The guest performer will be the beloved Ruse singer Nelina

More than 40 attractive prizes, provided by the Municipality of Ruse and "Municipal Markets" Ltd., await the winners of this year's Christmas pageant. The event is free and will take place from 2 p.m. on December 15 (Sunday) in the largest hall in the city - "Arena Ruse".

A total of 30 pairs of competitors will take part in the contested competition. They are representatives of: FTT "Naiden Kirov", the ensembles "Zornitsa", "Zdravets" and "Ruschukliyche" at the Municipal Children's Center for Culture and Art and the Folklore Dance Studio "Zora" at the Municipal Youth Center. The difficult task of evaluating their mastery is assigned to the three-member jury, chaired by the choreographer and director of the Professional Folklore Ensemble “Mizia” – Targovishte Lyubcho Vassilev, and members – Dr. Katya Kairyakova – choreographer and lecturer at the Varna Free University, and Denitsa Ancheva – choreographer and lecturer at the National School of Arts “Prof. Veselin Stoyanov”.

In addition to the contested battle in the three age groups, the audience will also enjoy the performances of the Bulgarian Folk Club “Nashentsi”, Dance Cooperative “Zhaltitsa”, Folk Dance School “Igraortsi”, Folk Dance Club “Rodolyubets”, Folklore Teacher “Orisia”, Sports and Dance Club “Flamingo Etno”, Folk Dance Club “Elbetitsa” at the Secondary School for European Languages “St. Konstantin-Kiril Philosopher” and Folk Dance School “Vito Horo”, which will make their debut.

The audience will also be given a chance to perform, as the competition will be individual, and the condition is that the participants must be over 18 years old.

The emotions and good Christmas mood will be complemented by the folklore program, which the beloved singer Nelina will present to the audience in her hometown.

The campaign of the Municipal Foundation "Ruse - City of the Free Spirit" for accepting project proposals for the upcoming 2025 has begun. The Foundation will continue to work actively in two main areas:

- Supporting citizens with outstanding gifts from the municipality of Ruse;

- Organizing and supporting local initiatives.

Through the "Faces of Ruse" Fund, the Foundation lends a hand to talented Ruse residents who are active in the fields of culture, art, education, science and new technologies, and sports, who represent our city in a dignified manner in our country and to the world. Applications for support are accepted year-round and are not subject to a deadline. Applications are approved in accordance with the terms of the Rules for Support through Donations or Grants and Awarding of Individuals with Outstanding Gifts from the Municipality of Ruse and the funds available in the Fund.

Through the "Local Initiatives" Fund, the Foundation will continue to support and organize large-scale innovative events. In this regard, before forming the program for 2025, the team of the Foundation "Ruse - City of the Free Spirit" wants to conduct a survey of the attitudes and expectations of the general public. Therefore, from December 9, 2024 to January 31, 2025, the campaign to collect project ideas is underway, which can be in the following areas:

- Large-scale and innovative events;

- Culture and art;

- Mass sports;

- Education, science and new technologies.

We are waiting for your proposals on paper at the Foundation's office at: Ruse, 15 Knyazheska Str., 1st floor or by e-mail: rusefreespiritcity@gmail.com. To form the Project Proposals, use the form "Request for financing of local initiatives", which you will find on the Foundation's website in the "About us" / "Financing" section - http://free-spirit-city.eu/finansirane.

You can receive answers to all questions related to the current campaign for collecting project ideas by e-mail: rusefreespiritcity@gmail.com. All submitted proposals will be considered by the Foundation's Board of Directors, and the authors of the best ones will be invited to an interview regarding their implementation. The projects approved for funding will be announced in March. We remind you that project ideas will be implemented only if funding is secured.

At an official ceremony and on the occasion of the upcoming student holiday - December 8, the Municipality of Ruse presented the traditional "Student of the Year" award. The three most outstanding alumni of Ruse University "Angel Kanchev" received the prestigious award in the form of a scholarship, which is given for excellent success, lasting interests and achievements in scientific and research activity. These are Ivan Banchev, Martin Djurov and Tsvetelina Stefanova.

The students were awarded by Mayor Pencho Milkov in the presence of Deputy Mayor of Ruse Municipality Encho Enchev, Prof. Dr. Gencho Popov, Rector of Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”, Dr. Rositsa Georgieva – Chairman of the Standing Committee on Education, Science, Innovation and Digitalization in Council of Ruse and Head of RDE-Ruse.

„I sincerely believe that with determination and perseverance, you will find a way to apply what you have learned to do good. This brings meaning and satisfaction," the mayor said.

