Stoilka Arsova received the "Worthy Bulgarian" award for her contribution to preserving historical memory and her active role in public causes

25 June 2026, Sofia: To the applause of hundreds of guests, in an atmosphere filled with gratitude towards people who change Bulgaria through their deeds, Stoilka Arsova received the "Worthy Bulgarian" award at the official ceremony of the 24 Chasa newspaper, held on 24 June 2026.

The award was presented to her by Ivelina Dimitrova, member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian National Television, for her contribution to preserving Bulgarian historical memory, for creating unique digital typefaces based on the handwriting of national heroes, and for her active role in establishing the Historical Museum in Slivnitsa.

Among the recognised causes was her contribution to the creation of the Historical Museum in Slivnitsa. As a member of the Initiative Committee and an active public advocate of the idea, Stoilka took part in preparing the museum exhibition, collecting historical materials and promoting the need for the town to have its own place for preserving local memory. The museum opened in May this year in the building of the emblematic "School of Dedo Pune", built with a donation from her great-grandfather Paun Kolev (Dedo Pune), one of the great benefactors of the Slivnitsa region.

One of the most recognisable projects associated with her name is the "Written History" initiative. Under her leadership, the authentic handwriting of Vasil Levski, Hristo Botev, Georgi Sava Rakovski and Rayna Knyaginya has been digitised. The digital typefaces created from their manuscripts are available free of charge to students, teachers, researchers and cultural institutions in Bulgaria and around the world. Thanks to the project, thousands of people can connect with history in a new and contemporary way, while the legacy of national heroes reaches younger generations through the power of technology.

Stoilka Arsova is well known for her professional contribution to the development of Bulgarian payment services. As one of the driving forces behind the creation of national payment solutions, she works to strengthen the country's payment sovereignty. At the same time, she directs her expertise, organisational experience and public energy towards causes related to preserving cultural and historical heritage.

In recent years, Stoilka Arsova has personally visited dozens of schools in Bulgaria and abroad, speaking with students about ancestral memory, Bulgarian history and the meaning of national identity. These meetings inspire young people to discover the link between the past and the future and to see history not as abstract knowledge but as a living part of their own identity.

On receiving the award, Stoilka Arsova shared that her calling came when she began researching the history of her family and her native region. In her emotional speech she dedicated the award to her family, to the Initiative Committee of the Slivnitsa municipality, to the banking community thanks to which we can speak today of national payment sovereignty, to the graphic designers, graphologists and historians, to the "Sts. Cyril and Methodius" National Library, to her daughters Michaela and Dafina, and to the memory of her husband Asen.

The 24 Chasa ceremony brought together individuals whose work and dedication prove that change happens every day, often quietly, far from the spotlight, but with a real effect on society. Among them, Stoilka Arsova was deservedly recognised: a person who consistently combines professional success with causes that benefit education, cultural heritage and public memory.

Through the foundation she created, Stoilka's Causes, she continues to support initiatives aimed at preserving cultural and historical heritage, promoting ancestral memory, and using modern technology to present Bulgarian history to younger generations.