Yoana Terzieva completed a master's degree in Social Pedagogy at the University of Sofia, where she actively engaged in social policy, human rights and children's rights. She is currently an accredited psychotherapist in psychodrama and group psychotherapy and a registered analyst within the Bulgarian Psychoanalytic Society. Yoana has experience working with children in conflict with the law, women and children, victims of violence and human trafficking, children and perpetrators of crimes; as a manager of local, national, and international social projects; as a researcher and professional speaker in programs on human rights, rights of the child, of women, prevention and countering human trafficking.  Yoana is also a founder of the Right to Childhood Foundation, a local organization that promotes and protects the rights of children in Bulgaria, and a member of the Core group of RENATE Managing Board and Yes, Bulgaria. In January 2020, she was elected as the leader of the local structure in Ruse and has participated as a candidate and head of the pre-election campaign of the Democratic Bulgaria Union in the Ruse region. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Yoana has been a volunteer and activist in support of people fleeing the war from Ukraine, meeting people at border points, providing psychotherapeutic help, organizing donations and humanitarian aid and leading cultural and protest events in support of Ukraine. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Let's Talk on War

The aim of Let’s talk on War was to provoke a debate on public issues related to Bulgaria's position on war and to aid people who have left Ukraine. This discussion was done artistically through an exhibition of photographs and journalistic materials that present the time from the outbreak of war to the end of July 2022. The exhibition presented personal stories from refugees and volunteers, as well as moments from significant political or public events related to the war. The event was held in Sofia and was announced as a meeting to discuss the war and Bulgaria's position.

" The footage on display captures the first moments of Ukrainian refugees on Bulgarian soil - moments
of fear of the unknown, hope, and gratitude. Thank you Yoana Terzieva for organizing this important event!"- U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria

IVLP Exchange Experience

Yoana was a participant in the IVLP Project Women in Politics and Civil Society IRP EUR/NEA/AF, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

Yoana's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "IVLP gave me the opportunity to meet strong and motivated women leaders, whose voices are a strong message coming from the local reality of various nationalities."

U.S. Communities Visited

Denver, CO; Washington, DC; Jacksonville, FL; Louisville, KY; Minneapolis, MN; Lincoln, NE, Salt Lake City, UT

"It was a powerful experience of meetings without borders." -Yoana Terzieva

Country: Bulgaria

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