From 9 to 16 August 2026, the Republic of Moldova hosted an international Francophone camp that brought together young people and teachers

from nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe, united by their love of the French language and Francophone cultures. Participants from Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Romania and Serbia spent an unforgettable week filled with educational, cultural, creative and interactive activities centred around the theme "Together for Peace."

The international Francophone camp was organised by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova and the National Agency for Curriculum and Assessment, in partnership with the Regional Francophone Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (CREFECO) and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.

The initiative was implemented with the support of the Alliance Française in Moldova, the Embassy of the French Republic in the Republic of Moldova, the Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova, the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in the Republic of Moldova, the public association "Institute for Education and Psychology for Society", and the Costești tourist complex.

The Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bulgaria, and personally H.E. Mr. Emil Jacota, also made a valuable contribution to the organisation of the event.

The Bulgarian delegation was represented by Andrea Ivanova (Tsar Ivan-Asen II Secondary School No. 12, Sofia), Karina Terziyska (Acad. Lyudmil Stoyanov Foreign Language High School, Blagoevgrad), and Preslava Avramova (Alphonse de Lamartine French Language High School No. 9, Sofia), who were ranked among the top-performing eleventh-grade students in the 2026 National French Language Olympiad. The young Francophone participants were prepared for and accompanied throughout the forum by Ms. Vyara Lyubenova, a French language teacher at Alphonse de Lamartine French Language High School No. 9 and Chairperson of the Association of Teachers of and in the French Language in Bulgaria.

Thanks to its rich programme, which included workshops on cinematography, film dubbing and directing, literary meetings, discussions on current issues and other activities led by Mr. Romain Liedo, as well as by Moldovan writers and journalists, cultural evenings dedicated to the participating countries, and educational excursions in the Moldovan capital, Chișinău, and at the Orheiul Vechi archaeological complex, the camp was much more than a place to improve French-language skills.

It became a space for encounters, sharing and discovering new cultures, where young people communicated in French, worked together, exchanged ideas and forged friendships that transcended national and linguistic borders. For the Bulgarian team, a particularly inspiring moment was the meeting with the Moldovan poet and prose writer Emilian Galiacu-Păun, a Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters, with whom we discussed Bulgarian literary classics and contemporary Bulgarian prose.

Once again, the young people and their teachers realised that Francophonie is much more than a common language – it is a community in which tolerance and friendship build bridges between people and countries.

Photos: Participants’ personal archives

Top: The Bulgarian team: Ms. Vyara Lyubenova, French language teacher at Alphonse de Lamartine French Language High School No. 9 and Chairperson of the Association of Teachers of and in the French Language in Bulgaria, and students Preslava Avramova, Andrea Ivanova and Karina Terziyska.

Bottom: 1. The Bulgarian team and Emmanuel Samson, Director of the Regional Office of the International Organisation of La Francophonie for Central and Eastern Europe; 2–3. Moments from camp life; 4. At the closing ceremony – Mr. Ion Gitsu, university lecturer and President of the National Agency for Curriculum and Assessment of the Republic of Moldova; Mr. Romain Liedo, workshop facilitator; and the three Bulgarian girls with their certificates.