In May 2021, members of the team from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum (IEFLM) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, working on the project "Policies for the Preservation and Socialization of (Intangible and Movable) Cultural Heritage," met with children from different age groups, to whom they presented prepared materials related to cultural heritage. The materials presented—presentations—are part of a visually illustrated educational package dedicated to heritage preservation policies, on which the scientists participating in the project are working. Its aim is to present in accessible language various areas of cultural heritage (intangible and movable), important cultural institutions responsible for its preservation, and the policies applied for this purpose. The idea is for it to be used in museums and in education so that young people can learn more about the nature and value of different artifacts and elements of cultural heritage, which must be preserved both through the implementation of various cultural policies by the state and by all of us as a society.
On May 13, 2021, Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Stella Nenova from IEEM-BAS presented her presentation "The Community Center – Home of Old Traditions" to the students of 6th grade "d" class at 4th Primary School "Prof. John Atanasov." She introduced them to the history and specifics of this cultural institution, its role in preserving and socializing the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of local communities. In the discussion that followed the presentation, the students shared their direct impressions and personal experiences with traditions, as well as their participation in initiatives related to cultural heritage organized by various community centers.
On May 20, 2021, Senior Assistant Professor Daniel Fokas from IEEM-BAS presented his presentation "What is movable cultural heritage (MCH)?" to another class at the same school – 6th grade "a". It described the meaning of the term MCH and provided examples of this type of heritage. The topic and the rich illustrative material sparked the students' interest. During the lesson, the young people learned how to recognize MCH, the mechanism for its registration, and the path to its preservation and socialization as a cultural value. In the lively discussion that followed the presentation, the students gave examples from their own experience.
As part of the approval process for the visual training materials developed under the project, Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Iva Stanoeva from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences gave a presentation entitled "What girls knew how to do more than 100 years ago," dedicated to traditional female activities such as spinning, weaving, embroidery, and knitting. It is aimed at students of different ages and its purpose is to familiarize them with the importance of these skills for people in the past and how important it is today to preserve them because they, as well as the fabrics and clothing created through them, are part of our cultural heritage—both intangible and tangible. It was a real challenge to present it to students completing their primary education – on May 18, 2021, to class 7 "v" of 4th Primary School Prof. John Atanasov, and to those who are about to graduate – on May 19, 2021, to group 4 of 59 Kindergarten Elhitsa, Sofia. The presentation was tailored to the age of the audience and was met with interest. The children asked questions and shared their experiences with these traditions and artifacts in their families and in museums.
The scientists implementing the project are grateful to the teachers and management of the two schools in Sofia – 4th Primary School "Prof. John Atanasov" and 59th Kindergarten "Elhitsa" – for the opportunity to present their presentations. The reactions of students of different ages, their questions and stories about their "encounters" with heritage, as well as the opinions and recommendations of teachers, are of utmost importance for the team's further work on optimizing the presentations already prepared and preparing new ones.
