The 2024 Educational Summer Camp: Leadership and Civic Engagement hosted 48 students for a week-long experience on the AUBG campus, combining inspiring lectures, skill-building workshops, insightful discussions, and a lot of practical activities.
The camp offered students a taste of liberal arts education and campus life at AUBG. Current AUBG students served as mentors, sharing their enthusiasm and passion for the AUBG community. “It is an educational camp, but at the end of the day it is a moment to teach or remind the students that they need to look for the work-life balance just like AUBGers do,” EVENTs person.
One unique feature of this year’s camp was the inclusion of parents in the final presentations. “It was interesting to observe how they saw their children in a different light, showing what they’ve learned throughout the week,” Slavina Georgieva, Associate Director of Events and Camp Director, shared.
Reflecting on their role, Mohamad Hachem (‘24), who was the Lead Camp Mentor said, “Being a mentor at the camp was a rewarding experience. It felt great and inspiring to share our enthusiasm for liberal arts education and the campus life at AUBG with the participants.”
“It’s not something you can explain without experiencing it, and I hope we were able to share as much of it as we can in the time we had.”
Radina Minkova, who has been involved with AUBG’s Summer Camps for four consecutive years, shared her unique involvement. “I’ve experienced the camp from both perspectives: as a camper for the first two years and now as a Camp Counselor for the last two.”
“Each year, I return because of the unique blend of academic enrichment and personal growth that the camp offers, making every moment spent at the camp truly special.”
“There was a saying that we had during the week, ‘We are not every camp!’ This sentiment reflects our belief that AUBG’s Summer Camp stands out due to its exceptional faculty, diverse international community, and the opportunity for campers to immerse themselves in a rich cultural experience.”
“It was amazing,” said this year’s participant Oleksandr Nilga. “Every day something was different and exciting. The time passed really quick. It’s been seven awesome days.”
As part of the academic activities, the camp featured several inspiring speakers throughout the five days of engaging lectures:
- Day 1: Prof. Evelina Van Mensel, EMBA (’16) shared insights into social entrepreneurship.
- Day 2: Alumnus and Kin + Carta People Director Petar Švarc (’02) discussed the intersection of technology and society, inspiring teams to finalize their project topics.
- Day 3: Blagoevgrad Mayor Metodi Baykushev encouraged campers to give their all for their community and themselves. “After all, the legacy we leave behind for our communities is what truly matters,” he emphasized.
- Day 4: Angela Rodel, AUBG Board of Trustee Member and Executive Director of Fulbright Bulgaria, inspired participants to harness the power of their voices. “We need your voices. We need you for what’s coming.” Angela is also a literary translator, having translated significant Bulgarian novels into English.
- Day 5: Iva Stanisheva and Svetoslav Stoikov from the Institute for Circular Economy highlighted the importance of sustainability, aligning with the UN’s core principle of meeting present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.
The AUBG summer camp effectively balanced academic learning with practical activities, reflecting the essence of a liberal arts education, while highlighting ethical leadership and civic engagement. Participants left with new knowledge, skills, and inspiration to make a positive impact on their communities.
