За нас

The Pledge

We, the members of the U.S. Ambassador’s Youth Council, are socially active young people who:

Join forces to identify and work on issues relevant to young people through the support, implementation and development of initiatives, activities and youth policies that respond to the values and the Council Strategy;
Help the US Embassy to gain a better understanding of the youth community in our country.’’

Our Mission & History

The U.S. Ambassador’s Youth Council was founded in November 2014 by Ambassador Marcie B. Ries. It brings together a cross-section of young, dynamic Bulgarians and has three main goals:

1. To advise the U.S. Embassy on how to better understand the issues facing and motivating young Bulgarians, and to improve our outreach efforts.
2. To create opportunities for innovative young Bulgarian leaders to meet with and exchange ideas with U.S., Bulgarian and international experts.
3. To devise creative, practical and concrete solutions to the problems and issues facing young Bulgarians today.

The USYC is a network that has the competence and capacity to make a meaningful, visible and sustainable contribution to the development of young people in Bulgaria in the name of consensual causes for building socially-engaged, tolerant and civic-active community.

Our Priorities & Values

Education
Human Rights and Civic Engagement
Youth Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment

Administratibe Structure

The USYC is comprised of a Council that includes all of its members and a governing body – the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is formed by five members of the Youth Council who are elected annually by the Council – President, Two Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Board of Directors

Mina Raduncheva

President

Mina Raduncheva is the founder and manages two non-governmental organizations – Paint and Quarter Horse Foundation Bulgaria and MIKA Foundation. The organizations are dedicated to children and young people’s personal growth and assistance to those with special needs. Her previous experience includes legal work associated with international organizations, intellectual property, and mediation. She holds a LLB degree in International and European Law from The Hague University of Applied Science.

Emil Hayrumyan

Vice-president

Emil is a 17-years old student at the American University in Bulgaria, majoring in Computer Science and Business administration with a concentration in finance. He is a part of the Speakers Department at TEDxAUBG and Social Media Marketing at XAIA Hiking club. In addition, he is also a student ambassador at the admissions and events offices in AUBG.

Ilina Moutafchieva

Vice-president

Ilina works in the non-profit sector, sustainable development, and shared value between the business and civil society.

Elena Zaharieva

secretary

Elena is a student at the American University in Bulgaria where she double majors in Business Administration & Journalism and Mass Communications. Some of Elena's main hobbies and interests include event organization, social media marketing, cryptocurrencies, photography, creative writing, self-development, and public speaking. Some of those she practices at the student club StartUP@Blagoevgrad, where she is part of the Speakers department and also while being a mentor at an internship academy at the Bulgarian health and wellness brand BAV.BG

Sofia Boneva

Treasurer

Sofia is a student at the American University in Bulgaria, where she studies Business and Psychology. At the university, she is part of the sponsorship departments of two clubs and takes part in the organization of the entrepreneurial events “StartUP Weekend” and “StartUP Conference”. Sofia is the Project Manager and one of the hosts of “The Untold Stories” podcast. In AUBG, she is also working as a Writing Center Tutor and as Student Assistant in a project, aiming to connect alumni, students, and professors. She is now in the process of founding her own company for online education and she is writing a book. In the USYC she is the treasurer and the head of “The Goal Quest” department.