“Garden of Cognition” Foundation is a non-governmental organization dedicated to building universal human values through education, social inclusion, and active citizenship. Our primary cause is the empowerment of young people and their communities, with a leading focus on youth from small towns and rural areas across the country. We strive to advocate for and uphold the principles of solidarity, inclusion, equality, and community engagement.
Quality education, alongside access to culture, arts, and sports, is fundamental to developing a healthy and cohesive society. Guided by this understanding, our team supports young people in their personal and professional growth. We achieve this by providing targeted scholarships for university education and professional courses aimed at youth from vulnerable groups, young individuals raised without parental support, or those from families facing socio-economic difficulties. The path to their successful realization is backed by long-term mentoring and career development programs that help them discover their potential and integrate successfully into the labor market. This sustainable change is possible thanks to shared responsibility; therefore, we actively collaborate with businesses, local municipalities, and educational institutions, building partnerships that transform corporate and public responsibility into real employment opportunities and a secure future for young people.
Alongside financial and mentorship support, the foundation offers practical training on topics relevant to young people, based on our own author-developed educational programs and guidebooks. Through these resources, we develop sustainable skills in areas such as civic participation, critical thinking, self-expression through art, mental health awareness, internet safety, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, presentation skills, and a healthy lifestyle.
The mission of the “Garden of Cognition” Foundation is to provide inclusive, learner-centered programs that foster critical thinking, creativity, civic initiative, and local engagement. In our work, we strive to ensure equal access to educational activities for young people in multicultural regions, bridging social gaps, inspiring them to become active citizens, and placing a strong emphasis on the motivation for lifelong learning.
Our Key Areas of Activity:
The activities of the “Garden of Cognition” Foundation are backed by a team with extensive practical experience in non-formal education and youth work at local, national, and European levels. In our work, we apply modern educational approaches and tools for social impact to support the personal potential and career start of young people. We believe that combining our expertise with the commitment of businesses, local municipalities, and educational institutions is the natural and sustainable path toward ensuring real opportunities for the next generation.
The “Garden of Cognition” Foundation works to empower youth from small towns, rural areas, and vulnerable communities by creating a supportive environment for learning, personal development, and career growth. We ensure an equal start through targeted scholarships, long-term mentorship, and practical training based on our own author-developed programs. Our goal is to overcome the financial and social barriers young people face, enabling them to discover their potential and achieve successful professional realization through shared social responsibility between businesses, local municipalities, and educational institutions.
A society in which young people from every locality and social background have equal access to opportunities for education, professional development, and a fulfilling life. We strive for an environment that fosters critical thinking, self-expression, and financial literacy, turning young people into confident and active citizens capable of building a better future for themselves and their communities.
Sustainably developing and expanding scholarship programs for university education and professional courses. The goal is to eliminate financial barriers for youth from small towns and rural areas, young individuals raised without parental support, or those facing socio-economic difficulties.
Deploying long-term mentorship and career guidance programs that connect young people with the business sector. Conducting practical training to develop sustainable skills, including critical thinking, presentation skills, financial literacy, digital safety, and entrepreneurship.
Fostering civic initiative, local engagement, and shared values outside major urban centers. Utilizing modern educational approaches, culture, arts, and sports as platforms for self-expression, bridging social gaps, and building a cohesive society.
Promoting and actively implementing the foundation’s own author-developed educational programs and guidebooks. Utilizing them as innovative tools for social impact and effective non-formal youth work within multicultural regions.
Stimulating shared social responsibility through active collaboration among businesses, local municipalities, and educational institutions. The goal is to jointly create a supportive environment that transforms corporate and public commitment into real employment opportunities and a safe future for young people.
Founder
She is the woman who loves to create, learn and discover…
She is the one who dreamed of creating a shared space for dreams, inspiration and adventure and thus started a magical place – The “Garden of Cognition” Foundation.
Motivated to protect the rights of children, to look for all possible ways to reveal and support their talents and potential, and to educate in them fundamental values such as kindness, honesty, dignity, hard work, respect, responsibility and perseverance.
She studied “Agrarian Economics” and “Professional Pedagogy” at the Plovdiv Agrarian University, after which she completed her master’s degree at the “Paisiy Hilendarski” Uniiversity with a specialty in “Public Administration”. Her professional experience began at the beginning of 2009 in the “Sports and Youth Activities” Directorate at the Plovdiv Municipality. Since January 2015, she has been the director of Youth Center Plovdiv.
