A Fundraiser by Alek Petrov: Alek’s Triathlon for STEM Education

When passion meets purpose, extraordinary things happen.

Our founder, Alek Petrov, has taken on a new kind of challenge - not just physical, but deeply personal and national in scope. This year, he’s dedicating his triathlon efforts to support Teach For Bulgaria (“Заедно в час”), an organization that shares our mission of empowering the next generation of Bulgarian minds through access to quality education.

The Education Crisis We're Facing

Bulgaria is in the midst of a quiet but urgent education crisis. Over 53% of students lack functional literacy, and the average student is three years behind in STEM subjects compared to their peers in the EU. The situation is even more severe for children from low-income backgrounds, who fall an additional three years behind.

The irony? Many schools already have STEM centers - but they remain underutilized. Teachers are often constrained by outdated curricula and lack the training to bring these spaces to life through dynamic, project-based learning.

A Practical, Scalable Solution

Teach For Bulgaria is stepping up with a powerful plan:

- Develop a ready-to-use STEM curriculum for multiple grade levels

- Train over 500 teachers nationwide

- Introduce hands-on, project-based learning that makes STEM exciting and relevant

This isn’t just about better test scores. It’s about sparking curiosity, closing learning gaps, and giving every child - regardless of their background - a fair shot at a brighter future.

Long-Term Vision: Empowering the Next Generation

With the right tools and training, teachers can become catalysts for change. Interdisciplinary, experience-driven STEM education helps students build critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving skills - qualities they’ll need to succeed in a fast-changing world.

This project aims to make quality STEM education the rule, not the exception, especially in underfunded schools where it’s needed most.

Why Alek Is Racing for This Cause

“On the 8th June, I will swim, cycle and run at the Eastbourne Triathlon, dedicating my efforts to fundraise for Teach For Bulgaria charity. The swim in the sea will be tough at 1,500m with very strong tides. Cycling is my favourite and 40 km will be decent and pleasant. Running for 10 km at the end will be the endurance test of many months of hard work.

This year, I will do the Triathlon to support the worthy cause of Teach For Bulgaria - a Bulgarian charity that has been working even harder than me over 15 years already to ensure every child in Bulgaria has equal access to quality education. As a strong supporter for education and to honor the legacy of my father Academician Aleksander Petrov, who dedicated his life to the advancement of Physics and Science in Bulgaria, I will fundraise for their 'A to Z of Teaching STEM' project, via which Teach For Bulgaria will develop a curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education in Bulgarian schools, providing ready-to-use learning materials and equipping over 500 teachers with the knowledge and pedagogical approaches to deliver engaging and impactful STEM lessons.

Your support will even go further as all donations made by 28 September 2025 will be matched by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) via its Community Initiative.

Let's support this worthy initiative because the children in Bulgaria deserve a better STEM education!”

How You Can Help

By supporting Alek’s triathlon fundraising, you're not just backing a single person - you’re backing over 500 teachers, thousands of students, and a brighter future for Bulgarian STEM education.

Donate today. Every contribution, big or small, matters. 

All contributions, made until September 28th, 2025, will be matched by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) via its Community Initiative.

Link to the fundraiser: https://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/aleks-triathlon-for-stem-education/