Venera Hasanova is the founder of the "Mental Arithmetic of Europe" project. Co-author of the methods "Mental Arithmetic MAE", "Handwriting", "Multiplication table - 12 lessons", "Basics of entrepreneurship for teenagers", and "Speed reading", she is a pioneer in the field of mental arithmetic in Bulgaria.

800 children are trained in her franchise offices.

Born in Russia, she graduated from the School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and has a bachelor's degree in the "Customs and Law" faculty. She started working as a professional security guard and subsequently worked for many years as HR in a large telecom in Kazakhstan.

Lives in Bulgaria since 2013. High professionalism requires continuous personal development (followed by a master's degree at the Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis); a lot of work and consistency (in 3 years she opened 15 franchise offices); dedication and responsibility (training the candidate instructors and conducting the exams for the methods personally); to do what you love (she has three wonderful children aged 14, 11 and 7 who made her develop specifically in the field of education).

What is mental arithmetic?
Mental Arithmetic (MA) is a calculation system with a special abacus calculator. With the help of an abacus, children learn to solve arithmetic problems mentally faster than with a calculator. Speed in calculating tasks is acquired in mental arithmetic when the child learns to represent not numbers, but balls on the abacus. During mental arithmetic, such important skills as logic, powerful concentration, imagination, and photographic memory are trained in each child. Self-confidence appears in children because children can count such numbers that not even every adult can. And, accordingly, succeed in their education, since they, in general, develop intelligence. Analytical thinking, creative thinking, accuracy, and speed in making every decision. All this is developed thanks to MA education.

When the child visualizes the abacus, the right hemisphere of the brain starts to work, it will train a powerful concentration of attention, and at that time the left hemisphere of the brain will also start to work - these are logical calculations - visualization, concentration, and logic will work simultaneously, synchronously.

And children who practice this method daily get used to this way of thinking from a young age. In the future, in higher grades, in universities, at work, and in any situation in life, if a question arises, they concentrate powerfully, imagine a scheme, build logical input and output, and come up with a creative and qualitative answer. An unusual approach to solving problems in life.

In our method, both hemispheres of the brain work simultaneously, and synchronously. At this moment, many important things arise, new ideas are generated, and all channels of perception are opened. It is tactile because it is constantly trained on an abacus, it is auditory because it exercises hearing, it is visual because it solves problems in notebooks, and logic and analytical thinking are developed very well.

Why did you choose to work in educating children?
As a mother of three wonderful children for me, the education and development of my children have always come first. And 5 years ago, I decided to help my children become more self-confident in their new country. But when I started training them, I started thinking about how the brain develops in children and what I can do to help them. How each action and exercise affect their development. Thus began my long road to psychology. Now I do not see it as work, I accept it as a way of life. I am looking for new methods that can help develop children as individuals. I adapt them precisely according to the children in Bulgaria. I do not set limits because every child needs an individual approach and I keep everything in the form of play and fun.

Why did you choose to come to Bulgaria?
I decided to move to Bulgaria, as the Bulgarian mentality is close to me. The language is similar. And there are many Russian speakers. 5 years later, I feel happy. Bulgaria gave me everything - work, happiness, stability, security. And I am grateful to the Bulgarian people.

What are the differences in the education of Bulgarians (Europeans)?
In Asia, children are taught discipline. If they must count 600 tasks every day, they sit down and count. In Bulgaria, children are different, so any methodology must be adapted according to the generation and the country. We cannot put them all in one box and say they are all the same. Therefore, the framework itself must be flexible. Bulgarian children love to compete, love to have fun, and love to have secrets. This is wonderful! Why not? So, the same tasks can be solved during fun and competition. It should be interesting for children, they should have aspirations, it should be challenging, and they should learn to set their own goals and achieve them. Therefore, the same exercise should be done according to the child. You can sing, jump, run, and dance. What matters is the result.

How do you find business conditions in Bulgaria? Can you give me a comparison with Kazakhstan?
In my opinion, the conditions for doing business in Bulgaria are specific. Before I started a business, for a person who did not know the laws, it was very complicated, namely with registration procedures, and piles of documents that you have to prepare and then comply with. There are a lot of red tapes that stop the whole process of starting a business. There is no trust between people, everything requires contracts, lawyers, and unnecessary expenses. The moment partners see that they can trust you and that working with you can be reliable, that's when meaningful business relationships begin.

In Kazakhstan, business is developing rapidly. There is also bureaucracy, but since things are developing very quickly, everyone who starts a business sees potential and opportunities. At first, people do not trust each other, but when working correctly with business partners, they quickly become friends. A big plus is the hospitality of the Kazakhs.

You are a foreigner with a successful business in Bulgaria and a mother of 3 children. How do you manage?
I try develop independence in my children. Everyone knows their duties and fulfills them. Everyone makes their own choices about where to go and what to do, but the set goals must be achieved. They make their own mistakes and gain experience; I don't try to live their life.

I am very grateful to my mother, who also helps me a lot and on whom I rely, especially when I am busy at work.

My team! I often have to thank them for their professionalism and trust - we work and move forward together. I feel supported by more than 50 people and I need to work with confidence.

Also, fate gives me people who see potential in me and support me. One of them is Mila Zaharieva, who invited me to the Business Lady club and who believed in me!

Give our readers some advice on how to develop their children's potential.
Believe in your children. This is the most important. Allow them to develop in the direction they want. Don't make decisions for them. Support them. Yes, children of every age have their desires. Perhaps they will change their decisions constantly, but this is how the character of each child is formed - by trial, error, and experience.

Wish something to the women who want to start a business
I once sold the only thing I had - my car - to start a business. I listened to my heart. I believed in myself, got up, and went. It was difficult, but faith, the obligation to my children, and lots and lots of work made me successful in Bulgaria! If you have desire, persistence, and perseverance - you will grow through asphalt.
I wish women to believe in their strength and be ready for a lot of work and study! Be happy!