A Bridge of Words and Memory – Dimi Komanduci and her project “The Charisma of Bulgarians”

published on 11/25/25 11:53 AM

Photo: Facebook /Dimitrinka Yordanova

The project “The Charisma of Bulgarians” is, in essence, a bridge between different worlds. With it, Dimitrinka Yordanova Komanduci - psychologist, psychotherapist, vocal coach, and author of “Your Voice Can Change Your Life” - aims to create a connection between Bulgarian children and youth abroad and their peers in Bulgaria.

The idea for the project was born in 2019, but its launch was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the project returns with a clear goal – to explore how young Bulgarians perceive their identity and to bring their voices together into a shared space for connection, belonging, and dialogue.

“With this project, I want to conduct a psychological analysis of the cultural identity of young Bulgarians – both those living outside Bulgaria and their peers in the country,” explains Dimi Yordanova on the “Bulgaria Today” programme on Radio Bulgaria.

Her work with Bulgarian children abroad is not new. She created her first book, “The Paths of the Voice”, in collaboration with children from the Sunday School “Asen and Iliya Peykovi” in Italy. “We are starting again with the school in Rome, but I expect Bulgarian children from several countries to join as well,” adds the psychologist.

First Stage of the Project

In the first phase, 100 young people aged 14 to 18 from different countries will participate. They will answer questions about what makes them proud, where they draw their strength from, and how they connect with their Bulgarian identity. All of this will be analyzed psychologically.

“My colleague Dr. Aneta Rasheva (psychologist, professor at the medical faculty of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - editor's note), with whom I developed the project, and I will publish a monograph called ‘If I Want, I Can’, because with this motto young Bulgarians abroad and in Bulgaria must move forward. Maybe these will be the main building blocks of the bridge between the two communities - young Bulgarians abroad and young Bulgarians in Bulgaria. We will publish the monography on paper so it can be a gift for the participants, and for the other schools abroad, which are already over 300, it will be available as a gift from us online,” explains Dimi.

Second Stage of the Project

In the second phase, 100 Bulgarian children from within the country will participate, creating original videos about their hometowns. In these videos, they will talk about Bulgarian history, legends, and cultural landmarks, showing their peers abroad why it’s worth returning and rediscovering Bulgaria.

The project also has a clear psychological dimension. After the pandemic, Dimi Yordanova observed that young people were suffering from a social deficit - they had become more withdrawn and isolated. But they also carry the potential for transformation:

“I observe on a global scale that people are becoming increasingly closed off, more isolated, and live, face-to-face communication is in deficit. The generation that has suffered the most from this forced isolation is precisely the young people. That is why I chose this age group, because for me, they are the generation that carries the greatest potential for transformation - from forced isolation, through the dynamic changes we experience every day with the rise of artificial intelligence, and with the development of emotional intelligence. I sincerely hope that through my project, I will contribute to the growth of the spiritual intelligence of young Bulgarians."

With “The Charisma of Bulgarians”, Dimitrinka Komanduci hopes to create a space where young people not only share their experiences but also recognize themselves as part of one community – spread across the world, yet connected through language, memory, and love for Bulgaria.

Photos: Elena Karkalanova, Facebook /Dimitrinka Yordanova

English publication: R. Petkova

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A Bridge of Words and Memory – Dimi Komanduci and her project “The Charisma of Bulgarians”

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