Under her leadership, in 2018, the center was awarded the Quality Label of the Council of Europe, which is the largest international recognition and the highest assessment for the quality of the offered activities, services and contribution to the development of youth policies.
She initiated the creation of the Olympic Alley of Glory, the only one of its kind in Bulgaria, and together with his team worked for 9 years to preserve and protect Plovdiv’s sports history. Supervised the construction of three educational biogardens and completed a course in permaculture design, which inspired her to develop a series of nature school trainings. She is part of the team for the management of several public and socially significant projects at the Ministry of Education and Science, which are implemented in the period 2014-2024.
There is a series of training courses, participation in platforms of the international network of youth centers in Europe, seminars, conferences. Dimitriya specializes in expressive art therapy. She is trained in the methods of suggestopedia, Orff-Shulwerk, forum and image theater, psychodrama for children. Participates in psychotherapeutic seminars and trainings for working with vulnerable groups, children with special educational needs and providing support in their personal development.
Manager
For Vesela Stoyanova , working with children and youth is not just a professional path; it is a calling she has followed with inspiration for nearly 10 years. Her motivation is driven by the sincere belief that every young person, regardless of their birthplace, deserves access to the magic of knowledge and the freedom of self-expression.
As the Director of the “Garden of Cognition” Foundation, she transforms this belief into reality through non-formal education methodologies. For her, working in small towns and rural communities is a personal cause; she believes that these are often the places where talents need the strongest support to truly flourish. She embraces it as her mission to help provide personal development opportunities where they are most scarce, proving to the youth in these regions that their voices truly matter.
The professional experience she gained at a youth center recognized for its quality by the Council of Europe provided her with the opportunity to be trained by international experts. She has been actively involved in organizing and conducting educational forums for youth and educators, seminars on working with vulnerable groups, and leading academies for youth leaders and interns. Vesi has also developed numerous non-formal educational activities, several of which have been published in guidebooks and methodological manuals.
As a trainer under the “Safenet” program at the National Safe Internet Center, she has supported hundreds of students and their teachers in building a safer and more humane digital environment.
Vesi strongly believes in the power of art-based methods as a driving force for social change. She participates in programs and projects aimed at personal development and preventing aggression among young people through forum theater and art therapy techniques. These tools help youth process daily conflict situations and discover new perspectives.
For Vesi, the “Garden of Cognition” is proof that education can be magical when created with love. This magic is possible only thanks to the team of like-minded professionals who form the heart of the Foundation—people united by a shared mission and the unwavering belief that change is possible.
Member of the Management Board
Tanya Markova is the financial and organizational driving force within the team of the “Garden of Knowledge” Foundation. With her professional experience in the field of financial management, she contributes to the sustainable development of the organization and the transparency of its initiatives. She believes that every good idea needs a stable foundation to transform into real change. Therefore, she works with attention to detail, high responsibility, and consistency, combining professionalism with a sincere desire to be useful to the community. She is characterized by analytical thinking, high organization, teamwork skills, and responsibility in executing assigned tasks.
As a member of the Management Board of the Foundation, Tanya contributes to sustainable financial management and a sound organizational structure. She believes that transparency, professionalism, and a responsible attitude are the foundation for developing successful civic initiatives and projects with public benefit.
For Tanya, the “Garden of Knowledge” Foundation is a space where people can meet, exchange knowledge, support one another, and build a better future together. She supports the association’s causes with the conviction that sustainable changes are achieved through trust, partnership, and shared values.
Youth Associate "Digital Tools and Trainings"
For Arzu Muharem, the world of technology is not merely a sequence of codes and hardware components, but an endless space for innovation, creativity, and inspiration. She is one who believes that the digital future belongs to the bold, and with every step she takes, she proves that perseverance and a thirst for knowledge turn the boldest ideas into reality.
Her journey toward leadership and civic engagement began at the “Aleko Konstantinov” Vocational High School of Economics in the city of Kardzhali. As a student, Arzu did not simply pass through the educational system—she left a remarkable mark behind. From a timid and shy girl, she consciously and courageously chose to fight her fears in order to fully unlock her potential. Undergoing this profound personal transformation, she turned into a true driving force for school initiatives and an inspiration to her peers. With her strong civic stance, she stepped up as Chairperson of the Student Council, served as a Junior Ambassador of the European Parliament, and dedicated herself to the causes of the “Shtastlivetsa” Volunteer Club.
