FOUR diverse people have been united to spearhead a campaign to eliminate discrimination against disabled people.
The two beauties, Miss Bulgaria 2001 Ivaila Bakalova, and Miss World 2003 in a wheel chair Lidia Vassileva, say they are both lucky and fortunate to have been chosen as the most beautiful women in pageants held in Bulgaria and Ukraine. They also have in common their mutual attempt to promote the commonality of people as part of a nationwide campaign. The No Differences campaign is being run for a second year by Psychological Centre for Research (PRC). Billboards with the two beauty queens, Miroslav Yonchev, and World Motorcyclist Champion Sergei Sergeev, have been put out in the heart of Sofia and will later be posted in Varna and Bourgas on the seaside. The billboards present four people holding hands is an attempt to awaken society. The point of the campaign is to remind people that there are positive qualities in every human being and a potential which should not be overlooked, said Diana Indjova, director of the PRC. She said that the visual part of the campaign and its future initiatives aim to spread models for the integration of people with disabilities in the various fields of public life.
Indjova from the PRC said that Bulgaria is currently working on building a more tolerant view of disabled people. "More purposeful actions is needed to take people with disabilities from isolation into mainstream society," Indjova said.
Isolation is one of the biggest concerns for people with disabilities. "Many of us are constrained and stay within our four walls simply because we are afraid of facing people with prejudices outside of our secure world," Vassileva told The Echo.
Vassileva, who became Miss World in a wheelchair from Ukraine, has a serious understanding of the isolation of people with disabilities and recalls her experience at the pageant with pride. Along with contestants from all over the world, Vassileva was crowned for her skill in flower arrangement and for presenting a Bulgarian national dance.
Vassileva studies law at the Varna University because her credo in life is to help people in need who have been less fortunate. Sitting in the wheelchair, herself, her eyes sparkle when addressing the issue of people with disabilities without legal assistance. She is ready to help all those who need her and that was her motivation to become involved with the campaign No Difference.
Her plans for the future include enrolling as a Ph D student, and to continue assisting other people who are disadvantaged. I want to help people with disabilities because they don't have the necessary legal resources and this prevents them from defending their own rights, Vassileva said.
"When I was normal," she said referring to the car accident she was in 11 years ago, she used to do sports and have friends. Now her friends are people who share similar disabilities and who are not able to socialise as much. Vassileva's time right after the car accident were the hardest in her life because she felt abandoned and lonely. "This is what we all hope for and that is why it is good to have such initiatives to make people's attitudes change," she said. The No Difference campaign she hopes will assist in changing people's attitudes to the disabled. "Being a model is not an easy job at all," Vassileva said with a smile and added that these four hours while they were taking the pictures meant so much to her. She became friends with Bakalova, who is often referred to as most beautiful Bulgarian Miss ever selected.
Vassileva feels lucky because she has the opportunity to study and most of all that she could pursue the same goals she had before the accident. "I am so blessed to be a student and to continue my life," she said. She cannot find time for hobbies because she is quite busy with her studies.
She receives so much understanding from colleagues and friends at University. She is a good professional model know but she was concerned initially. "I was worried that I would not be able to perform the job of a fashion model properly," she said.
Bakalova thinks that the Miss Bulgaria pageant is an institution and disagrees with the view that its just about "being a beautiful face". People are alike and should be given equal opportunities and that is why she did not even think twice about being part of the billboard campaign.
Yonchev also thinks his part into the campaign has its role. He said "I cannot help but say that I am so grateful for the faith that people have in me". "We are trying to change the way people perceive other people with disabilities," he said. "I have always known that people with disabilities have a harder life but I have never suspected that they are so capable and have kept their liveliness and love for the others," he said.
A similar campaign was launched 10 to 15 years ago in other western European countries and Indjova hopes that Bulgaria will need less time to be sensitized and change social stereotypes.
Sergeev thinks that few people are aware that disabled people play sports. Goalball is game for people with impaired vision and basketball is also adapted for participants in wheelchairs.
Bakalova appeals to people with the ideal that every democratic society need to realize the value of each human being and citizen. "Society needs everyone and has to take care of all and our task is to reach the majority of people," she said.
Since she was nine, Bakalova has been receiving awards and winning competitions, for things as diverse as swimming, or Miss Cherno More, Miss Albena, Miss Golden Sands and Miss Grand Hotel Varna. Bakalova's little known nickname, baptised by friends and relatives for luck, is 'the golden fish'. She smiles at this but talks with affection for the nine years she spent as a great swimmer.
Bakalova, also crowned the Model Of The Universe 2001 at the world final competition, has had a major change in her life at the tender age of 19. She says she no longer has privacy or a personal life and said " I had never thought that my life will take such different dimension".
Both of the beauty queens are from Varna and are madly in love with the natural beauty of the place. This is home for Bakalova and she always like going back to.
Bakalova became a mother last year and now considers her parental duties as her priority. Modeling is more of a for Bakalova now. "I grew up quickly and became really very responsible," she told The Echo. She said that she prefers to be away from the limelight because she is wary of it but concedes that there are pros as well. You don't have privacy whenever you want it, she said. It is a personal choice and Bakalova has made hers.
