An International Young Leaders Organization

The Search of Future Ideas, Models Us Now

Ms. Paola Ivanova

President of the SOFIMUN Foundation

paola@sofimun.org

Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Paola is a PhD candidate of Media Studies at the Sofia University, focusing her research on the new generation media, the web media, social networks and their influence over the news and the international relations. Paola holds a MA of South Slavic studies from the Sofia University and graduated with honors one of Bulgaria’s top high schools – National Lyceum for Ancient Languages and Cultures. During her MA studies, Paola was granted scholarships and spent some time living and studying in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Zagreb, Croatia.

Medias and public communications have always been of a great interest for Paola. Working for 8 years in the field as an international desk journalist and editor in various medias, currently she’s a Public Relations manager in a prosperous communication group company. In a meanwhile she proudly occupies the position of a president of the SOFIMUN International Foundation and is a Secretary-General of the Rotaract Club Sofia International –Rotary Youth. In addition, Paola is attending as participant and lecturer seminars, workshops and conferences, related with international and national security, defense policies, Balkan and Middle East region, medias and leadership.

Fluent in English, Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, currently Paola working on heightening the level of her Russian, have basic knowledge in Turkish and Slovenian and is meeting the challenge of learning new languages.

The remarkable experience called “Model UN” is a great passion for Paola that took her to several events of the kind providing her with the unique possibility to both extend her knowledge on the UN system and work on UN issues, but also to meet lots of new friends and participate in memorable cultural exchanges. Her MUN career started in 2007 at the very first ZAGIMUN in Croatia and continued with chairing at GIMUN 2010 (Geneva), MUNUSAL 2010 (Salamanca), ZAGIMUN 2009 (Zagreb), NAPOMUN 2009 (cluj-Napoca), MOSTIMUN 2009 (Mostar), delegating at ZAGIMUN 07 and 08, UNISCA 2009 (Amsterdam), where she was honored the best delegate award, THESSISMUN 2008 (Thessaloniki) and being editor in chief at MOSTIMUN 2010 and MILMUN 2010.

Since 2008, Paola is also the proud founder and organizer of one of the most popular international Model UN conferences in Europe, the SOFIMUN conference.

"It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to." - J.D. Salinger, "Catcher in the rye"

Ms. Polina Goranova

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the SOFIMUN Foundation

goranova@sofimun.org

Born and raised in Bulgaria, Polina is currently finishing her Master Degree in Entrepreneurship at Amsterdam University. Her educational background also includes economics and computer technology.

Polina got the "MUN virus" about 2 years ago when she participated at UNISCA conference as a Chairperson at the Security Council. GIMUN and TEIMUN quickly followed the same year. Back in 2007 she considered the idea for organizing the first Model United Nations conference in Bulgaria as one of the most exciting initiatives she had ever undertaken. It did not take long to Paola, Dimiter and her to start real preparation for their common goal. Thanks to their entrepreneurial pro-activeness to create this exciting member of the MUN's family now in 2009 the 2-nd edition is under way.

Polina's friends say they like working with her because of the constant positive energy she has and her open-minded personality that helps innovation to prevail.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Mr. Dimiter Mandradjiev

Executive Director of the SOFIMUN Foundation

mandradjiev@sofimun.org

Dimiter Mandradjiev is born in Sofia city, Bulgaria in FEB 1986 and a month later he moved to sunny Cairo, Egypt for 3 years. His primary education was in the UN’s Baghdad International School in Iraq.

He has an excellent bachelor degree in International relations program from New Bulgarian University in Sofia. On many occasions he was awarded with scholarships for excellent grades. Now he's preparing to obtain a Masters degree in International business.

One of Dimiter’s main commitments is in trying to build a better deal for Bulgarian citizens. The membership in various organizations like The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, founder and chairman of the national union "Treasure the Bulgarian Heritage", co-founder and Executive director of the SOFIMUN foundation are only part of his activities related at NGO level. He tries to make a difference in other organizations such as being President of Rotaract Club Sofia International (charitable activities). Manages his own communication group company SVETU Ltd.

