STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUND
The Student Activities Fund /SAF/ started as an Alumni initiative back in the spring of 2014 and 13
funding rounds have been held over 6 school years since then. The mission of SAF is to support student
projects and initiatives by providing financial support in the role of a donor agency, professional
project guidance and mentoring throughout the full project cycle. Our aim is to build a community of
committed alumni, parents, and ACS staff members who are eager to dedicate efforts for creating an
environment of professional, citizenship and innovation curiosity outside of the classroom.
SAF has continuously evolved since its beginning. In the 2018/2019 academic year the focus was
to increase the funding support, increase the number and diversify the nature of student projects
supported by SAF, to provide professional mentorship, to actively involve more parents, alumni and
ACS staff, to engage Faculty Advisers in the SAF project cycle, to further evolve the application and
reporting processes.
The number of grant applications increased more than twice in 2018/2019. SAF supported first-time
student initiatives (Chess Tournament, Biotechnology Club, ACS MUN Simulation, Hug Me Project,
Charity Run, Tennis Tournament, Human Rights Mock Trial, Student Council initiatives for student life,
etc.), repeating student events and projects (College Life Newspaper, Debate Club - ACS Debate
Open, FISSION, Friends of UNICEF, Medical Club) who provided a vision for added value towards their
previous club initiative. SAF provided continued support for a few student projects who applied for
funding in both funding sessions. We provided 3 grants that exceeded 500 BGN, the amount that was
initially decided. Priority was given to projects and initiatives that established and enhanced high-
visibility and engaged not only the ACS community, but tapped potential for regional, national, and
international outreach.
This year’s SAF in a few key numbers:
• 7,599.75 leva granted to 20 student initiatives and projects
• 23 applications submitted for support from SAF
• 16 student teams presented at the final round of reports in June, 2019
You can support the student clubs and activities at https://acs.bg/giving/donate/
“As a parent of an ACS student and an education expert, I believe
that the collaboration of parents, alumni, teachers and students adds
value to the development of the kids’ social skills. The opportunity
to participate in SAF activities makes me very happy, because I get
to participate directly in the development of skills such as project
presentation, execution and reporting, which are so important to
young people in the 21st century. I will continue to be committed to
SAF’s activities and to share my knowledge and experience with the
students in the College.”
SAF co-chair Gergana Rakovska, chair of the
Business for Education Foundation and of the
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC
Bulgaria), is a mother of an ACS tenth-grader
20