Nurseries, schools and social centres in Burgas are taking part in a national heart health drive called "School with a Heart", which starts on World Heart Day. It runs all school year.
The Bulgarian Hypertension League and the "Heart to Heart for Bulgaria" foundation are behind the campaign, backed by cardiologists. It targets children and young people aged 3 to 18.
Children and teachers begin with a joint task, forming a large symbolic heart. Nurseries and schools will run drawing, dance and movement activities, and children will learn how to look after their hearts.
After that opening task, each nursery or school taking part gets a free "heart box" - a kit with six ready-made lessons for the whole year, split by age from nursery up to year 12. The lessons cover heart health, exercise, diet and healthy choices.
Organisers say the lessons should not stop at the classroom door: children take what they learn home to parents and grandparents, so it reaches whole families. One child can pass on what they learn to a whole family, they say, and thousands of children could change the health habits of a whole generation.
Across Bulgaria, 34,000 children, 1,200 teachers and 610 nurseries and schools are taking part.
In Burgas, those joining include the Geo Milev English Language School, the Kolyo Ficheto Vocational School of Construction, Architecture and Geodesy, and the nurseries Hans Christian Andersen, Moryache, Plamache, Rayna Knyaginya, Rakovina, Kalina Malina, Kalinka, Izgrev, Valshebstvo, Zvezditsa, Ran Bosilek, Sinchets (with its branch in the Gorno Ezerovo district), Slantse, Alen Mak in the Sarafovo district, Brezichka, Zdravets, Zlatnoto Klyuche, Iglika, and Radost (with its branch in the Kraymorie district).
Also taking part are the primary schools Bratya Miladinovi, Anton Strashimirov, Nayden Gerov, Sveti Knyaz Boris I, Lyuben Karavelov, Vasil Aprilov, Elin Pelin, Ivan Vazov, P. R. Slaveykov, Peyo Yavorov, Sveti Kliment Ohridski, Hristo Botev in the Dolno Ezerovo district, Hristo Botev in the Pobeda district, and Hristo Botev in the Vetren district, along with the secondary schools Dobri Chintulov, Episkop Konstantin Preslavski, Konstantin Petkanov, Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy, Dimcho Debelyanov and Yordan Yovkov.
The list also includes the day centre for children and/or adults with severe multiple disabilities, the community support centre with emergency admissions, and the centre for social rehabilitation and integration. Outside the city, the Svetulka nursery in Balgarovo, the Prolet Duga nursery and Hristo Botev primary school in the village of Marinka, and the Temenuga nursery in the village of Ravnets are also taking part.
Every institution taking part will get an official certificate. The most active nurseries and schools will be honoured nationwide with the "School with a Heart" title in May 2027.