Engage 1000 Bulgarian students in public speaking

After the  highly successful Summer debate camp and the online Debate Tournament “Lynch Cup” the time came  for the main events of the season – the regional public speaking and debate competitions. 

From the 9th to the 10 th of November 2024, the BEST Foundation hosted its first tournament for the 2024- 2025 academic year in FLHS “Lyudmil Stoyanov”, Blagoevgrad - The Fall West Tournament 2024. 280 high school students from 16 schools from 10 cities from West Bulgaria attended and put their efforts in competing in front of the judges.

Just three weeks after our Fall West tournament, we had our Fall East tournament 2024 for the students from the Eastern region of Bulgaria. The tournament was held in Burgas, 30th November  and 1st ofDecember in the Vocational School for Computer Programming and Innovations. 284 students from 23 schools which are in 15 cities in the Eastern part of Bulgaria, plus 2 independent debate teams participated in the tournament.

On January 25, 2025  we had the second online debate tournament "Rowe Cup". It featured 8 teams, with a total of 26 participants, divided into 4 rooms. The teams debated current topics such as whether cities with increasing crime rates should hire more police officers, whether self-sacrifice should be praised in historical military chronicles, and the rising popularity of micro-celebrities.

Beside the main speech tournaments, BEST Foundation organized the selection and preparation of two debate teams - one with a very high level of debate proficiency (professional) and one with good development potential (advanced), which will be further trained and participate in international debate competitions in order to gain experience on the international stage. The advanced team put their skills to the test in the extremely prestigious online tournament Western World Schools Championship 2025, hosted by the University of Western Ontario, and the competition offers debates of the highest level by elite teams and professional, experienced judges, with 70 registered teams from 11 countries. 

The next in the standings (advancing team) got a chance to participate in another prestigious international online tournament: South Asia World School Debating Championship 2025, in which a total of 25 teams from Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia participated.

February 2025 brought its challenges— a flu epidemic that led to school closures across Western Bulgaria and harsh winter conditions with heavy snowfall, ice, and road closures in Eastern Bulgaria. As a result, several schools were unable to participate in the Spring East and West tournaments. 

Nevertheless, despite the smaller number of participants, the tournaments took place and remained just as competitive, high-quality, and emotionally inspiring as ever! That's the BEST’s spirit! 

The Spring West Tournament 2025 was hosted for the first time in 90th Secondary School “General Hose de San Martin” in Sofia on 8-9.02. Despite the fact that some schools couldn’t participate because of the flu outbreak, we had 2 schools who made their debut at the tournament.  

The severe winter didn’t stop most of the teams from arriving in Ruse on 22-23.02, where the Spring East Tournament was hosted in the St Constantine Cyril the Philosopher Secondary School of European Languages, and their dedication, curiosity, and passion truly shined. The competitors received warm support from the representatives of the Municipality of Ruse, the Regional Directorate of Education, the Bulgarian-American Commission Fulbright, the Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”. The Board Chair of BEST Foundation Mr Paskal Zhelev was also there, encouraging the  competitors to follow their dreams and to pursue their goals.

BEST events are made possible by the incredible support of our over 150 dedicated judge volunteers and over 15 students per tournament assisting with on-site operations. Additionally, more than 40 chaperones generously dedicate their time to accompany students to our events.

And, of course, our amazing Coaches—Fulbrighters, American English Teaching Assistants, and Bulgarian English teachers—volunteer throughout the year to prepare students for our tournaments and also serve as judges. Their commitment and passion are truly the heart of BEST!

We are looking forward for our new challenges – the International Tournament Balkan Voices featuring high school students from across the Balkan region participating in an original oratory competition on 14-16.03, the online debate tournament Totten Cup at the end of March, and of course the National Tournament for English Speech and Debate on 12-13.04 where the best of the best from the regional tournaments will meet again. 

Dear Friends, thank you for your unwavering support!

We couldn’t run these incredible tournaments without you!

We would be truly grateful if you could share our GlobalGiving link with your friends and continue your support with monthly donations.

Your generosity creates meaningful change in the lives of every student who participates in our tournaments, and we are beyond grateful to have you as part of our BEST family!

A new year has started with in-person and online events, and the BEST community is becoming stronger than ever. 

The Debate Summer Camp in Lozen was nothing short of exhilarating! We still remember the energy in the air as we welcomed 30 passionate students from 17 different schools, some of whom were experiencing the BEST debate community for the first time. It was a diverse mix, and that really set the stage for a week of lively discussions and newfound friendships.

Every day felt like an adventure. Picture this: students engaged in spirited debates over hot-button issues like the refugee resettlement system and whether parents should need a license to have children. It was incredible to see them dive deep into these topics, bringing their unique perspectives and experiences into the conversation. Watching them sharpen their argumentation skills in real time was truly inspiring.

Our main goal was to give these students a solid foundation in rhetoric and critical inquiry. We immersed them in the world of World Schools Debate, from teamwork dynamics to mastering the art of rebuttals and understanding logical fallacies.

The camp director and facilitators brought so much passion to their lectures, and our four guest speakers added an extra layer of excitement. They shared invaluable insights on efficient debate prep and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in our discussions. The buzz in the room when they talked about the National Debate Team was infectious; you could see the students' eyes light up with ambition and possibility.

For us, the most rewarding part was seeing the students grow over the week. Their confidence blossomed as they learned to articulate their thoughts more effectively and engage with challenging ideas. It was a week filled with laughter, learning, and camaraderie—one we won’t soon forget!

Looking ahead, Best Foundation can't wait to plan more camps like this. We are eager to build on this momentum and continue fostering a space where young debaters can thrive.

At the end of September, we kicked off our fourth Coach Training in Sofia, and what an incredible event it was! Over three dynamic days (September 20-22), we brought together 50 coaches from 45 schools.

We focused on integrating the new coaches into the BEST framework, emphasizing the vital role of team building in effective coaching. We clearly outlined key roles and responsibilities, ensuring everyone understood their impact on the program. The energy in the room was palpable as new coaches engaged in live performances across various categories like Duo, Poetry, and Prose, allowing them to experience event formats and presentation styles firsthand. One of the most enriching parts of the training was our introduction to debate. Through interactive Q&A sessions, coaches expanded their knowledge of different competitive formats.

The tournament’s season successfully started with the online Speech and Debate Tournament "Lynch Cup” which returned with a bang for its second consecutive year! Eight spirited teams, made up of 26 passionate participants, clashed in four dynamic rooms. The air was thick with anticipation as they tackled hot-button issues, including whether individual actions can truly change the world, the impact of hustle culture, and the implications of banning political parties.

Each debate transformed into a thrilling contest of intellect and persuasion, judged by an impressive panel of eight experts—six from Bulgaria, one from India, and one from Ghana. Their diverse perspectives added depth to the evaluations, making every round a showcase of creativity and critical thinking. The Lynch Cup was more than just a tournament; it was a celebration of ideas, determination, and the power of debate!

We can’t wait for the first two regional Debate Tournament – Fall West and Fall East which will be held in next couple of weeks!

Dear friends,

Thank you all for your incredible support! The magic of our work wouldn't be possible without you!

We would be truly grateful if you could share our GlobalGiving link with your friends and consider continuing your support with monthly donations. We're growing rapidly, and we need you more than ever!

Your contributions make a significant impact in the lives of every student who participates in our tournaments, and we are so thankful to have you as our champion!