The Chinese Language and Culture Training Summer Camp in Momchilovtsi Organized by the Confucius Institute in Sofia Came to an End

On September 1, the Chinese Language and Culture Training Summer Camp jointly organized by the Confucius Institute in Sofia and the village of Momchilovtsi, known as “the hometown of yogurt”, successfully concluded. The camp was an important part of the 6th International Yogurt Culture Festival in Momchilovtsi and lasted 24 days from August 8th to 31st. Fourteen students successfully completed the Chinese language and culture lessons and activities that were part of the curriculum of the summer camp.

Many people attended the closing ceremony of the summer camp and the opening ceremony of the International Yogurt Culture Festival, including Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria from 2012 to 2017, Dong Xiaojun, Chinese Ambassador in Bulgaria, Irena Georgieva, Deputy Minister of Tourism in Bulgaria, Zahari Sirakov, Mayor of Smolyan District, Nikolai Melemov, Mayor of Smolyan City, Siyka Surkova, Mayor of Momchilovtsi, Aksiniya Koleva, Bulgarian director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, Professor Liu Xiuming, Chinese director, teachers and students, tourists and villagers. The Chinese and Bulgarian directors of the Confucius Institute delivered a speech and presented certificates of completion to the students. The two directors expressed their heartfelt thanks to the guests for their strong support, their deep gratitude to the local government of Momchilovtsi for their cooperation, their sincere respect for the active participation of the students and the villagers, and their high appreciation for their hard work.

The summer camp was rich in content. The students not only learned some basic Chinese and got acquainted with the development of Chinese characters, traditional festivals, and contemporary China, but also participated in a variety of cultural experience activities such as songs, calligraphy, Tai Chi, and Chinese food. Every weekend, Chinese language and culture experts and professors presented lectures on national culture and historical heritage, architecture, traditional Chinese medicine, healthy diet, etc. During the summer camp, the students overcame the hot weather and other difficulties, persisted, and participated actively. The experts and teachers worked hard and successfully completed the courses. The students were delighted with the summer camp's curriculum arrangement and the teachers' professionalism.

This summer camp was another example of perfect cooperation between the Confucius Institute in Sofia and the village of Momchilovtsi. The camp has deepened villagers’ understanding of China, promoted Chinese language and culture, stimulated students’ strong interest in China, and enhanced the influence of the Confucius Institute in the local area. The summer camp has played a positive role in further enhancing mutual understanding between China and Bulgaria, promoting cultural exchange between the two countries, strengthening mutual trust and mutual benefit, strengthening friendly cooperation between China and Bulgaria, and promoting friendship between partners from both countries.

Confucius Institute in Sofia

Text: Huang Shihui

Photos: Preslava Pavlova, Liu Xiuming

Editors: Liu Xiuming, Aksiniya Koleva, Liu Tianchao

English translation: Dima Pironkova

 Photo 1 The poster for the Chinese Language and Culture Summer Camp in Momchilovtsi, organized by the Confucius Institute in Sofia

Photo 2 The 6th International Yogurt Culture Festival in Momchilovtsi

Photo 3 The Chinese Ambassador in Bulgaria Dong Xiaojun is delivering a speech

Photo 4 Irena Georgieva, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, is giving a speech

Photo 5 The Chinese and Bulgarian Directors of the Confucius Institute in Sofia is delivering a speech

Photo 6 The directors of the Confucius Institute in Sofia are presenting certificates of completion to the students

Photo 7 Mrs. Huang Shihui and the students have experienced Chinese food culture by making zongzi

Photo 8 Mr. Yosif Radoev is introducing Chinese calligraphy

Photo 9 Mrs. Preslava Pavlova is teaching during a Chinese language class

Photo 10 A group photo of teachers and students who took part in the summer camp