Two children from the art school at the Burgas Centre for Personal Development Support (CPLR) won awards at the international "Joy of Europe 2026" competition in Belgrade. Svilen Bakardzhiev took second place in the youngest age group.

Boyan Dzhenatov, also from the school, received an individual honourable mention.

This was the 28th year of the art competition. The Children's Cultural Centre in Belgrade received 2,700 works by children from towns and cities across Serbia and from 28 other countries. They include Belarus, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Egypt, Zimbabwe, India, Indonesia, Italy, China, Russia, Thailand and Switzerland.

A jury of experts handed out diplomas and prizes in five age groups. They honoured the most original and most skilfully made works.

The winning works, including those by Bakardzhiev and Dzhenatov, are on show in the gallery of the Children's Cultural Centre in Belgrade and in an online catalogue.