(8 Oct) Sofia Rotary Presidents Meeting and Lecture by PDG Nina Miteva on Inter-Country Committees (ICC)

Posted in News and Events. Written by Admin on October 8th, 2026

On 8 October 2026, the Presidents of Rotary Clubs in Sofia gathered at Hotel Marinela for their second Presidents’ Meeting, hosted by Rotary Club Sofia-Vitosha. The meeting brought together ten participants, including club Presidents, a President-Elect, Past Presidents, and Assistant District Governors, to discuss upcoming events, joint charitable initiatives, and opportunities for stronger cooperation among Sofia’s Rotary clubs.

Among the upcoming events discussed was the Sofia Rotary Clubs’ Christmas Ball, proposed by Anelia Dosheva, President of Rotary Club Sofia-Vitosha, for 15 December 2026 at Millennium Hotel Sofia.

The Presidents also exchanged information about other club initiatives, including Rotary Club Serdika’s ice-skating charity event and the anniversary of Rotary Club City on 26 March 2027.

A further proposal was to revive the annual Christmas charity initiative “Secret Santa” on a broader scale, involving all Sofia Rotary clubs. Rotary Club City will be invited to present its project, and a joint working group is to be established to coordinate the initiative.

Following the Presidents’ discussions, the focus of the meeting turned to Inter-Country Committees (ICC) and their role in connecting Rotarians, clubs, and districts across national borders, in a lecture by PDG Nina Miteva. Inter-Country Committees are a Rotary framework designed to strengthen friendship, intercultural understanding, and cooperation between countries. They help build lasting relationships between Rotary communities and create opportunities for joint humanitarian projects, professional exchanges, cultural activities, and Rotary Friendship Exchanges.

Through ICC partnerships, clubs can discover international partners, exchange knowledge and experience, develop sister-club relationships, and work together on international service projects. In this way, personal friendships can become the foundation for practical cooperation that benefits communities in both countries.

The ICC network reflects Rotary’s commitment to peace, goodwill, and international understanding. It allows Rotarians to look beyond geographical boundaries and turn shared values into meaningful action.

For Rotary Club Sofia International, the ICC partnership between Bulgaria and South Africa is a particularly meaningful example of international cooperation. On 17 June 2026, our club welcomed Helene Visser, Jacqueline, and Graham Cladon from Rotary Club Blouberg, South Africa. The highlight of the evening was the signing of the Inter-Country Committee Charter between Bulgaria and South Africa.

The Charter was signed by PDG Nina Miteva, ICC Coordinator for Bulgaria; Hristina Malchevska from our club, Assistant District Governor Elect, Foundation Chair of the club and ICC Chair for Bulgaria for this partnership; and Helene Visser, ICC Chair for South Africa. Our then Club President, Claude Badan, exchanged club flags with the guests, celebrating the friendship between our Rotary communities.

This partnership builds on cooperation that has already made a tangible difference. Rotary District 9350 in South Africa supported the Global Grant project “Paradise for Children”, while Rotary Club Blouberg and Rotary Club Port Alfred also contributed generously to the initiative.

The project at the Rehabilitation Center for Children with Oncohematological Diseases in Opitsvet demonstrates how international Rotary partnerships can unite clubs and districts around a shared humanitarian purpose. Its successful completion illustrates the lasting value of international solidarity and the commitment of Rotarians to improving lives.

The Bulgaria–South Africa ICC offers a framework for developing this relationship further, opening the door to future joint projects, new connections between clubs, and continued exchanges of knowledge and experience.

The meeting hosted by Rotary Club Sofia-Vitosha highlighted the importance of communication, coordination, and shared responsibility among Sofia’s Rotary clubs. From joint charity initiatives and community support to international partnerships, the discussions reflected a common ambition: to achieve more by working together.

Whether cooperation takes place between clubs in the same city or between Rotary communities on different continents, the principle remains the same. Strong relationships create opportunities, and shared commitment turns those opportunities into meaningful service.

Rotary Club Sofia International is proud to contribute to this spirit of cooperation, both locally and internationally, and looks forward to strengthening friendships and partnerships in the true spirit of Rotary.

For more information, contact us at info@rc-si.org.