21st National Homeschooling Conference: A Balance Between Recreation, Community, and Rights

The upcoming 21st National Homeschooling Conference in 2026 offers an innovative format that combines an active family vacation in the Rhodope Mountains with key discussions about the future of children, new technologies, and the legal protection of parents.

• Source (in Bulgarian): Official conference website
• Source (in Bulgarian): Petar Porumbachanov's Facebook profile

An innovative event format at Dospat Reservoir

The Homeschooling Association (AHO) is organizing its main event for 2026 at the Romantika Complex, located on the shore of Dospat Reservoir. The program is built entirely around the concept of balancing meaningful educational discussions with a fulfilling family vacation amid the natural beauty of the Rhodope Mountains. To achieve this harmony, all lectures and workshops are scheduled in the afternoon.

This unique schedule leaves the mornings free for various activities and quality family time. Participants will be able to enjoy the following activities during their free time:

• Boat trips on Dospat Reservoir and tourist train rides to the town of Sarnitsa.
• Renting mountain bikes from the complex and hiking along local eco-trails.
• Organized visits to nearby attractions such as Yagodina Cave, Trigrad Gorge, Leshten, and the Eagle's Eye panoramic platform.

Legal protection and successes with "umbrella schools"

One of the conference's most important highlights is overcoming institutional pressure and the unlawful refusal to recognize educational credentials from foreign schools such as HomeLife Academy. AHO Chairman Petar Porumbachanov reports a major legal breakthrough achieved during the past week. The Regional Department of Education in Sofia City officially recognized the completion of seventh grade by a homeschooled student after active preparation for a case before the Administrative Court.

Porumbachanov firmly assures parents that their actions are entirely lawful and encourages them to continue educating their children conscientiously and persistently. During the event, he will outline a clear administrative roadmap leading to a guaranteed favorable outcome in similar conflicts with public institutions. In addition, alternative options for enrollment in foreign schools will be discussed to help families avoid future bureaucratic obstacles.

Digital challenges facing modern education

The program gives serious attention to the impact of new technologies on the development and concentration of young people. Georgi Porumbachanov leads a specialized discussion on the dopamine effect and addiction to the "blue screen," exploring ways to restore interest in traditional books. At the same time, experts with many years of experience in the IT sector analyze the role of digitalization in children's lives.

Building community and parental motivation

Creating a close-knit network of like-minded families is a key strategic goal of the conference. Leyla Chausheva-Musabashova will share her practical experience in establishing a successful parent cooperative in Sofia, explaining the benefits such partnerships provide for individual families. At the same time, Eliyan Petkov focuses on parental motivation, analyzing the delicate boundary between adults' personal ambitions and children's real abilities.

Traditional discussion groups for mothers and fathers provide a safe environment for exchanging experiences late into the night. These conversations cover the most pressing issues related to parents' responsibilities in the educational process.

Activities for children and teenagers

While adults discuss important educational issues, children are provided with an exceptionally rich parallel program. The youngest participants enjoy outdoor games led by Pavel and Nikola Porumbachanov. Older children create a themed lapbook titled "Nature and Us" together with Ralitsa and Simona Porumbachanova, learning about environmental responsibility.

The program also includes culinary workshops with professional pastry chef Simona Veselinska and competitive outdoor sports games organized by Radoslav and Olga Nikolovi. All participating families gather for a shared full-day hike through the Rhodope Mountains, concluding with the event's traditional "Talent Night."

Registration and participation terms

Participation in the National Conference requires a one-time fee of €30 per family. Accommodation and meals at the complex are charged separately according to the number and ages of family members, while children up to 6 years old stay free of charge.

Successful registration requires a deposit of 50% of the accommodation costs together with the full conference fee, paid by bank transfer. The deadline for payment is August 15, 2026, but the organizers warn that places at the Romantika Complex are limited and registration may close earlier if all places are filled.