We recently connected with Ceitci Demirkova and have shared our conversation below.
Ceitci, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
OUR STORY:
I founded Changing a Generation, as a nonprofit organization in 1995. Growing up in Bulgaria, a former communist country, I was faced with a lot of hardships and saw firsthand poverty, and abandonment of children. When I was seven my little sister passed away as an infant shortly after her birth. A year later my parents decided to adopt a little boy from the local orphanage, so we can give him a better life. Unfortunately, the adoption didn’t go through because we didn’t have all the necessary funds, and shortly after the little boy passed away from lack of human touch and malnutrition.
Even as a child, I knew that one day when I grow up, I would want to help as many boys and girls have a better life in honor of my little sister and the little boy who never had a chance to live.
In 1995, shortly upon my arrival to the United States with 100 words of English and $100 I was determined to start a nonprofit organization. Thankfully, I met some wonderful people who believed in my vision and mission and decided to help me start the nonprofit. It was a very small beginning, as I only had a dollar per month to sponsor a child from an orphanage in my hometown, But I knew that if I didn’t begin with what was in my hand, I would never be able to help those who were in need.
After 28 years, through a lot of perseverance and hard work, we are in 35 locations in the country, helping hundreds of boys and girls with education, school supplies, after-school programs, Christmas presents, special programs for the entire educational system (such as student leadership and anti-bullying), etc. We have 1000 children in our weekly programs and would dream is to reach the entire nation and its children with good news and love, giving them a better future and renewed hope.
We discover ways to show tangible love and hope to children, youth, and adults from around the world (Bulgaria, Uganda, and Ghana) – especially in areas where poverty and oppression dominate. We focus on SOLUTIONS by IDENTIFYING needs. By providing FOOD, EDUCATION, SAFETY, and SELF-SUSTAINABILITY, we CHANGE A GENERATION from living as victims of poverty and desperation to purpose-filled leaders who are victorious despite obstacles.
OUR MISSION:
EMPOWER
Empowering children, youth, and adults to find their God-given destiny
EDUCATE
Educating them to produce change in their community
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ENDEAVOR
Endeavoring to supply their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs
Ceitci, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born in Bulgaria, a former Communist country. Shortly after the fall of communism, I was allowed to come and study at a Bible College in Tulsa, OK. At age 19, on Dec. 5, 1994, I arrived in the United States with $100 and 100 words of English. In the summer of 1995, I decided to start my nonprofit organization and develop a team of people who would have a similar vision to make a difference in the lives of children from impoverished communities around Bulgaria.
After extensive studies in cross-cultural communications, public speaking, and business and leadership development, I have become recognized worldwide as a motivational speaker, preacher, and teacher. Over the years, I’ve had opportunities to develop innovative training seminars on a wide range of topics: non-profit/profit business growth, creative fundraising methods, personal health, and nutrition education, and individual discovery and fulfillment of all the potential God gives each of us. My heart’s desire is to see growth in the lives of people by teaching them to understand their value and discover their God-given skills and destiny.
Our organization, Changing a Generation, networks with pre-established foundations in various countries, provides food, educational supplies, school tuition, and Christmas presents; and offers educational curriculum to children of all ages who live in impoverished environment. Currently, we work in 35 locations around Bulgaria, one in Uganda, and one in Ghana.
I am certified with PeopleBest, Inc. as a Level 1 DNA Cultural Assessment Trainer, and since 2012 I have worked with individuals, church organizations, businesses, and government groups by helping them to create sustainable results in their personal and professional lives. In April 2018, I also founded the Invisible Mentors Academy offering online training courses and coaching.
It’s been an honor to be featured as a guest on national and international radio and TV networks, such as Clear Channel, Daystar, TBN, CTN, BTV – Bulgaria, etc.
At age 24 I authored my autobiography “If You Have God”, later I developed a devotional series called “A Cup of Inspiration,” and my latest book “Motivated by the Impossible: Recognizing Your Invisible Mentors,” received 3 book awards and became a #1 Hot New release on Amazon. In 2021, I also co-authored the book “Exposed to Hope” featuring true stories from the lives of underprivileged children in Bulgaria.
After running a nonprofit organization since 1995, one of the main things that makes me unique is that I started as a foreigner in the USA, a single young woman, with all odds against me, without any funding. I used to be very shy, and insecure, but the dream inside me to help others and influence nations, caused me to rise to the occasion. I began to see my circumstances as invisible mentors, and my trials were no longer there to stop me, rather they became my stepping stone to becoming a person who inspires others with personal stories, practical principles, passionate to see true transformation takes place.
One of my personal achievements has been to stay authentic, personable, and connected to people; to live at peace within myself and with others. Many people can appear successful on the outside, but their personal life is not congruent with their stage or business life. I believe that we are most influential and can make the most difference when we discover the WHY we live, and WHO we live for. Our WHY has to be bigger than our “how” we plan to achieve something. Our WHY gives us motivation, causes us to go the extra mile, to stay true to our mission and vision and never to give up. But our ‘WHY” must, most importantly, be bigger than ourselves to truly be worth pursuing and risking in this life.
