Ivan Ivanov currently works at the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria as a project expert. Before that he worked as the national coordinator of the International Network for Early Childhood Development at the Romani Early Years Network. In this role, Ivan helped and served early childhood specialists working with Roma children and helped improve the quality of early childhood services among the Roma community. He previously served as an intern at the Social Protection Fund at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and worked as a teacher at a primary school in Sofia.

2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Mobile School Stolipinovo

The project, Mobile School Stolipinovo, provided an opportunity for non-formal education for children of all social levels who live in Stolipinovo, the biggest and most segregated Roma neighborhood on the Balkan peninsula. The project involved 4 teachers from the local school who held 20 workshops and organized everyday activities with the children. Overall, 100 children and 200 parents were engaged.

The project offered a chance for the teachers to receive professional knowledge and practice their skills and to be more active and motivated for the long-term implementation of the project activities. More than 80% of the children that participated demonstrated motivation and desire to attend schools/kindergartens and more than 90% of the children has improved their social-emotional skills and knowledge about topics of different spheres of the social and educational level. The students also increased their cultural knowledge about the Plovdiv Basilica and the history of Plovidv town, based on the cultural visits implemented during the project.

"My child feels less isolated and more motivated to go to school since he started visiting the workshops" - Parent of child participant

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Positive Role Models for the Roma Community in Bulgaria

This project addressed stereotypes and discrimination among the Roma community, one of the largest ethnic groups in Bulgaria, in one of the poorest regions in Bulgaria. It introduced positive role models to the community to facilitate proactive discussions on the following topics: diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The project helped teachers who work with Roma children and parents to recognize their own attitudes, beliefs and behaviors in relation to marginalized groups. 40 students and 40 teachers engaged with 3 partner organizations to coordinate volunteer activities inspired by the project.

"I know what concrete steps to take to achieve the goals I have set for myself."- Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience

Ivan was a participant in the virtual IVLP Project A Global Moment in Time - Reflections on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in 2021 and 2023, both organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

U.S. Communities Visited in 2023

San Francisco, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington DC

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021

Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington DC; Orlando, FL; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Detroit, MI; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Cleveland. OH; Portland, OR

Country: Bulgaria

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