Opening the way through education
Rumyana, a young woman in Bulgaria and scholarship recipient, dreams of serving and comforting others through excelling as a nurse.31st August 2026
Opening the way to a brighter future and helping others.
Rumyana, known as Rumi, is 21 years old and comes from a poor Roma family in the town of Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria. She grew up alongside her younger sister, who is still in high school, in a household where financial hardship was a daily reality. Yet despite the challenges they faced, Rumi’s parents worked tirelessly to provide their daughters with opportunities they themselves had never known. They believed deeply in the power of education and encouraged their children to persevere, even when the odds seemed impossible.
In Bulgaria, poverty and illiteracy are often closely intertwined, particularly among socially disadvantaged communities. Limited access to education can trap families in cycles of hardship that continue from one generation to the next. For many Roma children, barriers in school and society make it difficult to dream beyond immediate survival.
But Rumi refused to let those obstacles define her future.
An exceptional student with a passion for learning, she was determined to build a different life. Faith also played an important role in her upbringing, and she regularly attended church with her family. Two years ago, through her local church, she first heard about the summer camps organised by Mission Without Borders. Eager to serve others, she volunteered to help.
“My life changed after the camp,” Rumi says. I had the privilege of witnessing the Mission's efforts in supporting Roma children facing challenges and disadvantages, including illiteracy.
“As a person of Roma origin myself, I do what I can to encourage my peers to study and to persevere, even when they encounter difficulties at school and in society. I am grateful to have been invited to the summer camp and to have had the opportunity to participate. It was a very encouraging experience. Thanks to the Mission team and the children, I changed my worldview and the way I think. I realised that you don't need to have everything to be grateful; you can have a little and still have a grateful heart.”
That same year, Rumi graduated from high school and received a scholarship from Mission Without Borders, enabling her to enrol at the Medical University in Sofia to study nursing – a dream that would otherwise have been financially out of reach.
Marina, our coordinator of the scholarship program in Bulgaria, has seen firsthand the dedication and compassion Rumi brings to her studies and work.
“The most striking aspect of Rumi's work for me was the power of her words: ‘I am studying to be useful to people in need.’ And these are not just empty words! In addition to her studies, Rumi decided to work shifts in the oncology department, the most challenging department to work in. It is impressive that she chose the most difficult option right from the outset. She talks about how people are fighting for their lives in this department, and how she can help them in this fight. She is a smiling, hard-working and inquisitive young woman.
I dream of being not only a good nurse, but also someone who brings comfort. In the future, I plan to return to my hometown, start working at the local hospital, and further my professional development by helping people with care, love, and dedication.- Rumi
Today, Rumi continues to pursue her studies with determination and gratitude, knowing that the support she has received has changed the course of her life.
“This support gives me the confidence to know that I’m not alone on my path. Thanks to the Mission Without Borders scholarship, I have the chance to follow my dream and serve people and do good,” she said.
Her parents echo that gratitude as they reflect on the opportunity their daughter has been given.
“The financial support provided by the Mission Without Borders scholarship was instrumental in enabling our daughter Rumyana to pursue her ambition of studying nursing,” said Rumyana's parents. “We did not have the financial means to provide her with this education, but thanks to the Mission's support, she is now a student, confidently moving towards her calling. Thank you for giving her the chance to believe in and achieve her future.”
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