Memory of Elitsa Barakova, Executive Director of BCause Foundation

"Aloo!" - probably the whole of Bulgaria recognized immediately who was talking after hearing this specific telephone greeting, uttered with a soft “l” and ending in a question. This is how Sneja Ianeva started her calls followed by a specific question, or a request, or a proposal - for a library, of course. I'm not sure when and how we first met - introduced by Mihail Boyadzhiev, our mutual colleague (he and her - at the embassy and me and him – at the foundation), but it was probably to help a donation reach a library. Computers for Ruse, an exhibition in Sofia ... the occasion was probably something like that. She immediately won me over with her focus on finding a solution. Problems - a lot, so it is the solutions that are really valuable. Snejana Ianeva did what she could to find solution to what she could in her reach. Much later, I realized how many solutions she had found, and what the scope of her work was.

It was in 2018, when we discussed with her fundraising for libraries in Bulgaria and in the United States. In the 40-minute conversation - these conversations were never short - we had talked over a lot about the needs of libraries and what kind of projects are attractive to donors; about the donation platforms, about how to run the campaign, with whom, when ... A year before we had completed a joint project with the Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation, during which my colleague Lyudmila Atanasova and I met with librarians from 4 regions of the country. This project brought to me many childhood memories and feelings - for my first visit to the school library, for my participation as a child in a city quiz for the Sliven community center and library "Dawn", for my work much later as an English teacher in the same chitalishte. In short, I love chilatlishta and I love the people who work in them. So in this project we trained local people in fundraising and with Spaska Tarandova we toured Vratsa, Kardzhali, Haskovo and Razgrad and met with librarians - almost all in the project were women, impressive with discipline and love (all) and local activism (many). Libraries have many assets, knowledge on a variety of topics, an excellent reputation, and local donors can find projects and solutions to a variety of problems on their territory that they can join. I still believe that libraries can receive more donations (and not just books), and that, from the height of the philanthropic traditions that their institutions represent, the people who work there must be confident, pursuing and proud. I think that Sneja treated libraries in the same way - she saw in them not the problems, but the future that they can have, that they should have.

I am sorry that me and her failed to open a donation path for Bulgarians from abroad, that may be in touch and support our libraries today - both traditional and modern (still only some of them, while all of them may be!). Touching childhood's memories, but also able to create new ones - for children and adults. Opportunities are still present and I want librarians to know that they are always welcome for advice and help from me.

I remember how Sneja walked among the delegates of the big conferences that the GBBF organized - how she stopped and talked to everyone - both official guests and delegates from small community centers, how everyone wanted to talk to her. I watched it, but it was much later that I realized what it meant and how many people relied on her words and actions. And I can still see her even now - moving slowly, floating like a ship in well-known waters. In her waters!