The Chinese Language School, under the Confucius Institute in Sofia, Hosted the Award Ceremony for the First Essay Competition for Chinese Students in Bulgaria

On January 24, the Chinese School in Sofia (Sino-Bulgarian Cultural Exchange Association), a teaching center under the Confucius Institute in Sofia, held the award ceremony for the first Essay Competition for Chinese Students in Bulgaria. More than 50 people attended the event, including Chen Ying, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute; Chen Jianjun, Principal of the Chinese School; Wang Lijun, Executive Vice President of the Sino-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce; Liu Bei from the Chinese Cultural Center in Sofia; as well as students, teachers, and parents.

At the beginning of the event, first- and second-grade students from the Chinese School in Sofia performed the Chinese song “Idioms Celebrating the New Year” and the Bulgarian song “A Song of Winter Days”. Their melodious voices and lively performance added a festive and warm atmosphere to the venue.

At the award ceremony, the host announced the winners of the first, second, and third prizes, as well as the excellence award, in four age categories: the Young Children group (9 years old and under), the Junior group (10–12 years old), the Intermediate group (13–15 years old), and the Senior group (16–18 years old). The awarding guests then presented the students with certificates and prizes, while the audience applauded enthusiastically.

This competition was the first Chinese writing contest specifically for ethnic Chinese students in Bulgaria. More than 30 students from various schools, including the 18th Middle School in Sofia, the Chinese School, the 101st Middle School, St. George International School and Preschool, and the British School of Sofia, enthusiastically submitted their essays. The Chinese School will use this event as an opportunity to encourage more ethnic Chinese students in Bulgaria to write in Chinese, to share their own stories of growing up, to pass on Chinese culture, and to keep the beauty of the Chinese language alive through the written word.

Confucius Institute in Sofia

Text: Zhang Kaiyue

Photos: Ding Chen

Editors: Chen Ying, Aksiniya Koleva, Ding Chen

English translation: Dima Pironkova