After the Liberation, Ekaterina Karavelova returned to Bulgaria. She connected her life with the politician Petko Karavelov from 1880 until his death in 1903, in addition to being his wife, she was also his secretary, loyal associate and follower. She is one of the most educated women in Bulgaria, translates from several languages, is the author of political feuilletons, literary criticism, and articles on social and pedagogical issues. He taught for 16 years in Sofia, Plovdiv and Ruse.
Extremely active, with a modern mindset, Ekaterina Karavelova became a co-founder of companies, an initiator of a number of social initiatives. She was one of the founders of the Bulgarian Women's Union (1900) and its vice-president from 1915 to 1925, a delegate to the congresses and president of the Bulgarian section of the International Women's League for Peace and Freedom.
An important place in Ekaterina Karavelova's life is occupied by charity, volunteerism and charity. She is among the first Samaritan women in our country, and she is also a lady from high society. Official society "Samaritan" was established on December 9, 1910 at the initiative and under the patronage of Queen Eleonora, the second wife of King Ferdinand. Its purpose is to provide assistance to medical personnel during wars, disasters and accidents. In fact, even before that, due to a lack of sufficiently trained nurses, there were Samaritan women who provided help on a voluntary basis, and one of them was Ekaterina Karavelova.
Her bravery and faith in the victory of Bulgarian arms during the Serbo-Bulgarian war in 1885, when the fate of the Union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia was decided, are known. A woman with a strong character and organizational skills, Ekaterina Karavelova did not remain idle when the first wounded arrived. He takes an active part in the activities of the Bulgarian Red Cross, is involved in organizing the sanitary work at the Alexandrov Hospital, the hospital at the Military School and especially in the improvised hospitals in the premises of institutions and in the Protestant church on "Dondukov" Blvd. Eyewitnesses of these events testify that she knew the soldiers by name, where they came from. Together with the sisters, she is constantly on duty next to the seriously injured - comforting them, cheering them up and writing letters to their relatives. He also showed humanity to the wounded Serbian soldiers, visited them and wrote letters in Serbian to their relatives. What's more, she spends the little family savings she has with Petko Karavelov on hospital food.
When the Balkan War broke out (1912-1913), Ekaterina Karavelova expressed a desire to be sent to the front with the military hospitals. Because of the general decision not to allow women at the front, her request was not granted. But very soon, Tsarina Eleonora invited her to become the head of the largest distribution hospital at the Military School in Sofia. It became a large military hospital with 1200-1400 beds, which began to be filled immediately after the first serious battles. Ekaterina Karavelova has been assigned to head the entire volunteer women's staff of the large hospital. For 13 months she has been an organizer, senior Samaritan and senior sister of charity for a huge staff. There are more than 1000 volunteers and nurses, while there are only two Sisters of Mercy. Because of this, all their work falls on the still inexperienced Samaritan women. Despite great physical exhaustion, she remained at this post until the hospital closed, setting an example of tireless work, high consciousness and humanity.
Ekaterina Karavelova devotes a lot of energy and time to the Women's Charitable Society "Mother", established even before the Liberation. "Mother" Society became a benchmark for charity, membership in it is considered particularly prestigious, its board of directors includes ladies from prominent families connected to the political and business elite of Bulgaria. The company supported the first business school for girls in our country, "Maria Luisa", specialized in teaching sewing for upper and lower clothes, cooking, later - in making hats, embroidery and flower-making. Education in the school and in the courses related to it give women a profession and thus ensure they have the opportunity to independently take care of their livelihood and their families. Ekaterina Karavelova has been in the leadership of the "Mother" company and of the school since its inception, being its chairwoman for several decades (with interruptions).
During the wars (1912–1913, 1915–1918) the "Mother" society was particularly active. As a large organization with significant financial and human resources, it successfully participates in many public endeavors. At the service of the military authorities and the BCH, the school makes white clothes, sheets, bathrobes, jackets, backpacks, pioneer bags, aprons, clothes for the hospitals, masks for the front, etc. for the army.
Until the end of her life, despite the personal and health problems that befell her, Ekaterina Karavelova preserved her sense of justice and an active civic position, which she expressed in 1943 in defense of the Bulgarian Jews.
Due to her great merits, Ekaterina Karavelova was declared an honorary member of the Samarianka Society. As an expression of respect for her outstanding contribution to charitable and charitable works, she was awarded the rare badge of honor "For encouragement to philanthropy" under No. 8 of the BRC, twice a recipient of the Grand Cross of the "Red Cross" and the Order of Civil Merit I degree.
The National History Museum preserves in its funds objects from the household and home of Ekaterina Karavelova, donated by her heir Fani Drenkova, as well as documents related to her public life. Particularly valuable are the several congratulatory addresses given to her on November 10, 1929, when her 50 years of public activity were celebrated in the Theater Royal. Among them is the address of the "Samaritan" society and the "Mother" women's charity society. Among the household items, we can single out her daughter Viola Karavelova's bag, made of original folk embroidery, which was shown in the exhibition "Native Folk Art" in the National History Museum.