Dimiter became addicted to MUNs in Vienna in 2007. Since then – 3 ZAGIMUNs, THESSISMUN, UNISCA, NAPOMUN; chaired MOSTIMUN, ZAGIMUN, MUNUSAL, GIMUN, BISMUN and other MUN events - national and international - the aftermath says: more than 15 MUNs and 7 times chairperson and will chair other MUNs. He feels the spirit of MUNs defiantly coincide with his ideals to make things better – a problem solver.

Mr. Boris Tassev

Administrative Director of the SOFIMUN Foundation

boris.tassev@sofimun.org

Boris Tassev is born on December 29th 1984 in Sofia. Considers himself lucky to have graduated form one of the top high schools in Bulgaria – the First English Language School (FELS). In 2000 he got accepted in Middlesex School of Concord New Hampshire, but he chose to stay in Bulgaria. After four years in FELS, he got accepted at Bard College in NY, Annandale-on-Hudson, back then one of the top 20 Colleges and one of the most expensive ones on a Distinguished Scientist Scholarship for Natural Sciences and Mathematics, which allowed him to stay in the United States for a little bit more than four years.

In the mean time his interests shifted in a new direction. After exploring Mathematics and Computer Science for a year and a half he got introduced to the world of Economics. At that time he moderated for the Department of Economics of Bard College part of the Levy Economic Institute. From that point he delved in the field of Applied Macroeconomics and Finance, exploring the United States financial market and ending his academic work with a year long Senior Project exploring the booming housing crisis in the world focusing primarily on Bulgaria. In the mean time he gained experience in micromanaging in several IT companies in NY.

Currently Boris is back in Bulgaria managing a family company dealing with import of luxury goods and is a member of Rotaract Club Sofia International, where he whishes to have the opportunity to make a difference for the Bulgarian society.

Boris enjoys traveling around the world and meeting new people. His passion is the piano and he enjoys making conversations with it. His latest passion is dancing and he devotes quite some time to it.

Ms. Victoire Rio

Regional Cooperation (Western Europe) of the SOFIMUN Foundation

victoire.rio@sofimun.org

Born in Paris, Victoire got the traveling bug early on and left the city of love to discover the world. After a year in high school in the United States, she never stopped moving. She went to study in England, then again in the United States, then England, with a lot of travels in between. Difficult to keep track! Holding a bachelor in politics and international relations, and having written her dissertation on Bosnia Herzegovina, she decided to move to BiH to discover a place she had spent so many late hours reading about.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

Ms. Irina Botea

Regional Cooperation (Balkans) of the SOFIMUN Foundation

irina.botea@sofimun.org

Born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, Irina likes to think about herself as being a very lucky and some would also add courageous person. Taking life as it comes and accepting all its challenges is the way she got to live a pretty busy life for 22 years. Being a students representative three years in a row, Member of her Faculty’s Council and editor-in-chief for the department’s magazine, Irina tried to be an active member of her community and set an example for the others. After graduating in International Relations and European Studies at the University of Bucharest, Irina is currently finishing her masters in European Studies at the Catholic University of Leuven, in Belgium.

In 2008 she ended up, by chance, at her first Model UN where she got contaminated almost immediately with the so called MUN virus. Besides the intense debates, the main triggers for the virus were the wonderful people she met there and which now she feels honored to call them “friends”.

Several conferences later she thought it would be appropriate to give something back to the MUN community since she received so much from it. Spreading the MUN values around the world may sound impossible but with a bit of perseverance, determination and a wonderful team besides her, she believes we can achieve anything.

“And if home is really where the heart is then we're the smartest kids I know because wherever we are in this great big world we'll never be more than a few hours from home” Kimya Dawson

Mr. Dino Bukovski

Regional Cooperation (Balkans) of the SOFIMUN Foundation

dino.bukovski@sofimun.org

Born in Zagreb, Croatia in 1986. After finishing his secondary education at the prestigeous First Grammar School in Zagreb (Gymnasium Primum), Dino enrolled into the University of Zagreb Law Faculty and is finishing his Master of Law degree. Currently specializing in the field of European Law at Ghent University, Belgum.

