The Winners of the Essay Contest “Ecomania”, Devoted to the Water

Almost 280 essays were contesting for the big prize – 9-days cruise over Danube river

Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria and information site Vesti.bg in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria awarded the best three essays in the contest “Ecomania”, which this year was devoted to water. The winners received their prizes at a special ceremony at the International day of Danube river.   

The organizers' aim was to encourage young people to write on topics related to conservation and sustainable use of water resources in Bulgaria. Almost 280 essays participated in the eco-contest. Their authors wrote abote exciting water-related adventures and shared their visions about saving water recourses and water biodevirsity in Bulgaria. The essays, published at Vesti.bg have been read more than 157,000 times.

This year the competition for the first place was very serious because of the high level of the sent essays. Kamen Petrov Jordanov, 42 year-old, from Targovishte, won the biggest prize – 9-days cruise   over Danube river with destination Ruse – Vienna. His essay is named “The Plastic River”. He was awarded personally by the Minister of environment and water in Bulgaria Nona Karadjova.   

Second place was assigned to 17-year-old Kalina Ivanova Ivanova from Veliko Tarnovo. Her essay “Desert” brought her SAMSUNG P-1010 Tablet, which was given to her by the CEO of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria Nikos Kalaitzidakis.

A luxury picnic basket set for third place in the competition went to Bogdana Dencheva Sergeeva (22) from Sofia for her essay “Guided by Reason” and her award was presented by Evgenia Drumeva, editor-in-chief of Vesti.bg.

This year, the Ministry of Environment and Water gave a special award to one of the participants. Mariela Georgieva Bogdanova won a trip for two to Central Balkan National Park for her essay “Hope others see it too”. There were special awards for the youngest contestants: two of the children received individual awards from Minister Nona Karadjova, including Desislava Georgieva (11) from Targovishte and Dimitar Angelov (10) from Sofia. They received many gifts, and a special educational tool dedicated to the Danube - Danube Box.

During the ceremony the Minister of Environment and Water Nona Karadjova said that the Ministry is happy to be involved in the initiative Ecomania 2011, because “no matter the money and good laws a country has, conservation of nature and particularly water wealth depends mostly on its residents.”

The CEO of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria Nikos Kalaitzidakis expressed his joy at the fact that it is on the Danube Day that he had to congratulate the winners. The company has been organizing for six years the initiative “Green Danube” which focuses on water conservation, nature, and traditions along the Danube. Mr. Kalaytzidakis added that conservation and sustainable use of water resources is one of the main priorities of Coca-Cola in all countries around the world in which it operates.