A Summer of Volunteering in Stargel: Eight Young People from Six Countries Revive an Old School

In the summer of 2025, the Green Educational Center in Stargel became home to eight volunteers from six different countries who chose to spend several months in the small mountain village. They came to work on the restoration of the old school building and to become part of a growing community. The program was implemented within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps and combined volunteering, experiential learning, and active participation in the life of the local community.

From the very first days after their arrival, the volunteers began working on the schoolyard and the building itself. They cleaned the spaces around the school, prepared areas for gathering and rest, and started small repairs that gradually brought life back to the old school structure. With collective effort, several outdoor areas were renewed, and some of the walls came alive with new graffiti—colorful, youthful, and full of the energy of that summer. The work was diverse and often physically demanding. On one of the days, the volunteers cleared, cut, and moved a huge pile of wooden beams and boards that had been shifting around the yard for a long time without a clear purpose. After several hours of work, the wood finally found its place as part of the preparation for the future permaculture garden around the center.

Learning through practice

An important part of the volunteering program was training and hands-on practice in permaculture design. Our friend Ivan Ivanov presented his detailed project for the center’s yard—a design he developed over the course of a year at the University of Oregon in the United States. The project envisions the creation of a water area, pollinator flower beds, a forest garden with several layers of vegetation, and spaces for producing green biomass for soil fertilization. The volunteers took part in discussions about the design, asked many questions, and began the first preparatory activities that will gradually make its implementation possible.In this way, the work in the yard also became an educational process—a meeting point between the theory of sustainable agriculture and real-life practice.

Meeting the traditions of the Bulgarian village

The summer in Stargel was also an opportunity for the volunteers to discover Bulgarian traditions. One of the most memorable days was their participation in a traditional harvest celebration in the village. They explored old agricultural tools, joined a hands-on harvest workshop, and experienced the rhythm of rural life. The day ended with delicious homemade food and a lively dance performance by people from nearby villages—an encounter that left a strong impression on everyone involved.Working with students and the community. The volunteers did not work only on the school building and yard. Gradually, they also became involved in the center’s activities with children and young people. Some of them helped facilitate team-building activities for students, supporting sessions focused on teamwork, trust-building games, and experiential learning in nature. For many of them, this was a new experience—an opportunity to develop skills in group facilitation, communication, and collaboration. The volunteers also became an active part of village life. They participated in local celebrations, gatherings, and community events, gradually becoming familiar faces to the people of Stargel.

Discovering Bulgaria

The program was designed to combine volunteering with exploring the country and the region.The young people had the opportunity to travel to different parts of Bulgaria and experience the country’s natural and cultural diversity. They also visited neighboring countries on the Balkan Peninsula to better understand the historical and cultural context of the region.To help them manage everyday life in the community, the volunteers also took part in a short cooking course led by a French chef. They learned how to prepare a variety of meals and turned the shared kitchen into a place for conversations, cultural exchange, and friendship.

When volunteering changes life plans

Perhaps the most remarkable outcome of this summer is that almost all the volunteers expressed a wish to stay and live in Bulgaria.Two of them have already taken that step. Six months after the end of their volunteering service, Federico and Lucas continue their lives here—in Sofia. Federico continued his professional path in the IT sector, while Lucas discovered a new calling in baking.Four other volunteers have expressed their desire to continue supporting the development of the school in Stargel even after the end of their European Solidarity Corps program.

Small steps toward a big change

During these summer months, the volunteers did much more than help restore the school building. They became part of a community that believes abandoned schools can once again become living spaces for learning, gathering, and culture.They also took part in the creation of a fundraising video that will support the next stages of the building’s restoration.When they arrived, the school felt much quieter and greyer. When they left, the place carried a new energy—born from hard work, shared dinners, laughter, ideas, and friendships.And perhaps most importantly, from the feeling that something has begun here that will continue to grow.