These remarkable achievements were never simply handed to her—they are the fruit of many sleepless nights, relentless work, and an unwavering will to push past her own boundaries. As proof of her exceptional resilience and discipline, she is the recipient of her school’s two highest academic recognitions:
Valedictorian of the Class of 2025 – awarded a plaque and certificate as the absolute top representative of her graduating class at the high school.
Honor Student of the Class of 2025 – recipient of an honorary plaque, cementing her uncompromising standards and dedication.
This years-long effort, excellent academic results, and numerous awards won from prestigious contests and competitions did not go unnoticed. Even before crossing the threshold of the Technical University of Varna, where she is now a second-year student majoring in Computer Systems and Technologies, her drive was highly praised. Right after graduating from high school, she was approved as a scholar under the joint “Program for Financial and Mentoring Support of Scholars Nationwide,” implemented by the “Garden of Knowledge” Foundation and the “Ignatovi Family” Foundation. This early success was no accident, but a natural continuation of her drive and proof that support goes to those who truly fight for it.
Today, Arzu is entirely dedicated to her development in the world of computer systems, hardware, and modern technologies. She is fascinated by the way individual hardware components connect to breathe life into a complete, functioning, and powerful innovative system. For her, technology is the language of the future, and she never stops giving her all to build upon her knowledge and draw closer to her dream of becoming an exceptional computer engineer.
For Arzu, however, even the most powerful system needs a network to unleash its full potential. She is firmly convinced that the most meaningful ideas are born not in isolation, but through the shared experience of teamwork. Guided by this philosophy, she joined forces with like-minded individuals to invest her labor and skills into the co-creation and shaping of a youth educational guide. She takes immense pride in being part of a community that builds valuable resources together and leaves a lasting mark in support of the next generation.
Inspired by the magic of this shared space, today she is fully ready to dedicate her energy, innovative thinking, and technological skills to the mission of the “Garden of Knowledge” Foundation. For her, participating in the foundation is much more than a cause—it is an opportunity to be the change she wishes to see in the world. She is the girl who continues to develop tirelessly, explore the vast world of innovation, and prove every day that when a person gives their all for the greater good, boundaries simply do not exist.
Youth Associate "Educational Programs and Cybersecurity"
Maria Simeonova is a native of Sliven. She is currently a student majoring in Cybersecurity at the Technical University of Varna. Already during her studies, she has developed a strong interest in information security and digital safety, driven by the conviction that as technology advances, the need for better protection of people in the online environment also grows.
As part of the Foundation’s team, she participates in the development and implementation of educational programs and initiatives aimed at raising digital literacy, cyber hygiene, and young people’s awareness of the risks and opportunities on the internet. She believes that knowledge, prevention, and the ethical use of technology are the foundation of a safer and more responsible digital environment.
Maria administers the implementation and execution of the “Support for the Future: Education, Courses, and Internships for Youth” program. With her expertise, she contributes to the development and support of its participants.
Her professional interests are related to information security, data protection, and the continuous development of practical skills. She hones her knowledge through platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box, studies Linux, Python, and C++, holds a completed ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) course, and continues to build upon her competencies in the field of cybersecurity.
Through her work at the Foundation, she strives to contribute to the creation of practically oriented educational initiatives that encourage digital culture, critical thinking, and responsible behavior in the online space.
Web administrator
For Miroslav Stefanov, life is a series of twists and turns that transform challenges into a foundation for growth. His path began at the early age of 8, navigating the experience of adapting to a foreign environment before finally finding his true place in Bulgaria. Today, he views his story not as an obstacle, but as a school of resilience and critical thinking.
Thanks to the support of his foster family, Miroslav has built a strong value system and acquired skills that give him the confidence to take charge of his future. Through his personal growth, he has learned that every piece of new knowledge is an investment, and the ability to make independent decisions is a young person’s most valuable asset.
As a freelance web administrator, Miroslav combines his technical skills with a drive for continuous improvement. He masters the entire process of web space maintenance—from resolving software bugs and managing content to precise graphic adjustments. For him, working with technology is a way to apply what he has learned in practice, keeping the digital environment functional and accessible.
Although the upcoming independence after high school brings a dose of uncertainty, Miroslav embraces it as an exciting step forward. He is convinced that the secret to success lies in directing one’s efforts in the right direction and having the courage to pursue one’s dreams. His mission is to prove that with discipline and perseverance, any young person can turn their potential into real achievements.
For Miroslav, success is not a destination, but a process in which character is forged and unique strengths become the engine for realization. He believes that even when the path is difficult, it is precisely the hardships that prepare us to step out confidently “into the big world.”