Nachko Pehlivanov, District Governor of District 130 – Bulgaria

Mr. Pehlivanov, how did you get enthusiastic about the Lions Movement?
I was first acquainted with it by my Turkish friends. I liked many things – the charity, the gathering together of many friends… About 9 years ago I became one of the founders of Sofia – Sredets Club and gradually I went through all steps in the hierarchy to reach my present position.

Since when are there Lions Clubs in Bulgaria?
They date since April 1992 when almost simultaneously the Lions Clubs Karlovo-Rose Valley and Lions Club Sofia were set up. Today 25 clubs function in Bulgaria.

What is the activity of your Club?
From the very beginning we joined actively the international Lions program for combating blindness and the prevention of this major problem of our times. We established contacts and good relations with the school for blind in Nadezhda district in Sofia, for which we raise funds in various ways. On June 1, 2000 we organized for the first time a festival for sightless talents – students from Sofia and Varna, and followed it up in 2001. Our next step was to buy a bus, which currently serves the children. With the help of our Lions friends from Italy we financed three surgical operations. Our latest idea, for which we developed a project worth 50,000 USD and will request the assistance of the International Foundation, is to construct a rehabilitation swimming pool at the school.

What is your impression, are the Bulgarians inclined to charity and is it difficult to raise funds?
My impression is that it is difficult but hard work needs to be done in a wider scope, because even they want to make donations many people don’t know whom to turn to. In the countries where our organization has a very good image, when you carry out charity campaigns and you say, “I am from Lions Club”, this is a signal to receive you well, to hear you and to be sure the money really goes where targeted. This is the image we have to work hard for in Bulgaria.

Everything the Lions members do is on voluntary basis, isn’t it?
The Association of Lions Clubs in Bulgaria is a non-governmental organization, registered under the Law on Non-Profit Associations. Everything we do is volunteer work and nobody gets paid. On the contrary, we contribute our own money to the charity campaigns and all the initiatives we organize in general. We volunteer part of our personal time, money and not least the knowledge and personal contacts we use for our common humane goals. Our organization is very democratic as the mandate of a club president is only one year, then he or she is succeeded by the first vice president (of a total of three). We also have committee chairmen, a secretary and a cashier. Any member can assume a leading position if he or she wants to and works well.

How do you raise more funds – from your own charity actions or from outside support and sponsorship?
Since the Lions Movement exists in Bulgaria, we have received externally about 350,000 USD for concrete projects. We raised as much because the principle of the organization is fifty-fifty. In the last few years our Clubs sponsor their own projects, for example a week ago the Ladies Lions Club in conjunction with the Pazardjik Regional Hospital implemented a project of purchasing a laser worth more than 50,000 BGN. Of course, we are also seeking opportunities for joint actions with our Lions friends abroad.

During his previous visit to Bulgaria Dr. Kusiak was received by President Parvanov, and now you arranged a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Education Mr. Mateev. What was its purpose and did you reach any agreements?
Dr. Kusiak has a very good offer for cooperation in an international project for import of cheap lenses. He brought to our attention a very interesting statistics. In the last two years, 1 million cataract operations were made in China, each costing only 6 USD. The aging population of Bulgaria needs such operations increasingly. With the support of the Lions Movement Headquarters and with our efforts we could do very beneficial things in this line.

I wish you success and more adherents of the noble cause you have taken up.
Thank you.