Ivan Banchev - a 4th year student at the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev" in the specialty "Technology and Transport Management", graduated the previous academic year as the top of his class with the grade of Excellent (6.00). He speaks English and Russian. He has interests in the field of transport, scientific research and sports activities. He represents Bulgaria and his university at international conferences and competitions. Ivan Banchev is one of the pilots in the student team HydRU Racing Team of the University of Ruse, and is currently a racing engineer and mechanic, actively participating in the preparation of the car. During his studies, Ivan Banchev actively participated in various student competitions, in which in 2024 he took prizes:

Martin Svetlanov Djurov is a master's student in the specialty "Software Engineering" at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Education. He is among the students actively representing the University of Ruse at national and international competitions and actively participates in our and international scientific sessions and seminars. She actively participates in a number of scientific forums and competitions and wins prestigious awards, including third place in category 3 - students - "Artificial Intelligence in the Development and Future of Business in the "International Statistical Poster Competition 2022 - 2023" and an award for scientific development on the topic of the fifth International Conference on Applied Informatics - Sibiu, Romania. She represents the University of Ruse in the XXXII Republican Student Programming Olympiad.

Tsvetelina Tsvetozarova Stefanova is a master's student in the "Computer Systems and Technologies" major at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation.

During her studies, Tsvetelina Stefanova actively participates in various student competitions, where in 2024 she took prizes:

• silver medal (group B) at the National Student Olympiad in Computational Mathematics, Veliko Tarnovo, November 8-10, 2024

•  silver medal (group B) at the National Student Mathematics Olympiad, Burgas, May 17-19, 2024

•  crystal prize “The Best Paper” for the best report at the Scientific Session for students and doctoral students, Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”, June 4, 2024

•  winner of the “Talent of the Year” award (1st place) in the field of “Information Technologies and Computer Science”, Sofia, June 4, 2024, etc.

Tsvetelina Stefanova continues her professional development, and in 2024 she took part in a number of national and international scientific conferences, seminars and schools.

The Youth Parliament at the Municipal Youth Center in Ruse became one of the winners in the national competition of the Ministry of Youth and Sports "The Volunteer Mission - (Im)possible" 2024 Ruse. The Ruse participants were awarded in the "Volunteer Initiative" category for the Youth Festival "Youth Together" they organized, which was assessed as a significant event with a significant contribution to the development of volunteer initiatives in Bulgaria.

The official award ceremony took place in Sofia on December 5 - International Volunteer Day. Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nikolay Pavlov presented the prize to the representatives of the Youth Parliament - Dilyara Kraleva, Gabriela Dimitrova, Victoria Nikolova and Iva Trifonova. "This award is proof that it makes sense for young people to invest their free time in good causes," the winners shared, expressing sincere gratitude to all youth organizations, partners, sponsors and volunteers who contributed to the success of the festival. We recall that it was held in October and the volunteer participants in it were united by the idea of ​​showing the harm of addictions and ways to make sense of free time through creativity, sports, tourism and charity projects.

Last night, the charity concert spectacle "Christmas in the Heart - Miracles of Hope" was held in the Great Hall of the Income Building. The event, organized by the Municipality of Ruse and the Children's Theater School "Patilantsi", brought together hundreds of city residents in support of the cause of raising funds for the purchase of a video laryngoscope - a vital device for primary resuscitation and intubation of newborns.

The concert impressed with a rich program, filled with talent and emotion. Children from the "Snow White" Kindergarten, "Mermaid" Kindergarten, as well as the Day Center for Children with Disabilities - Weekly Care "Winnie the Pooh". The Dance Studio "Freedom", Dance Formation "Star Dance", Swing Dance School, Vocal School "ArtIkul", National Skhool of Arts "Prof. V. Stoyanov” and the “Sun” Vocal Group led by Phd. Natalia Konstantinova at the Municipal Children’s Center for Culture and Art.

A special guest at the concert was Volena Apostolova, a finalist from the eighth season of “The Voice of Bulgaria”, who with her exciting performance added additional festive magic to the evening.

At the end of the concert, the mayor of the municipality, Pencho Milkov, expressed sincere gratitude to all participants, organizers and spectators for their support and empathy. “Today, you all proved that when we unite around a noble cause, we can do miracles. I thank the children for their dedication and talent – ​​they are the true hope for our future,” said the mayor.

The funds raised from the concert will contribute to providing the specialized medical device, which will help the youngest residents of the Ruse municipality to receive quality medical care in their first moments of life.