Since 2008, when he participated at SIMUN 2008, Dino has been suffering from a severe virus disease called chronic MUN virosis. He took part there as a delegate of the Czech Republic in the General Assembly. He also participated at SOFIMUN 2008 and 2009 in the Human Rights Council, which he considers to be his natural habitat, as a delegate of Amnesty International and Senegal. Neither last, nor least, he was a delegate of Denmark in Council of the EU at BIMUN 2008. He will be chairing the Council of the EU at BIMUN 2009 and BISMUN 2010.

During his education he participated in a European Youth Parliament session, won a Special Rector's Award for winning a regional moot court competition and participated in several expertise seminars in the field of European Law and Human Rights. He is also a former vice-president and present member of the Supervisory Board of Pravnik (Jurist), the most active student association at the University of Zagreb Law Faculty. Dino is also a member of the Editorial Board of the law journal Pravnik. As a founding member and member of the Supervisory Board of Rotaract Zagreb Centar, he is also involved in charity work.

'Genius might be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way.' Charles Bukowski

Mr. Igor Paulic

Regional Cooperation (Balkans) of the SOFIMUN Foundation

igor.paulic@sofimun.org

Croatian, adventurist and future lawyer, born in Zagreb as a first child of his parents, finishing his studies on Faculty of Law in Zagreb. Having been bored by everyday's routine , Igor started looking for an interesting way to spend spare time and quickly orientated to applying for MUNs, at that time completely unfamiliar for him. So much positive energy, so many amazing people from all around the world, encouraging international ambience, so many new things learned is the recapitulation now, after numerous international Model UN conferences...This was a trigger to participate at MUNs such as SiMUN (Ljubljana), SOFIMUN twice and BIMUN/SINUB in 2009, obtaining the Honorable mention.

Interested in student activism made Igor join the best student association in Law Faculty Zagreb, „Pravnik“, where he was elected as a President. This enriched him with unforgettable experience concerning the wide scope of activities of this group. Two years ago Igor was a member of a moot court team of The Zagreb University Law faculty on a regional competition before ECHR where the team won the 1st place. Because of that result Igor was awarded with Special Rector's Award and a Laude from the Dean of the faculty. Quickly after, Igor obtains another Dean’s Award for the thesis „Genesis of the international environmental law with a special view of the protection of Adriatic Sea“ in academic year 2008/09. With the proficient knowledge of English, little bit of Italian, now Igor eager to learn French. Currently he’s an exchange student at Ghent University, enjoying the experience to the fullest. In his little spear time my free time he travels, go to film and music festivals, watches Simpsons and drinks coffee.

Quote: „Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing!“, Henry Red Sanders

Mr. Amir El Meligy

Regional Cooperation (Middle East) of the SOFIMUN Foundation

amir.elmeligy@sofimun.org

Egyptian at heart, Mediterranean at everything, Amir taken part in student activities and programs with all kind of diversities and mentalities, and he’s always up to new experiences and new ways of life, cultures, and perspectives, that's why he chooses to take part in Model United Nations programs around the world (11 so far), really appreciating gaining a more broad perspective.

Amir studied and possess experience in commerce with all its subfields, finance, economics, business administration, political sciences with all its subfields, international law, international relations, and historical backgrounds and culture exchange, which – with this kind of experience – made him realize the importance of working with diversities, and the importance of being exposed to different cultures, in developing one’s mentality, tolerance and openness to new frontiers.

Most of Amir’s efforts are focused on being more open to more cultures and ways of thinking, and although Arabic is his native language, he’s studying in English since 5 years old, and been to Victoria College English school since Grade 1, which made his English skills almost native. Being involved in international conferences, student activities and model united nations programs in English for a long period of time, also contributed, in addition to designing websites in English and working as a public relations officer dealing with foreign correspondents.

