Representatives of the “Youth Guard Units” Association visited the presidential palace of the Italian Republic and the training base for local guards. The visit is part of an international program carried out with the support of the European Commission and funded by the “Erasmus+” program, Youth sector. The organization holds accreditation No. 2025-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000297794, awarded in 2025, which ensures sustainability and long-term development of projects in the field of youth policies.
The exchange is conducted under the mentorship of Mrs. Rositsa Kirova, Chairperson of the Committee on Citizens’ Direct Participation in the National Assembly, and is implemented with the institutional support of the Presidency of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Guard Unit, as well as the Embassy of Italy in Bulgaria. The event is also carried out with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Rome and the Honorary Consulate of Italy in Plovdiv, whose partnership contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and the successful realization of the visit. The official Bulgarian delegation will include:
– Rositsa Kirova – Member of Parliament and Chair of the Commission for Direct Citizen Participation
● Petar Mladenov – Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports
– Tanya Mihaylova – Head of the Minister of Education and Science’s Office
● Monika Yanakieva – Director of the “Selection, Contracting, and Reporting” Directorate at the Center for Human Resource Development
● Col. Petar Kindalov – Commander of the National Guard Unit
● Col. Iliya Milushev – Advisor to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria
● Mariana Shoteva – Chair of the Administrative Court – Plovdiv
● Джузепе де Франческо – почетен консул на Италия в Пловдив
At the presidential palace, the youths were welcomed by Pietro Colapinto, an advisor to the Italian president, and learned about the building’s history. They took a tour of all the important halls, including the president’s office. The students were particularly interested in the president’s coat of arms, its symbolism, and the message it conveys. Following this, the Bulgarian delegation headed to the training base for the local guards. With gracious hospitality, Lieutenant Colonel Naka explained the activities of the units and their training process.
In recent years, the “Youth Guard Detachments” Association has established its role as an active participant in international youth exchange. In 2022 and 2023, delegations from the Association visited the Vatican at the special invitation of His Holiness Pope Francis and the Swiss Guard. In 2023, the organization was also received at the state level in Montenegro, where it met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers of Education, Sports, and Human and Minority Rights.
This visit to Italy is the first of three international trips planned by the Association for the 2025–2026 period, with visits also scheduled for Cyprus and Belgium.
Photos by: Milen Torbev
