On April 18^th, Zlatarski International School hosted the guest-lecturer Nikola Petrov, an astronomer at the National Astronomical Observatory in Rozhen. He described for us the magical faraway worlds beyond our planet which he called invisible as they are impossible to observe without specific equipment.

The meeting was a part of the current project carried out by students from grades 10 and 11 of Zlatarski who are organising a campaign to help out Mr. Petrov and his team’s expedition in the USA this year. NAO-Rozhen’s team will attend one of the most significant astronomical events of the past few years, namely the Great American total solar eclipse which will take place on August 21^st. For the expedition, they will need high-tech equipment which the scientists cannot afford without outside help.

Under the supervision of Alexandra Algafari, who is a part of the Zlatarski team, and with the support of the principal and the school management, Aneli and Ralitsa (10a), Alexandra, Kalina and Kristiana (10b), Anton (10c), Petar, Kamelia, Stefania, Gabriela, Boris and Boryan (11IBb), and Anna and Albena (11IBc) are Zlatarski’s volunteers who will help with the fundraising of the necessary sum through various online techniques, organising events and devising a complete strategy for the campaign. This work is a part of the compulsory hours of Creativity and Service within the IB programme and will provide the opportunity for the students to learn and develop new skills in the area of volunteering, marketing and event management.

Among the planned activities are distribution of the link for the online crowdfunding campaign, school bake sales, organising sports events with participation and spectator fees, writing an appeal for help to friends and family and even media coverage, and the students’ ideas keep pouring! Our volunteers hope to gather the necessary funds by the beginning of August which is when the equipment for the expedition should be purchased.