.
The project’s progress continued through successive Rotary leadership teams and the commitment of club members. Metodi Dimitrov, President of Rotary Club Dupnitsa in 2024–2025, played an important role as coordinator of the Firefly project from the club’s side. His contribution, together with the sustained efforts of Rotarians, partners, donors, and volunteers, helped carry the initiative towards completion.
The renewed paediatric ward is more than a renovated medical facility. It is the result of a community coming together around a common purpose, supported by Rotary’s spirit of service and international friendship.
Rotary Club Sofia International is proud that its members were part of the Rotary Friendship Exchange connections that helped bring this story to life. The achievement in Dupnitsa reminds us that when people work together across clubs, communities, and countries, friendship can become meaningful and lasting change.
Our President, Ani Hristova, was among the special guests attending the opening ceremony and received a warm welcome from the Rotarians of Dupnitsa.
On 12 October 2026, Rotary Club Sofia International had the pleasure of meeting Rtn. Dinesh Sharma, a member of Rotary Club Bombay Bayview, India, whose visit to Sofia brought together a wonderful combination of international friendship, sport, creativity, and community service.
Dinesh was in Bulgaria to participate in the Sofia Marathon, demonstrating his passion for running and his enthusiasm for discovering the world through new experiences. An avid traveller, he explores different countries and cultures while building connections with people along the way – a spirit that reflects the very essence of Rotary fellowship.
Beyond his sporting achievements and love of travel, Dinesh is deeply committed to Rotary and community service. He actively participates in his club’s initiatives and, through a foundation established within his company, supports children’s education, helping create opportunities for younger generations to learn, grow, and build a brighter future.
His talents extend beyond sport and philanthropy. Dinesh is also a gifted painter, expressing his creativity through art – another inspiring dimension of a personality that brings together an appreciation for life, a passion for new challenges, and a desire to contribute to society.
Meetings like this remind us that Rotary is much more than a network of clubs around the world. It is a global community of people who share a commitment to friendship, understanding, and service. Regardless of where we come from, our common values create meaningful connections and open the door to new ideas, collaborations, and lasting friendships.
Rotary Club Sofia International is delighted to have welcomed Dinesh to Sofia and to have had the opportunity to share this special moment of fellowship with a fellow Rotarian from India.
Because wherever Rotary brings us together, friendship inspires action – and every connection has the potential to make a difference.
On 8 October 2026, the Presidents of Rotary Clubs in Sofia gathered at Hotel Marinela for their second Presidents’ Meeting, hosted by Rotary Club Sofia-Vitosha. The meeting brought together ten participants, including club Presidents, a President-Elect, Past Presidents, and Assistant District Governors, to discuss upcoming events, joint charitable initiatives, and opportunities for stronger cooperation among Sofia’s Rotary clubs.
Among the upcoming events discussed was the Sofia Rotary Clubs’ Christmas Ball, proposed by Anelia Dosheva, President of Rotary Club Sofia-Vitosha, for 15 December 2026 at Millennium Hotel Sofia.
The Presidents also exchanged information about other club initiatives, including Rotary Club Serdika’s ice-skating charity event and the anniversary of Rotary Club City on 26 March 2027.
A further proposal was to revive the annual Christmas charity initiative “Secret Santa” on a broader scale, involving all Sofia Rotary clubs. Rotary Club City will be invited to present its project, and a joint working group is to be established to coordinate the initiative.
Following the Presidents’ discussions, the focus of the meeting turned to Inter-Country Committees (ICC) and their role in connecting Rotarians, clubs, and districts across national borders, in a lecture by PDG Nina Miteva. Inter-Country Committees are a Rotary framework designed to strengthen friendship, intercultural understanding, and cooperation between countries. They help build lasting relationships between Rotary communities and create opportunities for joint humanitarian projects, professional exchanges, cultural activities, and Rotary Friendship Exchanges.
Through ICC partnerships, clubs can discover international partners, exchange knowledge and experience, develop sister-club relationships, and work together on international service projects. In this way, personal friendships can become the foundation for practical cooperation that benefits communities in both countries.
The ICC network reflects Rotary’s commitment to peace, goodwill, and international understanding. It allows Rotarians to look beyond geographical boundaries and turn shared values into meaningful action.
During their recent visit to Bulgaria, three Rotarians from Germany – Hohenstein, Thomas König, former President of Rotary Club Hameln, and Wolfgang Schröter from Rotary Club Dortmund-Neutor – presented an inspiring international healthcare initiative: ET4Care – E-Training for Care.
