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Bulgaria, Sofia, 1989: In the Footsteps of a Revolution

Episode 2 - The emergence of the resistance movement

Join Louisa Slavkova from the Sofia Platform Foundation and Deyan Kyuranov, philosopher and human rights activist, in exploring the resistance movement, in the end of communism in Bulgaria in 1989.

Dealing with the past has been a difficult topic for the Bulgarian society – both when it comes to the communist history and to the history of transition to democracy. With a series of documentary video tours in Sofia, Sofia Platform Foundation aims to explore the events of ’89 through the places and people that bear witness of them. Contemporaries will take you on a tour to different historical sites in the capital and will talk about their experience of the revolution.

 

While the first episode depicted the appearance of the regime through the eyes and memories of writer Georgi Gospodinov, the second episode deals with the last years of the regime´s existence and the emergence and growth of the resistance movement. Philosopher and human rights activist, Deyan Kyuranov, takes us to places of his personal memories of the year 1989. He shares stories about people and places important for the emergence and growth of the resistance movement in Sofia and from where it all started – which was outside of the capital. How did the protests begin? How did ordinary people get involved? What were the consequences they had to fear? Let´s explore the atmosphere of Sofia in 1989.

The Sofia Platform Foundation (SPF), a nongovernmental organization, is working in two main strands – teaching history of the recent past and civic education in both, formal and non-formal settings. Over the past seven years it has been initiating and managing projects related to dealing with the past with students and teachers in Bulgaria. On the local level, it supports the development of capacities and skills of individuals and organizations to strengthen their active citizenship. To provide high-quality educational activities, SPF’s formats are based on solid research and practice, constant impact measurement of its activities and working with a broad network of experts. On an international level, SPF focuses on informing the debate on historical legacy, transition and democracy consolidation through research, public dialogue and discussions. This includes developing educational materials on communism and transition in Eastern Europe as well as civic education materials for hard-to-reach learners together with international partners.

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Bulgaria, Sofia, 1989:
In the Footsteps of a Revolution

Episode 1 - Symbols of Authority: The Mausoleum, the State Security and the Fear

Follow Louisa Slavkova from Sofia Platform Foundation and Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov on their tour around places and events in Sofia in the context of the 1989 revolution.

The end of WWII, in 1945, was a turning point for Europe and the world. The West began to rebuild their homes, institutions, and re-commit to democratic norms. But the East set on a 45-year long path in which communism extended its tentacles into every aspect of the societies. In a way, the fall of the totalitarian regimes in 1989/91 brought the promise to the East that 1945 brought to the West. 75 years after the end of WWII and 30 years after 1989, the generation born after these events is now asking the question: “What is the impact of history of the recent past on our present?”

Dealing with the past has been a difficult topic for the Bulgarian society – both when it comes to the communist history and to the history of transition to democracy. With a series of documentary video tours in Sofia, SofiaPlatform aims to explore the events of ’89 through the places and people that bear witness of them. Contemporaries will take you on a tour to different historical sites in the capital and will talk about their experience of the revolution.

The Sofia Platform Foundation (SPF), a nongovernmental organization, is working in two main strands – teaching history of the recent past and civic education in both, formal and non-formal settings. Over the past seven years it has been initiating and managing projects related to dealing with the past with students and teachers in Bulgaria. On the local level, it supports the development of capacities and skills of individuals and organizations to strengthen their active citizenship. To provide high-quality educational activities, SPF’s formats are based on solid research and practice, constant impact measurement of its activities and working with a broad network of experts. On an international level, SPF focuses on informing the debate on historical legacy, transition and democracy consolidation through research, public dialogue and discussions. This includes developing educational materials on communism and transition in Eastern Europe as well as civic education materials for hard-to-reach learners together with international partners.

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