The two beauties, Miss Bulgaria 2001 Ivaila Bakalova, and Miss World 2003 in a wheel chair Lidia Vassileva, say they are both lucky and fortunate to have been chosen as the most beautiful women in pageants held in Bulgaria and Ukraine. They also have in common their mutual attempt to promote the commonality of people as part of a nationwide campaign. The No Differences campaign is being run for a second year by Psychological Centre for Research (PRC). Billboards with the two beauty queens, Miroslav Yonchev, and World Motorcyclist Champion Sergei Sergeev, have been put out in the heart of Sofia and will later be posted in Varna and Bourgas on the seaside. The billboards present four people holding hands is an attempt to awaken society. The point of the campaign is to remind people that there are positive qualities in every human being and a potential which should not be overlooked, said Diana Indjova, director of the PRC. She said that the visual part of the campaign and its future initiatives aim to spread models for the integration of people with disabilities in the various fields of public life.
Indjova from the PRC said that Bulgaria is currently working on building a more tolerant view of disabled people. "More purposeful actions is needed to take people with disabilities from isolation into mainstream society," Indjova said.
Isolation is one of the biggest concerns for people with disabilities. "Many of us are constrained and stay within our four walls simply because we are afraid of facing people with prejudices outside of our secure world," Vassileva told The Echo.
Vassileva, who became Miss World in a wheelchair from Ukraine, has a serious understanding of the isolation of people with disabilities and recalls her experience at the pageant with pride. Along with contestants from all over the world, Vassileva was crowned for her skill in flower arrangement and for presenting a Bulgarian national dance.
Vassileva studies law at the Varna University because her credo in life is to help people in need who have been less fortunate. Sitting in the wheelchair, herself, her eyes sparkle when addressing the issue of people with disabilities without legal assistance. She is ready to help all those who need her and that was her motivation to become involved with the campaign No Difference.
Her plans for the future include enrolling as a Ph D student, and to continue assisting other people who are disadvantaged. I want to help people with disabilities because they don't have the necessary legal resources and this prevents them from defending their own rights, Vassileva said.
"When I was normal," she said referring to the car accident she was in 11 years ago, she used to do sports and have friends. Now her friends are people who share similar disabilities and who are not able to socialise as much. Vassileva's time right after the car accident were the hardest in her life because she felt abandoned and lonely. "This is what we all hope for and that is why it is good to have such initiatives to make people's attitudes change," she said. The No Difference campaign she hopes will assist in changing people's attitudes to the disabled. "Being a model is not an easy job at all," Vassileva said with a smile and added that these four hours while they were taking the pictures meant so much to her. She became friends with Bakalova, who is often referred to as most beautiful Bulgarian Miss ever selected.
Vassileva feels lucky because she has the opportunity to study and most of all that she could pursue the same goals she had before the accident. "I am so blessed to be a student and to continue my life," she said. She cannot find time for hobbies because she is quite busy with her studies.
She receives so much understanding from colleagues and friends at University. She is a good professional model know but she was concerned initially. "I was worried that I would not be able to perform the job of a fashion model properly," she said.
Bakalova thinks that the Miss Bulgaria pageant is an institution and disagrees with the view that its just about "being a beautiful face". People are alike and should be given equal opportunities and that is why she did not even think twice about being part of the billboard campaign.
Yonchev also thinks his part into the campaign has its role. He said "I cannot help but say that I am so grateful for the faith that people have in me". "We are trying to change the way people perceive other people with disabilities," he said. "I have always known that people with disabilities have a harder life but I have never suspected that they are so capable and have kept their liveliness and love for the others," he said.
A similar campaign was launched 10 to 15 years ago in other western European countries and Indjova hopes that Bulgaria will need less time to be sensitized and change social stereotypes.
Sergeev thinks that few people are aware that disabled people play sports. Goalball is game for people with impaired vision and basketball is also adapted for participants in wheelchairs.
Bakalova appeals to people with the ideal that every democratic society need to realize the value of each human being and citizen. "Society needs everyone and has to take care of all and our task is to reach the majority of people," she said.
Since she was nine, Bakalova has been receiving awards and winning competitions, for things as diverse as swimming, or Miss Cherno More, Miss Albena, Miss Golden Sands and Miss Grand Hotel Varna. Bakalova's little known nickname, baptised by friends and relatives for luck, is 'the golden fish'. She smiles at this but talks with affection for the nine years she spent as a great swimmer.
Bakalova, also crowned the Model Of The Universe 2001 at the world final competition, has had a major change in her life at the tender age of 19. She says she no longer has privacy or a personal life and said " I had never thought that my life will take such different dimension".
Both of the beauty queens are from Varna and are madly in love with the natural beauty of the place. This is home for Bakalova and she always like going back to.
Bakalova became a mother last year and now considers her parental duties as her priority. Modeling is more of a for Bakalova now. "I grew up quickly and became really very responsible," she told The Echo. She said that she prefers to be away from the limelight because she is wary of it but concedes that there are pros as well. You don't have privacy whenever you want it, she said. It is a personal choice and Bakalova has made hers.