ET4Care is a digital education programme designed for healthcare professionals, with a particular focus on modern wound management and the treatment of chronic wounds. The programme consists of 17 training modules and around 20 hours of video content, covering topics such as wound types and healing, pressure ulcers, diabetic foot syndrome, hygiene and infection management, nutrition, wound cleaning, modern wound-care materials, patient communication, assessment, and documentation.
The training combines online education with practical application, examinations and certification, as well as telemedical support. The project has already been implemented internationally, including in cooperation with the Odessa National Medical University and Rotary Club Odessa International in Ukraine, with support from a Rotary Global Grant.
During their visit to Bulgaria, our German friends visited the Medical College Sofia “Yordanka Filaretova”, the specialised nursing college, where they presented the ET4Care project and discussed possibilities for future cooperation with Bulgarian healthcare and Rotary partners. We were warmly welcomed by the Director of the Medical College, Prof. Maya Vizeva, PhD, together with guests from the medical community. Among them was Hristina Gurbeva, Chief Nurse of Alexandrovska University Hospital, who joined the discussion and showed interest in the initiative.
The initiative is currently being developed in cooperation with Rotary Club Pazardzhik, while Mr. Lyuboslav Barzanov and Rotary Club Samokov have also expressed interest in becoming involved. We are therefore looking for additional Bulgarian Rotary clubs and partners who would be interested in joining this international project and helping bring ET4Care to healthcare professionals in Bulgaria. More information is available at www.et4care.eu.
A special mention goes to Rtn. Rumen Rusinov and Dr. Nikolay Tsaribashev from Rotary Club Sofia International, who have been working closely with our German friends on this initiative for the past three years.
This is a wonderful example of how Rotary friendship and international cooperation can connect medical expertise, education, technology, and service across borders. Together, we can create new partnerships and contribute to better healthcare.
The annual Rotary Danube Alliance Conference, held in Ulm, Germany, on 3–5 July 2026, brought together Rotary leaders and members from across the Danube region to strengthen international cooperation, exchange best practices, and explore new opportunities for humanitarian service. The event was attended by Rotarians from seven countries in the Danube region.
The program featured presentations on the Rotary Danube Alliance’s successful initiatives, including the EndPlastic Soup project and its role in environmental action, as well as the Global Grant project “Surgery for Life” for Vidin’s hospital, and future initiatives addressing youth development, environmental sustainability, healthcare, and community service. There was also an interesting presentation by Catherine Adelmann of the University of Applied Sciences in Ulm on local innovation projects for sustainability. The event provided valuable opportunities for networking and the development of new cross-border collaborations.
The conference welcomed high-level Rotary leadership, including the District Governor of the host district in Germany, three Past District Governors, and two Assistant District Governors. Their participation underscored the growing importance of the Rotary Danube Alliance as a platform for collaboration among Rotary clubs and districts across Europe.
Among the speakers was Hristina Malchevska, ADG, District 2482 and Past President of Rotary Club Sofia International, who together with Dora Scusz, Rotary Club Budapest-Center, delivered a presentation highlighting the importance of international Rotary cooperation and the role of the Rotary Danube Alliance in fostering sustainable partnerships. In addition, Maya Borislavova and Stoyan Ivanov presented the Global Grant project “Surgery for Life” in Bulgaria, demonstrating how international collaboration can improve access to specialized medical care and create lasting humanitarian impact.
The conference was also attended by Past President Claude Badan and members Inna Badan and Domagoj Stefan from Rotary Club Sofia International, who joined the Bulgarian delegation and participated in the discussions and networking sessions throughout the event.
The Rotary Danube Alliance Conference once again demonstrated that collaboration across borders is one of Rotary’s greatest strengths. By bringing together leaders, experts, and committed members from different countries, the Alliance continues to inspire new projects, stronger partnerships, and sustainable solutions that improve lives throughout the Danube region and beyond.
On 17 June, Rotary Club Sofia International had the pleasure of welcoming Helene Visser, Jacqueline, and Graham Cladon from Rotary Club Blouberg, South Africa.
The highlight of the evening was the signing of the Inter-Country Committee (ICC) Charter between Bulgaria and South Africa. The Charter was signed by Nina Miteva, PDG and ICC coordinator for Bulgaria, Hristina Malchevska, Rotary Club Sofia International Foundation Chair, ICC Chair for Bulgaria, and Helene Visser, ICC Chair for South Africa, reaffirming Rotary’s shared commitment to friendship, peace, international understanding, and future cooperation on humanitarian projects. Claude Badan, President of Rotary Club Sofia International, exchanged club flags with the guests and expressed gratitude for their wonderful support of local communities.
The visit also celebrated the successful cooperation between our Rotary communities. Rotary District 9350 in South Africa supported the Global Grant project “Paradise for Children”, while Rotary Club Blouberg and Rotary Club Port Alfred generously contributed donations to the project. We highly appreciate the support from South Africa and value the long-standing friendships and commitment that have developed through our collaboration.
