The culinary adventures of Stani and Yuliyan continued to unfold during their international journey to the “Cupi’s Spoon” competition.
In March, five of our young people took part in the Bulgarian edition of the international culinary competition Cupi’s Spoon, organized by the Croatian organization UNUO. Stani, who lives in one of our family-type houses, and Yuliyan, who attends our Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration, won first prizes in the two categories (“Dish” and “Cocktail”) and were invited to participate in the final stage of the competition held in Zagreb.
At the end of October, they arrived in the Croatian capital filled with excitement, curiosity, and ready to embrace whatever came next. They quickly immersed themselves in the community and found their place among the mentors and young participants from other countries. The very next day, they faced the semifinals at UNUO’s culinary center. Despite the long and intense day full of preparation, work, and emotions, Stani and Yuliyan performed brilliantly. The joy grew even further when Yuliyan qualified for the grand final, where he won third place in the “Cocktail” category. And although Stani did not make it into the top three, she won everyone’s hearts with her charm and confidence.
Between the workshops and the competition rounds, they also found time to explore Zagreb. Walks, coffee breaks, photos at the city’s landmarks, and visits to various museums turned this experience into much more than a competition -it became a true cultural exchange.
After the final, Stani and Yuliyan continued on to Italy for the longest and most exciting part of their journey: Rome. They visited the Vatican, attended a traditional Papal Mass, strolled through the city, and of course enjoyed authentic Italian pizza and gelato. They returned with many positive emotions, memories, and stories they will be telling for a long time.
The competition brought together young people from various countries, and Stani and Yuliyan were accompanied by Savina, our occupational therapist, and Pavlina—social worker and manager of our counseling service. Their journey is one of courage, growth, and big dreams. A story that shows that when a young person receives support, confidence, and a chance, they can achieve far more than the world expects.
Cupi’s Spoon
The project was created by the organization UNUO, which has been offering culinary training for people with disabilities since 2009. This is the mission of celebrated Croatian chef Vedran Habel and his wife Silvia Habel. They have held more than 1,000 workshops, and many of the participants now work in professional kitchens thanks to the skills they gained.
The main goal of the initiative is to show that people with disabilities possess diverse talents and abilities, while giving them a stage on which to demonstrate their skills to potential employers.
