(4 Oct) Rotary Club Sofia International Welcomes Mrs. Biliana Toncheva and Mr. Plamen Belchev (+GAL)

Posted in News and Events. Written by Grant Dale on October 9th, 2023

It is with great joy and a true Rotary spirit that we witnessed the robust participation of our members and prospective candidate-members, coming together for our 2nd meeting of this Rotary year.

We extended a heartfelt welcome to our guests, embodying the essence of Rotary service. Among them, we were honored to host our dear friend Mr. Plamen Belchev, a visionary and the driving force behind the “Rehabilitation Center for Children with Oncohematological Diseases”.

Additionally, we had the pleasure of the presence of Biliana Toncheva, who shared her inspiring project and journey as a woman leading “EcoGlobe” a company pioneering European projects in energy efficiency and innovation.

This meeting began with a warm welcome from the President. He highlighted the important upcoming events. We were expecting the Ambassador of India for our next meeting, unfortunately we have to postpone this, and our Rotary friend, Serkan Halil will present the topic: ‘Building Trust & Providing Value – System, Product, and Person Certification’ during our next meeting. Moreover, we were extended invitations by the District Governor, Christo Mihailovsky, to two Rotary events: a gathering of multiple Rotary Clubs in Sofia and a round table on November 4th, commemorating the 90th anniversary of Rotary in Bulgaria.

After the energetic words of Mrs. Toncheva, the stage was graciously given to our friend Mr. Plamen Belchev, a true hope creator. He shared with us the invaluable work being carried out at the Rehabilitation Center located in Opitsvet village, Kostinbrod Municipality. This center, being the only one in the Balkans, offers specially tailored programs for various beneficiaries – children and young warriors who have battled over cancer, loving parents, resilient siblings, and families who have faced the unfathomable loss of a child in the relentless battle against this disease. All of them find solace and support within the center at least once a year.

The Rehabilitation Center now has seven single-family houses, an administrative hub housing offices dedicated to working with children and parents, a sports arena, a canteen, a well-equipped kitchen, multiple halls, a swimming pool, and a chapel. It’s worthy to mention that one of Rotary Club Sofia International’s recent contributions was the creation and donation of a “Tiny House” Container, to facilitate their sustainability in providing nutritious vegetables for the center.

This project remains an ongoing commitment for Rotary Club Sofia International to ensure its sustainability. We are unwavering in our determination to continue visiting, supporting, and nurturing this noble cause.

Our heartfelt gratitude extends to each and every member for their active participation and engaging with our guests. Special thanks to Mr. Rumen Rusinov and Ms. Ani Hristova for their unparalleled dedication in organizing this gathering. As the meeting proceeded, our social hour provided an opportunity for everyone to share ideas and engage in warm interactions. Together, we shall continue to make a positive impact on our community and beyond. – Create hope in the world.