About the freedom of libraries in Bulgaria and the enlightenment cause of one young Bulgarian Muslim from Varna

Sali Svetoslavov

„Without book the world is a night and the mind – miserable. Without book nations are flocks without thought.”

Victor Hugo

As representatives of one relatively small Muslim community in Bulgaria we can only be proud when a significant initiative of a public benefit is born within our community. Especially if young active people are at its core. Just like that, causing pride and admiration, is the cause of Sali Svetoslavov - 22-year old Muslim from Varna.

Sali – “the sovereign” of books

Sali is born in 1997 and this summer completed his third year from his studies as a university student in “National Security Protection” in Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" (VFU). Unlike many of his peers for his young age Sali is very active in various fields – he is engaged in social activities, and during the period 2017-2019 is a deputy chairman of the Council of Students at VFU. The young man completed his mandate in the Council of Students with one important initiative, which is gaining in popularity – “Free Libraries – Book Houses”.

But what directs Sali towards this project and how it became so to call the young man “the sovereign” of books?

During the summer of 2018 Sali accidentally come across a book house in the quarter of Varna Asparuhovo, put there at the initiative of the local community cultural center. Seeing that the house is neglected – it itself in a poor and miserable condition, and also with just a few books in it, Sali decided to begin a campaign for collecting books. Thanks to his initiative every week the book house was supplied with 10 books.

“I saw what was the effect – the elder generation is interested in the books, takes them but does not return them, and the young generation has no interest. So I realized that what actually is the need of these free libraries is not books but to be put at a safe place. I decided that it is necessary to undertake a campaign to re-educate the adolescents so that they could begin living with love of books and reading. I realized that in order to preserve these free libraries and their existence, their place should be in the schools.” – Sali Svetoslavov said for Grandmufti.bg.

The beginning of the idea

In this way the project “Free Libraries – Book Houses” was born and it takes place with the assistance and the financial support of the Varna Free University and the Council of Students at it.

“Placing book houses is not a new idea, with our project we do not “invent the wheel” but it has never been paid so much attention so far to the educational effect of these houses.” – the university student said.

There are already 10 book houses in total placed within the project – eight in Varna, one in Dobrich and one in Targovishte. According to Sali Svetoslavov himself the all so called “free libraries’ are placed in schools. The only exception is one of the book houses in Varna which is placed at the “Stoyan Bachvarov” Drama Theater in the city.

“For me these book houses are a symbol of freedom, sharing and responsibility. And the responsibility is to the fore, it is not by birth but is educated in people. This exactly we are trying to do within the project – to educate responsibility towards books in the young generation. I do hope that this project will help us realize that actually we have not only freedoms, but responsibilities as well.” – Sali further added.

The young man from Varna hopes that the project will continue to develop and relies mainly on the support from the councils of students at the universities, from the NGOs, and from the Municipality of Varna. The idea of Sali is to place book houses at several other schools, and after that gradually to begin the “exportation” of the free libraries in the parks.

The project aimed at the Muslim community in our country

Linking the topic about the project of Sali with Islam and the Muslim community in Bulgaria, the young manshares with sorrow that according to him with regard to the Muslims in Bulgaria it even could not be spoken about reading and non-reading generation. Because according to his observations both elderly and youths in the Muslim community do not read enough. Although as Sali himself cites, the first revelation from the Qur’an is exactly “Read!”.

Asked if his project can be aimed specifically at the Muslim community in our country, he replied that he is ready to work in this direction.

“Book houses can be placed also in the yards of the mosques. People could read, but here is nothing to encourage them. And I think that these book houses can have exactly this effect – to encourage.” – Sali said to Grandmufti.bg.

The young man expressed in the interview his readiness for cooperation with the regional mufti’s offices and with Grand Mufti’s Office, as long as an interest to his idea is shown.

“Mosques are a place where any kind of activities can be developed – religious, scientific, cultural, social. And we must not limit these places only for the religious activity.” – confidently says the 22- year old Muslim from Varna. However according to him the financial support on behalf of the religious institutions and organizations in the country is very important for this purpose.

“If we find financial and also other support, we can direct the project also to villages and settlements where there are no libraries and community cultural centers.” – further shares the young man. 

Acknowledgments at a national and international level

The project of Sali Svetoslavov “Free libraries – Book Houses” has already twice received public recognition. The initiative was awarded in a contest this year of the National Representation of the Council of Students in the Republic of Bulgaria (NRCS). It got the “Bringers of Enlightenment” award in the “They – the Bringers of Enlightenment 2019” category.

Besides one national award the project of Sali Svetoslavov from Varna was also awarded with one international recognition. The cause “Free Libraries – Book Houses” was awarded with the silver prize of the XIV^th edition of the Herzen Student Forum “My Initiative in Education” in the Russian State Pedagogical University “A. I. Herzen” at St. Petersburg.

We do hope that with the time the number of the modern young enlighteners like Sali Svetoslavov from Varna will only increase. Causes like his undoubtedly could lead only to increasing the number of the enlightened which is of a great importance in order– as the French writer Hugo said - to get out of the world of darkness.

Author: L. Chausheva

Photos: Personal archive of Sali Svetoslavov