Anna Georgieva Jordanova,
Participant in a literacy course
I grew up in the gypsy quarter of the small town of Perushtitsa. My parents
are very kind and good people but in those times it was difficult to live
and there has always been a shortage of money, so I had to stop my studies.
I finished first grade and my parents decided that I had to help with
the housework; the expenses for three students were beyond them. I am
the youngest child. I have two elder brothers who had the opportunity
to study eight grades.
When I was a little girl I did not realize that not being able to read
and write disabled me and that one day it would be a great obstacle in
my life. I liked helping my parents and not visiting school. I became
aware of the necessity to be educated when nobody wanted me to work for
them, even as a cleaner. Then I decided that my children would not make
the mistakes I had made. When my elder daughter went to school I checked
her homework every day but the truth was I looked at her notebook without
understanding many of the things written there. I was ashamed of admitting
that I did not understand and always nodded approval – I suffered
because I felt doing her an ill turn.
When I learned from a neighbour of our about literacy course I told
my husband and the next day enrolled. Three months I was studying diligently
and wrote my homework; I felt the more I studied the better I understood
what was written in my daughter’s books. I began to find mistakes
in her notebooks and this time I was really proud to being daring enough
to correct the and to show how it should have been written.
The Second Chance School gave me the opportunity to study sewing and
cutting, to learn how to introduce myself, how to apply for a job and
how to write a CV.
However, I could not find a job. Being able to write is not enough. But
the skills acquired in sewing and cutting helped me a lot. I succeeded
in buying an old sewing machine and began to sew. In the beginning I repaired
clothes but after I got some practice and courage I started making skirts,
trousers. If I had any difficulties I asked for my course teacher's help.
Mrs Kokova always helped me, even after the end of the programme.
I am grateful to The Second Chance School because they helped me to be
more self-confident. Now I can make remarks to my children when they make
light of their lessons. I am grateful for being able to contribute (though
modestly) to the income of my family.
Ivan Karagjozov, Eleventh-grade student from The Second Chance School
My name is Ivan but everybody calls me the Dustman. Since I was a child
I have always had a lot of friends and I have never had enough time for
my lessons. But my father insisted very much on my going to school. Everyday
he asked me if I’d had exams.
When I was in the sixth grade most of my friends were two or three years
older than me. They always truanted from lessons and laughed at my being
afraid of doing the same. So one day I also truanted from school for the
first time. It was very funny. Every day my parents gave me some money for
school, I dressed, took my school bag and set off. But instead of going
to school my friends and I went to the centre of the town, to the cinema,
and visited other friends of ours. I lied to my father for half a year.
Once, my teacher asked him why I did not go to school anymore. My father
was very angry with me. He did not beat me. He scolded me and told me that
I thought I had outwitted him but in fact it was just the opposite - I was
the one sooner or later who would be cheated and I did not realize what
harm I had done to myself. At that time I really did not realize my father's
words. I was happy I got off lightly and was pleased at being able to pay
my father in empty words. After that I continued not going to school. Thus
I got only the seventh grade and was not aware of the importance of studying
at least one year more and finishing my primary education. I was in the
army, then left it, got married and the problems began. I am a very sociable
guy and make friends easily. People like me but I could not find any job.
A few times I was offered work in different firms but when things were reduced
to my education and school-leaving certificate nobody dared to employ me.
We started arguing within the family. My child was growing up and began
blaming me more and more. Then I remembered my father's words and realized
how right he was. Really I was the cheated one. I had been outwitting myself.
When I heard of the Stolipinovo programme and The Second Chance School I
did not hesitate to apply for it. I covered all the requirements and what
was more I was very strongly motivated. I received an approval and was a
student again. I wondered why I had not gone to school before when I had
to do nothing else but study. However, I was grateful for being given the
opportunity to finish my primary education. I did not notice how the school
year passed. The teachers were very patient with us. They helped us very
much in our individual schooling. Many times they stayed with us after the
lessons. When the time of the first exam came I was very scared. I was sure
I would not cope with the task and my hands were shaking. Then I saw my
mark was the highest one and this encouraged me. I passed all my exams successfully
and got a primary school leaving certificate. I immediately started looking
for a job but I ran into difficulties again. It turned out that my employers'
criteria were quite a bit higher than my expectations were. So I continued
my secondary education at The Second Chance School. I am already in the
eleventh grade. All my classmates are laughing at me because I am always
sitting at the front desk writing down everything and always asking a lot
of questions. I know I can finish the school and I have the ambition to
make up for the missed time. Thanks to the scholarship which I have for
the time of my schooling I can buy more books. At first I bought food for
my son but soon I realized that if I finished school with enough knowledge
I could buy more things. Thus each time when I got my scholarship I started
buying a book. Soon I bought a reference book of the Plovdiv University.
Next year after I have finished school and have got my school-leaving certificate
I want to continue my education at university. I would like to be an example
for my son who will soon start going to school; I want to prove to myself
that the missed time can be made up for.
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