Ms. Maria Haferkorn

Alumni Manager of the SOFIMUN Foundation

maria.haferkorn@sofimun.org

Maria Haferkorn, born in Berlin (Germany) in 1986, is what in Model UN language is called an MUN addict. Her interest in different cultures and countries was fostered not only through several years of learning Latin, English and French in high school, but also through living in Bulgaria and India during her teenage years. Later on, this lead to her decision to study abroad in Bulgaria and South Africa in 2008/2009, improving her Bulgarian and English and learning basic Afrikaans.

In 2006, she had started to Law at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), a small city at the Polish border close to Berlin, in order to pursue her dream to become a diplomat. Soon, however, this proved not to be enough for her, and Maria started to attend Model UNs in 2007 in order to get a deeper insight into international political affairs.

The real addiction to Model UNs, meeting wonderful people from all over the world and debating current political issues hit her at her 5th MUN, which was SOFIMUN 2008. Ever since then, Maria is the self-declared greatest fan of SOFIMUN, has added another 7 Model UNs, including two Best Delegate Awards and chairing experience, to her list and there is no end in sight.

Currently, Maria has returned to her university to continue with her studies in German Law (graduation apprehended in 2012) while specializing in International and European Law.

Feeling highly honoured to have been given the opportunity to intensify her commitment to SOFIMUN she is looking forward to getting involved in and contributing to the SOFIMUN Foundation in the future.

Ms. Petia Genova

EU Relations

petya.genova@sofimun.org

Petya Genova was born in 1985 in Varna, the sea capital of Bulgaria. During her studies in a foreign languages High school she felt that even living in such a beautiful city, it was however too small for her.

Petya has Bachelor degree in Political Sciences in French and Public Administration from the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. She is currently finishing her Masters degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies, with a major in Governance in the EU at the College of Europe, Warsaw campus.

Her first UN model meeting was in 2007. During the same year she contributed to the organization of several of simulations in Sofia. Last year Petya was more than pleased to have the chance to be invited in the SOFIMUN 2008 as a member of the Secretariat! Taking into consideration that experience and her current living with people form all around Europe, Petya believes that the UN Models offer a great opportunity for young people to become more open-minded.

“The realization of the Second edition of SOFIMUN not only proves but also confirms that if young people are determined and persistent, they could easily gain theirs goals”

“Nothing happens unless first we dream”, Carl Sandburg

Ms. Kristina Kovacheva

Manager of "The Club" at the SOFIMUN Foundation

Partnerships Manager of the SOFIMUN Foundation

kristina.kovacheva@sofimun.org

City/Country of Origin - Svishtov, Bulgaria

City/Country of permanent residence - TheHague, The Netherlands

University - University of Amsterdam

Degree:

- Bachelor of Law

MUN Experience:

- SOFIMUN 2008, 2009

- ZAGIMUN 2008

- BIMUN 2008, 2009

- UNISCA 2008-2009

- WORLDMUN 2009

- MOSTIMUN 2009

Languages spoken - Bulgarian, Dutch, English, Danish.

Additional activities and current work occupation - board member of the Law Students Association of the University of Amsterdam

Interests - international politics, international relations, international law, languages, traveling, personal development.

Favorite quote - "They must find it difficult...Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority." - Gerald Massey

Mr. Andrey Stoichev

Fundraising specialist of the SOFIMUN Foundation

andrey.stoichev@sofimun.org

His life revolves around three things: politics, private enterprising and the preservation of Bulgaria’s cultural heritage.

Since 2005 he is a campaign manager, well it’s plain to see what it’s about, managing election campaigns. Sometimes and especially after the fifth one in a row he thinks that he is not managing it, but it’s the other way around. As soon as the elections are over, he and his colleagues from the department of political sciences at the New Bulgarian University, bang there heads at the question "Why people keep making the wrong choices time and time again?”. He and his friends are convinced that there is a world conspiracy aimed at rendering logic and reason worthless and to turn the conscious choice, which the voting is, into unconscious one.

From December 2006 he has gained interest in another area - the preservation and promotion of Bulgaria’s culture and heritage. So he and some friends started an NGO called National Union "Treasure the Bulgarian Heritage".

