Refugees, Their Bulgarian Friends Become 'Human of Year' 2013

Society | December 11, 2013, Wednesday // 20:15
Refugees, Their Bulgarian Friends Become 'Human of Year' 2013: Refugees, Their Bulgarian Friends Become 'Human of Year' 2013 Alberta Alkalay received Human of the Year audience award for promoting the 70th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II. Photo OffNews

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC), a human rights NGO, announced its annual Human of the Year award goes to Syrian refugees and the group Friends of the Refugees.

The Chairman of BHK, Krasimir Kanev, said at the ceremony the refugees were bestowed the prize for their courage and desire to lead a dignified life.

The Bulgarians were awarded for helping Syrian people seeking shelter in their country.

Blogger Ivo Bozhkov received the second prize for his online live streaming of antigovernment protests.

Bozhkov shared the audience award with Alberta Alkalay who was nominated for promoting the 70th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II. She organized a national literary competition for school students "A Person Who Saves One Life, Saves an Entire Universe" and created the documentary "Remember" dedicated to those courageous, but forgotten Bulgarians who opposed the Holocaust.

The other second prize was bestowed to the member of the Supreme Judicial Council, VSS, former judge Kalin Kalpakchiev for his high ethical standards; desire to change the status quo, and being the only one in VSS to have a blog.

Zornitsa Stoilova from the newspaper "Capital" won the prize "Journalist of the Year," while Diana Borlakova became "Activist of the Year," for her campaign for the rights of cancer patients.

Protesting Bulgarians and protesting university students received the "Inspiration of the Year" award.

The three special mentions and diplomas went to the Chair of "Give a Book" Foundation and activist for closing Bulgarian orphanages with deplorable conditions, Blagovesta Krumova; to Radina Ralcheva for environmental protection activities and volunteering to help the refugees, and to the Association "Humanity" from the southern city of Pazardzhik for working for the integration of people with mental health problems.

There were a record number of nominations this year- 42.

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Tags: Inspiration of the Year, Activist of the Year, Journalist of the Year, Human of the Year, activists, international human rights day, human rights, Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, audience award, Syrian refugees, Friends of Refugees

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