From an idea born of concern for road safety, to recognition as the "Awakener of the Year". This is the path of Martin Atanasov, which sounds like an inspiring story about how young people can change reality. What's next... Here's what he shared with FACT.
– Mr. Atanasov, from an idea and the development of the "Black Track" platform, related to accidents in our country, to the Awakener of the Year - what kind of path is this?
– Very surprising at first, because, in fact, I found out about my nominations quite by accident. The award is a great honor and responsibility, if I may define it that way. In response to the question – I would like to mention that I thank everyone who voted for me, who voted their trust in me, which is a huge award.
The topic of the awakening is very relevant, even though November 1st has passed, but the awakening among us remains. And somehow being the first among equals on the topic of “awakening“ is, to put it mildly, an honor. I can only thank you. And actually – not to keep the award for myself. I sincerely believe that it is too big for what I did.
What I did is not a huge achievement, such as there really were among the finalists and in the top ten of “Awakening of the Year“, but I believe that people supported me because they want to give the award to young people – to show that we are the future.
And not only the future, but also the present. Because it is very convenient „chewing gum“ always hear that „young people are the future“. And that sounds a bit ironic. I will repeat it every year – young people are also the present, and they are here. They must be given a way. If only we could be inspired with courage… And we – young people, from the point of view of my position, must dare to act, not to miss the moment, not to worry about making mistakes and all the rest.
The path you ask me about is surprising. It is not very long, to be honest, and I will repeat that this award is too big for me. I sincerely believe in what I said – that I want to dedicate it and give it to all young people, because that is how it should be.
– In what state is the „Black” platform currently track“?
– Let's say it's on hiatus, because as a project it has lived its life, if we're being honest. But I'm sure it has caused much more in its wake than it was itself.
– What…
– Here's what I mean. The map itself as a platform was born and visualized data, did its job. But still, all this is limited to a certain period, to certain functionalities – to become a practical project.
The map has caused three big things in its wake.
First, a great public reaction and interest in the topic, because I received great support. The second thing, very important to say, and I'm proud of it, is that it has caused the institutions – in the person of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make their own map, which is updated daily, so that it can be used by everyone, so that it can be used by the people who analyze data in the “Road Safety“ sector. The third is that it once again made the relevant institutions work as they should – namely, the State Agency “Road Traffic Safety“ also launched its own platform two weeks ago, on which the conditions of almost all roads are mapped – first-class, second-class. I'm not sure about the third-class. Which in itself is a record. Why? Because for both of the things I listed, when I started the “Black Track” project, I was told that this thing – knowing what the condition of the roads is and how long ago they were repaired, requires so much work and cannot be done. And now, just a few months later, after a sufficiently large public interest, we see that it can happen from two institutions.
– And what comes out – that a young, awake person woke up the institutions? Is that how he can do it define?
– This is how we can define it. Practically, the institutions, in order to react adequately, clearly need a wake-up call. They are clearly asleep. This is our role as citizens – not to do their job, not to take their functions, because these are departments that have multimillion-dollar budgets. We just need to nudge them a little. Because they are there to do our job. That is why they receive salaries that are constantly growing. Let them really do their job – they are there for us.
– What is the future of “Black Track“ – will there be an upgrade, will it develop, is there an idea in this direction?
– Rather not, because I see that things have taken a right direction. Maps have already appeared, as they should be. Institutions have already entered into their role, they maintain their platforms. I hope that they will further develop them, put the two things together – data from accidents and data about the road surface to be united. To see where the dangerous sections are, to make repairs and take measures. This is what should have happened long before my map.
The “Black Track“ project was so far.
Again, I say that “Black Track“ caused much more in its wake than its very appearance and what it represents.
– What will be the next idea? Or for the moment, education is leading…
– Right now, my education is on the agenda, because I'm graduating, there's no way. But I have an idea that I'm currently working on, but I'll keep it a secret.
– Are you going to shake up the country again?
– Yes! And that's exactly why I'm keeping it a secret, because it's a problem that's so prevalent in our society, but it's also very important. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but this is something that I'm just starting to develop little by little. It's going to be very difficult and hard, but I think it's worth it. So, if not very soon, then in the near future it will happen – for sure.