Vela Blagoeva | |
|---|---|
| Вела Благоева | |
 | |
| Born | Victoria Atanasova Zhivkova (Bulgarian: Виктория Атанасова Живкова) 29 September 1859 |
| Died | 21 July 1921 (aged 61) |
| Nationality | Bulgarian |
| Occupation(s) | teacher, socialist writer, women's activist |
| Years active | 1871-1921 |
| Known for | Bulgarian Women's Union |
Vela Blagoeva (Bulgarian: Вела Благоева; born Виктория Атанасова Живкова; 29 September 1859 – 21 July 1921) was a Bulgarian writer, journalist and teacher and is noted as one of the founders of the women's movement in Bulgaria. After completing a basic education in the Ottoman Empire, she taught until she received a scholarship to further her education in Russia. While taking courses in the Russian normal school and pedagogy training courses, she became a socialist. Returning to Bulgaria, she taught school and wrote editorials for a wide number of publications. In 1901, she joined with a group of feminists to found the Bulgarian Women's Union. Two years later, she organized the first Socialist women's organization and conference held in Bulgaria.