As far as private enterprising is concerned, in May 2007 he started his own business. Since then he says: "Moneymaking is a wonderful thing!”

You can say that his life has run at a very slow pace in the last four years, didn’t it? ;-)

Ms. Plamena Markova

Information Analyst of the SOFIMUN Foundation

plamena.markova@sofimun.org

 Plamena Markova is born and raised in Bulgaria.

She was granted a scholarship from the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs for the full period of her bachelor course and currently holds a BA degree in International and European Studies from Panteio University (Athens, Greece).

During her undergraduate studies she successfully completed internships in both the Greek Office of the European Commission and, later on, in the Human Rights Department of the Greek Ombudsman.

Ms Markova has a working experience in several NGOs and is actively involved in promotion of human rights, with special interest in minority and migrants rights. Further, she is a long-standing member of JEF-Europe (Young European Federalists).

Her MUN background includes conferences, held on university level, in Greece, the Netherlands and Bulgaria. Aside from her mother tongue, Ms Markova is fluent in Greek, English, Italian and Russian.

At present, she is doing an LLM in Public International Law in Leiden University, the Netherlands.

Plamena believes that her personality and life occurrence so far are best to be summarized by the Latin proverb “Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo”.

Ms. Martina Boyuklieva

Manager of the Members of the SOFIMUN Foundation

martina.boyuklieva@sofimun.org

City, Country of Origin: Sofia, Bulgaria

City, Country of Permanent Residence: Sofia, Bulgaria

University: University College Utrecht , The Netherlands

Degree:

- Bulgarian diploma for high school (American college of Sofia – obtained)

- American diploma for high school (American college of Sofia – obtained)

- Bachelor of Arts - Social Sciences: Law, Politics, Economics ( UCU – current)

MUN experience:

- MUN club in the American College of Sofia – participated there for 2 years

- SOFIMUN 2008 (Sofia, Bulgaria) - delegate of Costa Rica in Security Council

- National MUN (Sofia, Bulgaria) – delegate of Great Britain in Human Rights Council

- MOSTIMUN 2009 ( Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina)– delegate of Great Britain in Human Rights Council

- SOFIMUN 2009 (Sofia, Bulgaria) – part of the Executive committee (The Secretary)

- UNISUN 2010( Utrecht, The Netherlands) – part of the Executive committee ( part of the Academic Team)

Languages: Bulgarian, English

Additional activities: Member of Rotaract Club Sofia International ( Sofia, Bulgaria)

Favorite Quote: “You have a responsibility belonging to the family of nations. We all have a responsibility: we are in the same boat “. ( Boutros Boutros- Ghali )

Mr. Dzanan Gvozden

I-MUN Head Manager

dzanan.gvozden@sofimun.org

Born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on a rainy 21st day of October 1985, Dzanan is currently finishing his Bachelor Degree in English Language and Literature at “Dzemal Bijedic” University of Mostar.

Even thought his faculty life is rather interesting and eventful, Dzanan still finds time to deal with different political topics, human rights and topics of social interest. He is also actively involved in the University Senate as a representative of students and in the work of the University Student Union.

During his high school education, Dzanan was a flaming debater, a State champion and a representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World’s Debate Championship. That was a crucial moment in his life, when he became very much interested in politics and international relations.

Dzanan started his MUN experience not so long ago, at MOSTIMUN 2009 as a representative of Russian Federation in the Security Council, where he was awarded the best delegate award. Of course he instantly fell in love with MUNs and the community and attended the ZAGIMUN conference the same year, where he was awarded an honorary mention. In 2010, Dzanan decided to try himself as a chair and applied as one for MOSTIMUN 2010, and this time got no awards whatsoever, but had an amazing learning experience and beautiful 5 days with people from all around the world.

Dzanan is fluent in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and English, and he understands some Spanish, but he’s working on improving a bit on that front.

He is also very proficient with computers, having finished several advanced courses and doing some learning by himself as well.

Dzanan enjoys good company, good music, ice cream, computer games, graphical design and beautiful women.

“In war, truth is the first casualty.” – Aeschylus