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Scouting in Bulgaria
Organizatsia
Na Bulgarskite Skauty
National Organization of Bulgarian Scouts
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| Flag of Bulgaria |
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Emblem of
Bulgarian Scouting |
Member of the World Organization from 1924 to 1940.
BULGARIA WELCOMED AS THE 151st MEMBER
On January 17, 1999, The National
Organization of Bulgarian Scouts, became the 151st member of the World Organization of the
Scout Movements. Scouting began in Bulgaria in 1911-1913. In 1923, a national Scout
organization was created. The next year, it became a member of the World Bureau. Scouting
reached 6,000 members at the beginning of WWII. In 1940, due to the political situation,
Scouting stopped its activities in Bulgaria. When the war ended, communists dominated the
country and prevented Scouting from starting up again. After the collapse of the Berlin
wall, Scouting was reborn again in 1989. It was not until 1995 that a national Scout
organization was created that conformed to WOSM standards. The Scout organization has
2,000 members with 57 groups in the 20 largest cities and towns in the country. There is
an active Sea Scout program on the Black Sea and in Silistra, on the Danube River. Each
year, Bulgarian Scouts organize a national Jamboree. The last one was in 1998 and took
place in Silistra. Bulgarian Scouts take part in community development activities in their
country. They have carried out several projects with the Bulgarian Red Cross and have also
taken part in reforestation projects. They receive good press and tv coverage.
Scouting in Bulgaria
Before the establishment of Communism in
Bulgaria after World War II, there were over 60,000 Scouts in the country. With the advent
of Communism, Scouting was outlawed and the resources of the Scout organizations were
plundered and redistributed to the newly formed Communist youth organizations.
The primary goal of these organizations, whose membership was compulsory, was the
indoctrination of Bulgarian youth into Communism. To complicate matters, these
organizations adopted many of the trappings of the Scout organizations they supplanted.
Because of the bad experience with the Communist youth organizations, the Scouting
Movement in Bulgaria is having a slow rebirth.
However, as stated by Stoyan Ivanov, the Chairman of the Bulgarian Scout Organization of
Varna: "The democratic changes during the last two years in our country created
conditions for the veterans of the Scout movement in Varna to start its restoration after
it was suppressed by the totalitarian regime [for] half a century."
This is good news, but it should be remembered that the Scouting organization of Bulgaria
is left without an inheritance of leadership, equipment, established program, and
everything else that we are used to.
With special thanks to Thomas N.
Turba, International Representative of the Indianhead Council, B. S. A. in St. Paul,
Minnesota.
Tom led Scout contingents from St. Paul, Minnesota to Bulgaria in 1993 and
1995.
If you would like more
information on Scouting in Bulgaria, or on Tom’s visits with Scouts there, please write
directly to: Thomas N. Turba at Thomas.Turba@Unisys.Com.
A Chronicle of Scouting in Eastern
Europe
With the fall of Communism in Eastern
Europe and Russia, Scouting has returned to many lands where it had previously taken root.
These pages chronicle the return of former members and the addition of new members to the
World Organization of the Scout Movement. They also report the growth of Scouting in the
other nations of Eastern Europe.
Scouting organizations around the world are assisting in the growth of Scouting in both
Eastern Europe and Russia. They have been identified by country where information is
available.
Currently, the "Chronicle" reports on the progress of Scouting in 19 countries
in Central and Eastern Europe. The Chronicle Home Page provides links to each.
Your feedback, comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Please write to: Lewis P. Orans
Copyright ©
Lewis P. Orans, 2002
Last Modified: 9:49 AM on October 10, 2002
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"Report on a Scout Trip to
Bulgaria"
