Sofia Outreach Event: Sharing Stories of Ageing and Care Through Research and Literature
As a follow-up to the two-day methodology workshop held on Thursday and Friday, an outreach event titled “Ageing and Care Stories” took place on Saturday at Sofia University. The event brought together students, writers, psychologists, and advocates in a shared space for reflection, expression, and dialogue on the themes of ageing and caregiving. Organized in collaboration with the Alzheimer Bulgaria Association and moderated by Galina Goncharova, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of History and Theory of Culture at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” the program offered a rich blend of academic insight and literary storytelling.
The entire event was held in Bulgarian, with English translations of both the ageing and care stories and the literary texts provided for the non-Bulgarian-speaking audience. The stories were based on six interviews with older people and caregivers conducted in Bulgaria by the Sofia project team and were carefully anonymized. The guiding concept of the event was to show how personal experiences of ageing and care can be narrated across a variety of genres, forms, and themes, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of caring societies and care cultures. The atmosphere encouraged dialogue between academic research and creative reflection, bridging the domains of cultural studies, psychology, journalism, and poetry.
Opening the event, Sonya Karabelyova (in front, center) offers a warm welcome to the participants
The event opened with welcome remarks by Professor Sonya Karabelyova, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at Sofia University, followed by an introduction to the research project “Transforming Anxieties of Ageing in Southeastern Europe” by Professor Ulf Brunnbauer.
Ulf Brunnbauer introduces the project “Transforming Anxieties of Ageing in Southeastern Europe” to the audience
The first panel featured Dr. Zhenya Milusheva from the Alzheimer Bulgaria Association and Michaela Churusinova, a PhD student in developmental psychology. Churusinova presented her research paper titled “Ambivalence in the Ageing Process from a Psychological Perspective: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis.” Her presentation highlighted the emotional and cognitive complexities of ageing, based on in-depth interview material. Milusheva focused on the potential for meaningful ageing and positive life review, even in the context of unfavorable family environments and limited social networks.
Next, BA students in Cultural Studies, Dalia Nenova and Kristiyana Barzinska, presented their own reading and interpretation of the interview with an older woman. Their presentation talk brought a deep human and intergenerational dimension to the discussion, emphasizing the power of storytelling as a method of both research and outreach.
After a short break, the program shifted toward literary reflections. Dr. Rumen Skrinski, a journalist and lecturer, shared a literary reading that underscored the emotional and ethical dimensions of care. This was followed by readings from poets Maria Getova, MA, and Associate Professor Vassil Vidinski, who offered poetic insights into themes of memory, vulnerability, and ageing.
The event concluded with a reception, providing space for informal discussion and exchange among participants and audience members.
By weaving together personal narratives, academic analysis, and literary expression, the Sofia outreach event created a powerful and inclusive space for reflecting on ageing and care in contemporary society. It stood as a testament to the value of interdisciplinary and community-engaged approaches in making research accessible and meaningful to broader publics. The event was attended by approximately 40 to 50 people, representing a diverse audience of various ages and backgrounds.
