Tsenka Genova honoured for her contribution to Bulgarian community in Argentina

Tsenka Genova has been awarded a gilded silver badge by Bulgaria's Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad in recognition of her longstanding contribution to preserving and promoting Bulgarian culture and traditions, as well as for strengthening Bulgaria's positive image on the international cultural stage.

Mrs Genova and her family have long been an integral part of the Bulgarian community in Argentina. Receiving the distinction, she stressed that the honour belongs not only to her, but to everyone who has supported her efforts over the years.

"This award brings me great happiness, but it is not only for me. I may be the one taking action, but no one can achieve much alone if there are no people to support them. I am grateful to everyone who has stood by me in this endeavour, especially my family and my husband, who, although not Bulgarian, has supported us tremendously throughout the years."

Who is Tsenka Genova and how does she keep her connection with Bulgaria alive?

Originally from the town of Troyan, Tsenka arrived in Argentina with her family as a child in 1956. She went on to enjoy a successful career as a physician in public hospitals and says that, despite living far from her native Bulgaria, she never missed hearing the Bulgarian language. The reason was that her family had a tradition of gathering with other Bulgarians who had settled in Argentina. Today, she says that not a single new Bulgarian immigrant has arrived in Comodoro Rivadavia, the city where she lives, since 1989, and believes that she is probably the last remaining Bulgarian there who was born in Bulgaria.

Sonia Ivanoff: 50 stories of Bulgarian descendants in Comodoro Rivadavia

The core of the local Bulgarian community is the Bulgarian Cultural Association Cyril and Methodius, founded in the pivotal year of 1989. In an interview preserved in the archives of Radio Bulgaria, she spoke about the initiatives that bring the local Bulgarian community together:

"Our association celebrates 3 March, and we also give martenitsas to those who attend. We explain what the two celebrations, Baba Marta and Bulgaria's National Day, mean and what the traditions associated with them are. We tell them about Bulgarian national heroes and share small fragments of our history because, over the years, Bulgaria was not very well known here. Now, in recent years, social media has made it much easier for people to learn about our country."

According to her, the Bulgarian association is part of the Federation of Foreign Associations in Argentina and represents Bulgaria with dignity at various events. The most important of these is Immigrants' Day, celebrated every year on 4 September. Each immigrant association selects a queen to represent its culture, traditions and songs. In 2025, Bulgaria was worthily represented at the event by Erica Perales, the great-granddaughter of Bulgarians, leader of the Bulgarian folk dance ensemble at the association, and a member of the vocal and instrumental group Orpheus.

Tsenka Genova is convinced that an emigrant can never sever the bond with their homeland.

"We are proud of this small but immensely rich country, Bulgaria, so we must make sure that people understand how much it has given to the world," she says in conclusion.

The latest event organised by the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, which once again gave us the opportunity to recall the work of our compatriots in Argentina that keeps them connected with their ancestral homeland, demonstrates that the Agency's role in communicating with and supporting Bulgarians living abroad is exceptionally important and necessary. The fact that more and more of our compatriots recognise its work, seek meetings with its team and turn to it for assistance is a clear indication that its dedicated efforts are noticed and highly appreciated by Bulgarians around the world.

For more details about the history of the Bulgarian settlers in Argentina, as told in a documentary film, click HERE.

English: R. Petkova