“You are the ones who will take over the responsibility to protect nature after us. So be brave, dream and learn, because only with knowledge will you achieve your goals in life. Each of us has a place and a purpose, I believe that each of you will find theirs.” With these words, the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova greeted the 4th grade students from the Hristo Botev Secondary School in Sapareva Banya on Children’s Day on June 1. The children, their teachers, experts from the Rila National Park Directorate, together with Minister Karamfilova and the Mayor of Sapareva Banya Kalin Gelev, cleaned up the tourist trail from the Visitor Centre of the park in Panichishte to the Azhdera area.

The Minister welcomed the energy with which the students collected waste and thanked them for fulfilling the mission of each of us - to take care of preserving our nature clean. Minister Karamfilova presented interesting information about the slow decomposition of plastic and the harm it does to the oceans and the seas. “We must not allow such pollution. Let us be role models as we are today, because you are setting an example for everyone. I never imagined 10 months ago that I would be Minister of Environment and Water. But more than 20 years ago, as a junior expert in this field, I knew this was my path. That is why I want you to find your path and walk it with your head up,” said Rositsa Karamfilova.

The Director of the Rila National Park Krasimir Andonov thanked the students for their willingness to take part in the clean-up together with the park team. “I hope today’s event was enjoyable and fun. I am impressed with how efficient you were and how you managed to collect the waste in such a short time. There should be no litter in the mountains, plastic and metal pollute nature and are dangerous for animals,” he said and added that regardless of their professions in the future, they should always protect nature.

The joint initiative by the Rila National Park Directorate and Sapareva Banya Municipality on the occasion of the Children’s Day continued with an open lesson on how to protect nature, what are the rules for preventing pollution of the park and what is the harm incurred by plastic, delivered by eng. Nikolina Georgieva from the park management. Dr. Stefan Kirilov conducted an environmental quiz with gifts for the children from the Executive Agency for the Environment and the Directorate General of the Operational Programme “Environment” at the Ministry.

“Nature protects us and gives us our livelihood, and you and I must be responsible and diligent, not least - demanding, to preserve it for future generations. So that 50 years from now, when you are our age, you will be proud of what you have achieved. Remember how Minister Karamfilova taught you to be responsible first of all to nature, then to yourselves,” said the Mayor of Sapareva Banya Kalin Gelev.