Meet Nikola Donev – Founder of the Bulgarian Vegan Union

One of the best parts of working with Vegans from around the globe is the people who you get to meet along the way. We have had the pleasure working with Nikola Donev, the founder of the Bulgarian Vegan Union and animal rights activist at heart. He has helped us add valuable information about Local Foods and Snacks to our guide for his home country of Bulgaria. Find out what made him turn vegan, why he started the BVU (Bulgarian Vegan Union) and why animal cruelty is a subject that is so close to his heart. 

1) What made your go vegan?

My conscience. I realized how injustice and cruelty have in that to pay of someone to kill an enslaved animal for you.

2) Tell us about the life experiences that brought you to create the Bulgarian Vegan Union?

I hitchhiked in approximately 60 countries on 6 continents for few years non-stop, and in my journey I met a lot of organised vegans in their organisations. I just wished to create some of this kind organisation in my own country. My wish was just to create a vegan NGO that working for uniting and growing in numbers of vegans in Bulgaria. That’s it.

3) Your logo is a traditional revolutionary one, why did you choose this logo?

Because we need a radical revolution, not just a reforming of society. A billions of enslaved animals need our revolution and they need it now. They have no time for waiting. We have to be fast as possible in our veganisation of society. That’s why.

4) With change and awareness growing by the day, what are your goals as the head of the Bulgarian vegan community?

My main goals at the moment are just to found more activists, volunteers and money to realize our plans to be more influential in the Bulgarian society. For example we need an electric car to make actions in our biggest 28 cities, but we have no money to buy an electric car. The money aspects are big problem in our young NGO. We still can’t found enough sponsors, that’s why we only rely on donations.

5) Do you cooperate with vegan communities outside of Bulgaria?

No, but we are absolutely open for this.

6) What are your favorite places in Bulgaria that visiting vegans should not miss?

If you meant a places for food.. I like “Loving Hut” in Sofia. They cooking pretty good and everything there is absolutely vegan.

If you are visiting Bulgaria and are interested in meeting up with local vegans, going to evens or activism, be sure to check out the BVU.