A Lesson on Bulgaria… with the “Azbukarcheta” Bulgarian School in Spain

There are many ways to learn more about Bulgaria when you are far away from it. But undoubtedly one of the most pleasant and reliable paths for the country to reach the heart is through its culture and art. To tame the Bulgarian language and allow it to lead you through the boundless beauty of this small but glorious Balkan country – through literature, music and dance, natural landmarks and breathtaking scenery, all the way to the depth of the Bulgarian spirit and hospitality.

This is precisely the path to the homeland that Latinka Hinkova chose in 2012 in the Spanish town of Torrejón de Ardoz, located about 20 km from the capital Madrid. Together with like-minded people, the teacher founded the cultural and educational Association of Bulgarians and Artists “Trebol”, and in the same year the Sunday school “Azbukarcheta” (“Little Alphabet Learners”) began operating in Torrejón de Ardoz, with a second educational center in Madrid. Then, as now, the goal has remained the same - to preserve Bulgarian identity, traditions and customs in the hearts of Bulgarian children born and raised in Spain.

“The school is part of the educational and cultural activities of the Association, and the idea was to introduce the children to Bulgarian artists - painters, writers, singers and folk ensembles - so that, although far from Bulgaria, they could feel close to it through our culture and the people who work in the sphere of art and culture.”

For 14 years now, the team at the Bulgarian Sunday School “Azbukarcheta” has been teaching hundreds of Bulgarian children from grades 1 to 12 to read and write in Bulgarian, as well as dance and music. Children between the ages of 4 and 7 also come from near and far to attend the school’s special preparatory group. This school year, the “little alphabet learners” number 102, and Latinka Hinkova notes with visible regret that recently there has not been the same influx of children as there was a few years ago.

“Many Bulgarians, at least that is my impression, have returned to Bulgaria. The reasons are socio-economic. Life throughout Europe, not only in Spain, is difficult. It is not only difficult in Bulgaria, although we often hear our compatriots talking about how hard life is there, about inflation and so on. Life in Spain has also not been easy lately. I think Bulgarians are once again searching for a better life, and where might we find it now? In our homeland. At least that’s what I think.”

The school principal admits that despite having lived for 25 years in sunny Spain, what currently keeps her from taking the road back home is precisely the Bulgarian Sunday school.

“It continues to be my motivation - for 25 years my life has been built around my work as a teacher. I started working a long time ago, in 2002–2003, at the first Bulgarian Sunday school ‘St. Ivan Rilski’ in Madrid - I was one of the first teachers there. And when my own children grew older, I created the school in Torrejón de Ardoz for exactly this reason - the Bulgarian community and my connection to Bulgaria. But I also worked as a teacher for 10 years in Bulgaria - this is my profession, and I love practicing it. The school is my inspiration.”

As someone devoted to her work, to Bulgaria, and to her students, Latinka Hinkova proudly told Radio Bulgaria how, in 2024, on the initiative of the school and the parents, the children from “Azbukarcheta” embarked on a journey to Bulgaria.

“The parents’ desire was very strong. With their help we organized such an excursion and invited children who had returned to Bulgaria to join our group. The trip was very dynamic - we visited many places in a short time, but everyone was very happy. We started with Tryavna, Gabrovo, Etar, Shipka, Karlovo, Kalofer and Sopot. Our journey began with participation in the international children’s festival ‘I Love Bulgaria’, where we are co-organizers - it is held in the village of Starosel at the end of June.”

The “I Love Bulgaria” festival also determined the timing of the 2025 journey of forty “Azbukarcheta” children to Bulgaria - this time with the support of the Ministry of Education’s National Programme “Educational Routes”.

Their route was dedicated to the old capitals of Bulgaria, and they themselves called it “Get to Know Bulgaria in Order to Love It.” They shared their emotions, memories and impressions from the trip with Radio Bulgaria as part of our initiative “A Lesson about Bulgaria.” Immerse yourself in this adventure as well through the video we offer you.

The younger students of “Azbukarcheta” also took part in the 2025 excursion to Bulgaria:

“They had an amazing time, and I think the results are evident. Today, when we make presentations in history or literature, they remember and say, ‘Oh, we were there.’ You know, for us teachers this journey was deeply rewarding, while for the children it was an emotional and incredible experience. Many of them truly feel Bulgaria only when they visit these places. When they climbed Mount Shipka, the feeling was different. When we were in Pliska, Preslav, in the palaces… It is truly a great satisfaction for us because we see the children happy and connected.”

“This summer we went on an unforgettable excursion to some of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Bulgaria - Pliska, Preslav, Veliko Tarnovo, Shumen, Madara, Varna and Starosel. It was an experience filled with history, culture and friendship, allowing us to travel back in time and discover the roots of Bulgarian civilization and people.”

“Our trip began in Veliko Tarnovo - the city of the tsars. We climbed the stone streets to the Tsarevets Fortress, from where we enjoyed a wonderful panoramic view.”

“One of the most interesting moments was our meeting with archaeologist Assoc. Prof. Valeri Grigorov at the site of new excavations near the palace in Pliska.”

“I really liked the excursion to Bulgaria for several reasons - we visited places and cultural monuments that I really enjoyed and had never seen before. I also spent more time with my classmates, who made the trip even more enjoyable.”

“I would gladly return to the emotions and wonderful moments from this unforgettable journey.”

“I see Bulgaria through their eyes, because I have always felt that I am one of them,” principal Latinka Hinkova also shared with us. “I admired the same things they admired. I felt proud in the same way that we were in Bulgaria, that they were there, and that my colleagues and I were with them. When we returned from the trip, I told the parents that with these children I would go to the end of the world! Because they showed interest in every detail of the places we visited. The feeling is incredible and unforgettable.”

And the question “What is Bulgaria to these children?” can hardly receive one definitive answer. Much depends on the family, Latinka Hinkova admits.

“It depends on what is spoken at home. For some, Bulgaria is a stepmother country; for others, it is simply the place they visit during vacations. But for others - and I say this wholeheartedly - Bulgaria is their homeland. Because some of the older children, after we returned last year, said they wanted to live in Bulgaria.”

The number of the latter will probably grow even more after this year’s trip at the end of June. Then the students of the “Azbukarcheta” Bulgarian Sunday School in Spain will immerse themselves in the magic of the Rhodope Mountains and experience with all their senses the wish their principal sent through Radio Bulgaria to all Bulgarians around the world:

“In just three words I can tell them - let us be Bulgarians! Wherever we are in the world, because we are the salt of the earth".

More from the initiative "A Lesson on Bulgaria":

A Lesson on Bulgaria… with the Abagar Bulgarian school in Rome, Italy

A Lesson on Bulgaria: Bulgarian children from Larnaca go to the Rhodopes and BNR

A Lesson on Bulgaria... with the students of Hristo Botev School in Bratislava

A Lesson on Bulgaria… with the Abagar Bulgarian school in Rome, Italy

A Lesson on Bulgaria… with Rayna Knyaginya Bulgarian School in Burgos, Spain