What began as a vision has become a reality with the successful completion of the Global Grant “Paradise for Kids.”
The project was implemented at the Rehabilitation Center for Children with Oncohematological Diseases in Opitsvet, creating a more sustainable and inspiring environment for young patients and their families. Through the establishment of a solar park, a bio garden of 100 planted trees, and training and environmental awareness initiatives, the project promotes renewable energy, nature-based learning, and responsible environmental practices within the rehabilitation center.
This remarkable achievement was made possible through the dedication and collaboration of more than 18 Rotary Districts and Clubs from nine countries, united by a shared commitment to making a lasting difference. The project has a value of 55,000 USD, and the solar park officially opened on 31 May.
The successful implementation of the grant is a powerful example of what can be achieved through international cooperation, shared values, and the Rotary spirit of Service Above Self.
We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who believed in this vision and supported it from the very beginning. Your generosity, friendship, and unwavering commitment have transformed an idea into a meaningful project that will benefit children and their families for many years to come.
The completion of “Paradise for Kids” is not the end of a project – it is the beginning of a lasting legacy of hope, sustainability, and international Rotary cooperation. Together, we have demonstrated that when Rotary members and partners unite around a common purpose, meaningful and sustainable change becomes possible.
Some partnerships cross borders not just on paper, but in the most tangible way possible – with a fully loaded truck. That is precisely what happened in the spring of 2026, when Rotary Club Stege from Denmark sent a major shipment of medical equipment to the Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment “St. Petka” in Vidin, one of Bulgaria’s most underserved healthcare regions.
The project, coordinated under the MED-Bul Vidin initiative and carried out between March and April 2026, brought together Rotary Club Stege, Rotary Club Vidin, and Rotary Club Sofia International in a joint effort to address a long-standing problem: the hospital’s reliance on outdated, insufficient, or difficult-to-access medical equipment, which had been hindering quality diagnostics, treatment, and patient care.
The donation was remarkable in both its scale and breadth. Among the items delivered were an ultrasound machine, syringe and infusion pumps, portable aspirators, vital signs monitors, SpO₂, ECG and blood pressure equipment, an otoscope and ophthalmoscope, a spirometer, medical refrigerators, hospital beds and bedside cabinets, wheelchairs, walkers, infusion stands, lead X-ray aprons, laboratory clothing, autoclave pouches, syringes, catheters, and more. The estimated value of the donation stands between €50,000 and €100,000 – contributed entirely by Rotary Club Stege and supported by local partners.
The beneficiaries are many. The medical staff – doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, and support personnel – will work more effectively and safely with access to modern tools. And the true measure of success will be felt by the thousands of patients from the Vidin region who, year after year, will receive faster, more accurate, and better-quality care – without needing to travel to another city to get it.
The effort on the ground involved five members from Rotary Club Stege, two from Rotary Club Vidin, and one member from Rotary Club Sofia International, who collectively gave their time to make the logistics possible.
This is Rotary at its most direct – identifying a real need, building the right partnerships, and delivering something that truly matters.
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Our third club meeting brought us together for a truly memorable evening at YUGO by Džaferović – Authentic Balkan Grill in Sofia.
On 19 October 2026, the renewed paediatric ward at St. Ivan Rilski Hospital in Dupnitsa officially opened its doors, marking an important achievement for the local community and another inspiring example of Rotary in action.
On 12 October 2026, Rotary Club Sofia International had the pleasure of meeting Rtn. Dinesh Sharma, a member of Rotary Club Bombay Bayview, India, whose visit to Sofia brought together a wonderful combination of international friendship, sport, creativity, and community service.
On 8 October 2026, the Presidents of Rotary Clubs in Sofia gathered at Hotel Marinela for their second Presidents’ Meeting, hosted by Rotary Club Sofia-Vitosha. The meeting brought together ten participants, including club Presidents, a President-Elect, Past Presidents, and Assistant District Governors, to discuss upcoming events, joint charitable initiatives, and opportunities for stronger cooperation among Sofia’s Rotary clubs.
During their recent visit to Bulgaria, three Rotarians from Germany – Hohenstein, Thomas König, former President of Rotary Club Hameln, and Wolfgang Schröter from Rotary Club Dortmund-Neutor – presented an inspiring international healthcare initiative: ET4Care – E-Training for Care.
Some partnerships cross borders not just on paper, but in the most tangible way possible – with a fully loaded truck. That is precisely what happened in the spring of 2026, when Rotary Club Stege from Denmark sent a major shipment of medical equipment to the Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment “St. Petka” in Vidin, one of Bulgaria’s most underserved healthcare regions.
