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Prime Time Documentary Tells the USAID Story in Bulgaria
10.Sep.2007
During the evening prime time block on September 9, Bulgaria’s largest private TV station aired a thirty-minute documentary tracing the seventeen-year history of USAID in Bulgaria. Through in-depth interviews conducted by bTV journalist Vyara Andreeva, the film highlighted the stories of three enterprising Bulgarians who realized their dreams in the difficult years of the transition with the help of USAID assistance.
Entrepreneur Veselin Prokopiev received credit from the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund to develop the largest mussel farm on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. Vyara Yotova, owner of a Pleven-based sewing company, started in 1998 with a 50-square-meter working space and a few employees. Since then, she obtained loans from the microfinance institution “Nachala” that helped her expand her business substantially by purchasing new equipment and hiring dozens of new workers. Galina Bankovska, executive director of the Gabrovo Community Fund, actively contributed to the revival of local philanthropy. She participated in more than 20 community development projects implemented as a result of the Fund’s fundraising initiatives, including renovation of the maternity wing of the town hospital.
The film also featured interviews with USAID Mission Director Mike Fritz, Local Government Advisor Kiril Kiryakov, and Financial Sector Advisor Rayna Dimitrova.
See some photos here:
Veselin Prokopiev, mussel farm and restaurant owner.
Small business owner Vyara Yotova.
Galina Bankovska, Gabrovo Community Fund.
The neonatal wing of Gabrovo Hospital, renovated with the help of Gabrovo Community Fund.
Entrepreneur Veselin Prokopiev received credit from the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund to develop the largest mussel farm on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. Vyara Yotova, owner of a Pleven-based sewing company, started in 1998 with a 50-square-meter working space and a few employees. Since then, she obtained loans from the microfinance institution “Nachala” that helped her expand her business substantially by purchasing new equipment and hiring dozens of new workers. Galina Bankovska, executive director of the Gabrovo Community Fund, actively contributed to the revival of local philanthropy. She participated in more than 20 community development projects implemented as a result of the Fund’s fundraising initiatives, including renovation of the maternity wing of the town hospital.
The film also featured interviews with USAID Mission Director Mike Fritz, Local Government Advisor Kiril Kiryakov, and Financial Sector Advisor Rayna Dimitrova.
See some photos here:
Veselin Prokopiev, mussel farm and restaurant owner.Small business owner Vyara Yotova.Galina Bankovska, Gabrovo Community Fund.The neonatal wing of Gabrovo Hospital, renovated with the help of Gabrovo Community Fund.