Yank Barry: The billionaire philanthropist with a picturesque biography in a special interview for Jenite.bg!

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Jenite-bg-_l.a_c.93554_i.458481.html
Translation from Bulgarian
Yank Barry: The billionaire philanthropist with a
picturesque biography in a special interview for
Jenite.bg!
Kristina Nesheva, March 24, 2015, 14:31, Jenite.bg Internet site
How a billionaire donates his money in order to help people in
need around the world
K

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A businessman, a billionaire, a former
musician, a philanthropist, a three-time
Nobel Peace Prize nominee. These are
only a part of the definitions
accompanying the name of Gerald
Barry Falovitch, known as Yank Barry
in Bulgarian and world media.
He is a Byelorussian Jew and a
Canadian by birth. He is the owner of
the Global Village charity
organization, which provides
humanitarian aid to people in need
around the world.
Since the Canadian billionaire started his charity activity, his 27 years’ musical
career seems to have stayed in the background. In 1990 he creates a company
for food products that are meat substitutes. The company has quickly turned into
a world leader in this field. Five years later he creates Global Village, which is
also called “Champions’ Organization” because of the long list of famous
people who are volunteers and representatives of the organization, for instance
Celine Dion, Mike Tyson, Snoop Dogg, etc.
In Bulgaria, Yank Barry is mainly known for the help he gives to the refugees in
the country. In 2013, together with Evander Holyfield, he visited the refugee
camp in Harmanli, which provoked diverse reactions in society. Some people
think he is a benefactor, while others are of the opinion that his seemingly lofty
actions as regards the refugees are not at all right or adequate. However, there
were no such critical opinions in 2012, when the billionaire donated to Sofia
Municipality three tons of food packs for disadvantaged people.
Today Yank Barry is an owner and tenant of several buildings in Bulgaria where
refugees are placed. One of them is a house in the outskirts of Bankya. A team
of Jenite.bg visited this house and we will tell you a lot about it in the weeks to
come. In its work in our country, Global Village collaborates with the State
Agency for Refugees. We are going to introduce to you the charity activity of
Global Village in Bulgaria.
But, first, let us present to you the opinion of Yank Barry on certain matters that
are of interest to Bulgarian citizens. How a musician turns into a world-famous

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philanthropist and why Zdravko Georgiev and Christiana Valcheva are the first
representatives of Global Village in Bulgaria – these are only some of the things
you are going to learn from the special interview that Yank Barry gave to
Jenite.bg!
In the rented house for refugees in the town of Bankya
When and how did you start conducting charitable activities?
When I was about 20, I decided to turn my life around and do some good for this
world. That’s the time I started my charitable activities.
I try to help everybody, but unfortunately, this is impossible. That is why I help
people who are in the greatest need – those affected by natural disasters or
armed conflicts, for instance. For me it does not matter what their religion or
ethnos is. We are just people and, in his life, each one of us has his moments
when he needs a helping hand.
Now all the refugees around the world need help and that is what I provide them
with. I am Jewish. And just like the Jews were innocent victims of the Nazis
during the Second World War, there are hundreds of thousands of Syrians who
are innocent victims. Have you got any idea of how difficult it is to start your
life from the very beginning, with no job, money or home? Wars are a problem
throughout the world. They are not a problem of separate countries only, and we
cannot just turn a blind eye to them and say the problem is not ours because it
does not take place on our territory.
Why do you help? What is your personal motivation?
I can help and I do help. A lot of people think that, in order to help, you should
have money. That is not true. What you should have is heart. During the floods,
a large number of Bulgarians helped by way of doing work. Many people

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brought clothes to the camps so that the refugees can have something to wear.
These examples show that everything depends on us only. The people we help
are always innocent – they have done nothing bad and what they are going
through is terrible. Refugees flee from the inevitable and violent death. In
Bulgaria our foundation works together with the State Agency for Refugees and
endeavours to help all refugees, not only those from Syria, Iran or Iraq.
Global Village provides food for the refugee camps in Bulgaria
How does an organization, such as Global Village, which actually has
volunteers only and no paid employees cope with its work?
My company Vitapro, which produces Propectin – the world’s only product of
this type which flushes out toxins from the body – actually carries the whole
burden. There are plenty of people working for Global Village, but there are
zero administration costs. All the bills are paid by me and Propectin. Some of
the people working for the company are volunteers. This shows there are plenty
of good people in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad people, as
well.
You intended to place refugees in houses in depopulated Bulgarian villages,
however, your idea provoked social discontent. In your opinion, why did
that happen and will you fight for this idea?
In Bulgaria the economy is not great. And maybe some people feared the
refugees would take away their jobs. I can see how difficult the life of
Bulgarians is. I have a manufacturing plant in Bulgaria and the employees share
with me that the labour market has collapsed. I want to tell something to

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Bulgarians – you should not be afraid! Bulgaria is a marvelous country and
Bulgarians should be more enterprising. Only then will there be a job for
everyone – for both Bulgarians and refugees.
In Bulgaria you work together with Dr. Zdravko Georgiev and his wife
Christiana Valcheva. What is your personal connection with the case of the
Bulgarian nurses arrested in Libya a number of years ago?
I have known Zdravko and Christiana since 2007. They are terrific people. They
both are volunteering to care of the refugees. Christiana is a nurse. Zdravko is a
medical doctor. Both were held hostage by Libya on a false charge of being
responsible for spreading HIV to hundreds of children. I was one of the people
who met with then Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to help secure their release.
Upon their release, we became friends and they continue to help others. They
are wonderful, caring people.
During your visits to our country, what do you see in the eyes of the
refugees?
I see fear. I see people who are hurt. I see people who are in shock, who are
scared and are in pain. Their worlds have been turned upside down. We are
trying to do everything we can to help them.

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In the rented house for refugees in the town of Bankya
What are the future projects of Global Village? Which of them concern
Bulgaria and in what way?
I am a very active person and I always have thousands of ideas. One person can
hardly change the world, but a lot of people, united by a common idea, can do it.
As for now, I would rather prefer not to disclose the plans of my Foundation.
But I hope that our example of helping people will be followed.
We are ready to cooperate with other organizations and we will highly
appreciate the contribution of anyone who would like to help. There are so many
suffering people in the world. Only when we help each other, will the world
become a better place. Nobody is insured against something bad happening to
him tomorrow – last year Bulgaria itself was a victim of numerous natural

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disasters. Our foundation did its best to help the regions affected by the floods.
We distributed mineral water. Where will the foundation help – that depends on
where our help is needed. Unfortunately, Bulgaria still needs our support.
Taking stock of the past, what is your assessment today, 20 years after the
creation of the organization?
We have come a long way since my wife Yvette and me, along with the boxing
legend Muhammad Ali, first started Global Village in 1995. In January this year
we reached the main goal we set long ago – we hit a billion meals we’ve given
away around the world to people in need. And today we are saving even more
lives. I believe we’re making a big difference every day.
Is it money that makes the world go round?
Money can be used for either evil or good. In my case, I am using my money in
order to help people. Money is making it possible for so many people and even
whole families to survive.
____________________________________
I, the undersigned Merdjanova certify the fidelity of the translation I have made
from Bulgarian into English of the document attached hereto – an article

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entitled “Yank Barry: The billionaire philanthropist with a picturesque
biography in a special interview for Jenite.bg!”, Kristina Nesheva, March 24,
2015, 14:31, Jenite.bg Internet site. The translation consists of 7 pages.