The Ministry of Interior has officially launched a new socially significant initiative called "Little Big Heroes." The department's main objective is to focus public attention on children and young people who demonstrate remarkable civic virtue, personal responsibility, and courage through their actions—virtues that too often go unnoticed and remain outside the scope of the general public.
During the official ceremony, Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev emphasized the need to promote positive examples. He noted that although the media space has recently been dominated by negative news regarding young people, the reality is different: a large portion of Bulgarian children possess high moral values and deserve recognition. According to the Minister, effective prevention is not limited solely to reacting against antisocial behavior but also includes the active role of society in recognizing and encouraging actions worthy of emulation.
During the event, the first recipients of the "hero" title were honored, whose stories serve as proof of their civic engagement:
- Vladislav – the youngest among them, at just seven years old, who, along with his father Dimitar Stoyanov, actively participated in overcoming the aftermath of the severe flooding in the Strumyani region. Minister Demerdzhiev emphasized that this is an example of virtuous upbringing from an early age.
- Nikolay Gutev, Hristo Avramski, Martin Hristov, Borislav Atanasov, and Genadi Tanev – awarded for their volunteer work and the assistance they provided in dealing with the disaster in Strumyani.
- Hristiyan Kochev, Viktor Karushev, Aleksandar Vakov, and Andriyan Krastev – honored for their decisiveness and sense of civic duty, which helped prevent a crime. Through their quick reaction, the young men assisted law enforcement authorities in identifying and detaining a criminal who had been impersonating a police officer.
The inspiration for creating this campaign comes from previous acts of courage, including the heroic deed of 16-year-old Stiliyan Trendafilov and 17-year-old Tonislav Lekov. Some time ago, Minister Demerdzhiev awarded them for their exceptional role in saving the village of Kosharitsa from a major fire. It was the meeting with these boys that sparked the idea for young people's efforts to receive constant public attention, rather than remaining isolated incidents.
The leadership of the Ministry of Interior aims for the "Little Big Heroes" initiative to become a permanent program and gradually expand its reach. The goal is for every child or young person who helps in solving crimes, participates in rescue operations during disasters, or assists in other emergencies to be duly honored. In conclusion, Minister Demerdzhiev shared his optimism for the future of these young people and expressed hope that some of them will eventually choose to pursue their professional paths within the structures of the Ministry of Interior.