BEST Foundation hosts the biggest international oratory competition in the Balkan Peninsula for the 5th time

From the 17th to the 19th of March 2023, the BEST Foundation in conjunction with American University in Blagoevgad hosted its 5th International Tournament, Balkan Voices. Over 60 high schoolers from all over the Balkan Peninsula attended the original oratory competition, which ended up bringing together students from Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Romania. The tournament was held in the campus of AUBG in Blagoevgrad and students managed to form bonds with their peers from neighboring countries and foster important cross-cultural relationships. It was our first time hosting Balkan Voices in person since 2019 and we are happy to announce that due to our judges, participants and volunteers’ unwavering efforts, the event was a resounding success. 

BEST is especially grateful to the American University in Blagoevgrad who are our hosts for this tournament, and who during its duration provided educational and entertaining lectures and workshops for the students. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Regional English Language Office at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade who are our official sponsor for the event, as well as to the Fulbright Commission and the ETA Program for the continuous support to the organization. During the opening ceremony Daniel Shopov, the Vice President of Admissions at AUBG spoke about the importance of fostering intercultural connections and advancing one’s public speaking abilities. 

Our next competition, the 2023 National Tournament, will be held from the 22nd to the 23rd of April in Sofia’s University of National and World Economy. Please look forward to it! 

Balkan Voices Tournament Awards

Below are the names of participating teams; you can view results on Speechwire, as well.

Prishtina High School - Prishtina, Kosovo

QSI International School of Kosovo - Prishtina, Kosovo

British School of Kosovo - Prishtina, Kosovo

Xhevdet Doda - Prishtina, Kosovo

SOU Metodi Mitevski - Brico - Delchevo, North Macedonia 

Yahya Kemal College Skopje - Skopje, North Macedonia 

Yahya Kemal College Struga - Struga, North Macedonia

Nova International school - Skopje, North Macedonia

Galati County Centre of Excellence - Galati, Romania

Arcadia Academy - Tivat, Montenegro

New York High School - Tirana, Albania

Lyudmil Stoyanov FLS - Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Acad. Korolyov MS - Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Geo Milev FLS - Burgas, Bulgaria

Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS - Haskovo, Bulgaria

FLHS "Ekzarh Yosif I" - Lovech, Bulgaria

19 SU "Elin Pelin" - Sofia, Bulgaria

High school of mathematics “Acad. Kiril Popov” - Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Ekzarh Yossif FLHS - Razgrad, Bulgaria

MSHS "Nancho Popovich" - Shumen, Bulgaria

91 German Language School - Sofia, Bulgaria 

SELS - Sofia, Bulgaria

Dr. Petar Beron Maths School + First English Language School Varna - Varna, Bulgaria

Geo Milev FLS - Dobrich, Bulgaria

PGPCHE ,,Aleko Konstantinov" - Pravets, Bulgaria

St. Paisii Hilendarki - Dupnitsa, Bulgaria

Team Plovdiv 

AWARDS

ORIGINAL ORATORY – NOVICE (8TH-9TH GRADE)

Semifinalists 

  • Ana Angelovska - SOU Metodi Mitevski - Brico

  • Hana Kolgjini - Pristina, XK, QSI Kosovo, 

  • Jovana Dimitrova - Yahya Kemal College, Skopje 

  • Georgi Boyadzhiev - SELS, Sofia

  • Haskovo, Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Melda Hikmet.

  • Katerina Nikolova - St. Paisii Hilendarski, Dupnitsa

  • Mishel Zdrava - New York High School, Tirana 

Finalists

  1. Teo Ward - Arcadia Academy, Tivat 

  2. Maria Todorova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths High School, Varna

  3. Gergana Acheva - 91st German Language School, Sofia 

  4. Diana Zhekova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths High School, Varna

  5. Erlisa Buzhala - British School of Kosovo, Kosovo 

  6. Elitsa Stancheva - Dr. Petar Beron Maths High School, Varna

ORIGINAL ORATORY– VARSITY (10TH-12TH GRADE)

Semifinalists

  • Rosen Razpopov - Team Plovdiv 

  • Liliya Ivanova - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo 

  • Alexandra Dimova - Akad. S.  Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad 

  • Vernon Petkov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech 

  • Janina Petrova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths High School, Varna

  • Marina Kuzdova - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen 

  • Ivo Radev - Geo Milev GPAE, Burgas 

  • Era Latifi - QSI Kosovo, XK, Prishtina 

  • Viktoria Daskalova - Lyudmil Stoyanova FLHS, Blagoevgrad 

  • Ekaterina Osipova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths High School, Varna

Finalists

  1. Vasil Kalchev - Ekzarh Yossif  FLHS, Razgrad

  2. Christina Yanakieva - Ekzarh Yossif  FLHS, Razgrad

  3. Kjara Dylgjeri - New York High School, Tirana 

  4. Angjelina Glasnovic - Prishtina High School, Prishtina

  5. Luka Pavikjevikj - NOVA Internation School, Skopje 

  6. Polat Ismajli - British High School of Kosovo, Kosovo

BEST Foundation