Finding my “why” and discovering my passion to help children and transform communities, gives me purpose and endless energy, and creative ideas, to look for solutions and new opportunities. For me, this is never a job! It’s a life, I love to live in service to God and others!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I first started the non-profit organization, I set a goal by the time I was 40 years of age to have given away a Million Dollars to the work we are doing in my home country and around the world. As I already mentioned, that was a long way away from having one dollar in my hand at the time I began the nonprofit.
Since I didn’t know anyone in the country, I decided to start at the closest walking store to my student housing – WalMart. I would walk there and try to meet people and make friends with them. In a month I had about 30 addresses and phone numbers. In those days we didn’t have email yet. So, I started a mailing list by sending a black-and-white newsletter letting them know what I plan to do after I graduate from Bible College. It took about 3 years to develop a solid list of people who eventually connected to the vision I had and decided to support me and our organization. It was tempting on many occasions to give up when no one believed in me or the vision of the ministry, but each day I went to the mailing box expecting a letter or a check from someone who may have read my newsletter. Often the dark, empty mailbox screamed louder with a voice of failure and fear. Yet, I was determined not to get discouraged, even if no one had sent me anything.
My faith journey, and trust in God’s plan are a part of who I am today. Without God’s help, I would never be here today, as the challenges in those days were much bigger than what I could handle on my own. Somehow, deep down inside I had faith and peace that everything was going to work out, and all I needed to do is not give up prematurely.
For 28 years each month, I have sent a newsletter to those who I met as strangers, to those who became friends, and to those who now want to be on our email or mailing list to stay inspired. Consistency and showing up are so important in this journey. Even when I didn’t feel like doing something, I did it because I remembered my “WHY” in the midst of the impossibility. I keep the pictures of our kids all around our office; they are my daily reminder to never stop fighting for them and to tackle the challenges with a smile on my face because each life matters.
Resilience should be the middle name of every entrepreneur who wants to make a difference in this world. Giving up is simply not an option. And eventually, you become a trailblazer, making a path for the generations to come after you.
What about the goal I had set you might ask? Actually, that goal was subconsciously there, I wasn’t exactly pursuing it each year, but because it was so a part of me, it was naturally pushing me forward. To my surprise, I was only $50,000 away from accomplishing it before turning 40. And a year later at 41, I was able to achieve it. What was important to learn in this journey is that when you hold onto your vision long enough, even when you would want to give up some day, the vision will hold onto you and will give you the extra push to cross onto the finished line. No matter how long it takes, stay resilient and never give up!
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Our team consists of 17 core leaders alongside a broader volunteer team of about 35-45 people. Most of our weekly team meetings are conducted online because we all live in different cities. However, one of the main things that brings us together is our dedication to the vision and our mindset to never give up, but rather find solutions in times of challenges and impossibilities.
It is very important to give each person an opportunity to own the vision of the organization and to personally see themselves as a part of the solution. Allowing people to present their ideas and run with them, gives each person the ‘buy-in’ to the vision. We work very hard on creating a common language and beliefs for the team. This helps us stay accountable to one another and open and transparent. Also, having a clear understanding of the responsibilities each person holds, we view as delegated authority, nor lording and bossing others around. Our core values are based on mutual respect and service to one another with love and dignity.
We evaluate our goals and the time it takes us to achieve them on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the magnitude of the goal and if it’s long or short-term. I also take the team once a year on an introspective journey of evaluating their beliefs, habits, attitudes, and expectations. It’s a specific teaching based on behavioral psychology principles, that help the team become more united and more focused. Additionally, by identifying self-limiting beliefs and negative attitudes, we are better able to respond to new ideas and face challenges without debilitating fear.
In order to maintain high morale, the leader of the organization must be an example of that in an authentic way. Personally, I try to encourage everyone on the team, the volunteers and the partners who support our organization, Expressing appreciation and kindness to each person definitely makes a difference.
When I was younger, out of insecurity, I looked to work with people who knew less than me, so I can appear like I knew more. Thankfully, I quickly grew out of that limited mindset and insecurity, building my personal self-esteem and leadership abilities, so that the leaders I work with today are credible, with high skill levels, and have a national and world vision for transformational change. They all know that I love and appreciate them, and I am there to help them also achieve their personal goals and ambitions as they work alongside our organization.
I have to say that 70% of our team, volunteers, and partners have been working with me for close to 17 years. As we have expanded and added more volunteers to our daily activities, and trainings, the younger people who are joining the team have expressed how much they love being a part of a safe and positive environment.
The main thing I would like to leave the readers with is that consistency, transparency, acknowledging wrongs, expressing gratitude, and servitude are key components that create trust in the leader and trust with each other. Team building is hard work at the beginning, but once the foundation is properly laid, it’s easy to build on and develop.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ceitci.org, www.changingageneration.net, www.invisiblementors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceitci AND https://www.instagram.com/invisiblementors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangingAGeneration, https://www.facebook.com/MotivatedByTheImpossible/, https://www.facebook.com/ceitci/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceitci/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PurposeRevealed AND https://twitter.com/Ceitci AND https://twitter.com/CG_1LifeATaTime
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ceitcidemirkova