The necessity for targeted actions towards the preservation of local traditions was discussed at a meeting of the community center s board. A large group of individuals aged over 60 live in the city. They feel isolated and unnecessary and don t see their place in local community life, despite the fact that they are the carriers of the wisdom of past times.

Considering the need of to organize the youth in the municipality for constructive activities, the community center s board decided that joint activities provide a wonderful opportunity to illustrate the common points between two generations, to increase elder citizens self-confidence, to improve young people s understanding of values and to preserve Godech s spirit for the generations to come. A project proposal was formulated and was approved for funding under FLGR s Social Environment Improvement, financed by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

The preliminary stage of the project was used to collect information on who would be willing to get involved in the Family Memory Club. The club was established the day the project was initiated, October 1, 2003. 20 students formed a group that was trained to study the region s ethnography. The group of trained volunteers then started to seek authentic songs, dances and rituals in the villages of the region. The elder citizens gladly shared their valuable memories. The project choreographer classified the information collected. Then, descriptions were developed for the following customs: a marriage in the Godech region; Dzhamala; and St. George s Day.

Many lifestyle items, costumes and tools were collected and will serve as exhibits in a future ethnographic collection. Some of these items were restored; the collection of decorations, belt buckles, bracelets and rings is particularly beautiful. Exhibition windows and bars were ordered for the premises that would host the exhibition. All collected materials were submitted to the community center s board for the formation of an archive should the collection activities continued upon the completion of the project.

At the start of the practical activities the young people were unconfident and clumsy, as they were getting involved in such activities for the first time. However, the adults in the club proved to be perfect teachers. The youth began coming to the meetings with enthusiasm and their now skillful hands produced wonderful items. The popular costumes owned by the community center were renovated. The knitting classes were most productive; children s clothes, blankets, hats and many other items were knitted. Joint activities were organized with the children with disabilities from the Deftly Club.

The participants in the Family Memory Club gave the start to an initiative for a visual recreation of local customs from the past. These customs include: Sedyanka, Tlaka, Dzhamala, Pokladi and St. Todor s Day. For a more lasting preservation of the memory for these customs, they were filmed. The movie will be used to promote the activities of N. Y. Vaptsarov Popular Community Center.

The youth in the municipality of Godech got acquainted with the traditions, customs and family memory of their region;

The relations between the different generations were improved;

A rich ethnographic exhibition was collected, which will be accessible by the residents and visitors of Godech;

The activities of N. Y. Vaptsarov Popular Community Center were promoted.

For additional information, please contact :

Velin Ivanov

Chair, N. Y. Vaptsarov Popular Community Center

10, N. Y. Vaptsarov Street

2240 Godech

Tel.: (0729) 2368, (088) 730 2708

Fax: (0729) 3503

Email: [email protected]

Boris Stankov

Municipal Secretary

Municipality of Godech

1, Svoboda Sq.

2240 Godech

Tel.: (0729) 3472

Fax: (0729) 3503

Email: [email protected]