Our Team
We established the WomanUp Foundation in 2023, driven by the conviction that we can use our knowledge, experience, and skills to actively support women’s rights in Bulgaria. Each of us has encountered gender-based discrimination and has felt the direct consequences of inequality— in our personal lives, in our professional environments, and in our access to fundamental rights and opportunities. It is this shared experience, together with our deep sense of justice and solidarity, that inspires our work and drives our commitment to achieving real, systemic change.
Victoria Kostova
has been working in the fields of culture and human rights for over seven years, with experience in fundraising, advocacy, training, and project coordination. She has collaborated with a wide range of Bulgarian and international organizations, including European Alternatives, BILOURA Collective, New Visions, GARAGE Association – Collective Platform for Independent Artists, Edno Foundation, Fordefestivalen, and others.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” a master’s degree in Management of Cultural Organizations and Creative Industries from New Bulgarian University, and a European Diploma in Cultural Project Management from the Marcel Hicter Foundation. Victoria has also completed numerous international trainings in project management, including the Atelier for Young Festival Managers, ISPM, and the Goethe Academy for Cultural Management, among others.
Maya Geneva
is a long-time activist in the field of social justice and a member of the WomanUp Foundation, where she works to empower women through education, advocacy, and social initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Paisii Hilendarski University and a master’s degree in Linguistics and Didactics from New Bulgarian University.
With extensive experience as an English teacher and academic mentor, Maya integrates pedagogical approaches with activism to create more accessible and inclusive environments for young girls and women. She has participated in numerous initiatives focused on the social inclusion of vulnerable groups, including work with children of Roma origin, people with eating disorders, and projects dedicated to the protection of women’s rights.
Her commitment to social justice is reflected not only in her professional work but also in her active involvement in volunteer projects and training programs aimed at promoting equality and positive social change.