Ivan grew up in the orphanage at Roman, north Bulgaria, but like all residents had to leave at 17. He moved to Sofia and was fortunate to get a job as a kitchen assistant, but was soon made redundant, so risked becoming homeless. Volunteers from the Good Samaritan Foundation had kept in touch with him […]
A great time full of moments to remember indeed. God made it special for the children and for the team that travelled. But let me tell you all about it from the start. The preparation started as early, as the first days of November. We contacted all the institutions we were about to go to. […]
Nicola Ashurst, Geoff Wallis, and eight Bulgarian friends walk to the top of the Balkans We started 4,500 feet above sea-level, higher than Ben Nevis, at the well known ski-resort of Borovets. Our gently sloping path wound upwards through fragrant pines and little meadows ablaze with mauve, pink, yellow and blue wild flowers, and grass […]
Our studies in the last month have gone very well. We keep meeting and having our literacy classes every week. Few of the children are now kept in home to take care of the small ones and help in the house chores, which is something that happens as summer approaches. We regret that very […]
I am delighted to report that the interior and decor of the Centre is now being designed by three young graduates of the Sofia University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy. Lyndmil Konakchiev, Diana Nikolova and Stanimir Georgiev are giving their time and expertise free to plan the finishes for walls, ceilings and floors, lighting […]
A child called Kinche from one of the orphanages in Berkovitsa disappeared a few months ago. She was a Roma girl who had 11 brothers and sisters and was abandoned by her parents very early in life. It was known she had lived with an older man somewhere in northern Bulgaria, but the school authorities […]
A Musical Evening with a Bulgarian Flavour, which took place at Upton House, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire on Saturday, raised more than 2,500 pounds to go towards the building of the new medical, educational and training centre in Sofia . Commenting on the successful evening, Geoff Wallis, honorary secretary of Bulgarian Partners Trust, said that in […]
The Grand Auction, hosted by Bulgarian Partners Trust and Fair Investment Company in Bristol last week, has raised more than 5,000 pounds to help people living in poverty in Bulgaria. BBC Points West presenter Dave Harvey (pictured with Fair Investment Company directors James and David), did a great job as auctioneer, inciting several tense bidding […]
Summer is on the horizon and the Social, Medical and Training Centre in Sofia is really starting to take shape. The air-conditioning, insulation and weathering of the roof is being finalised, while work on the interior is well underway. A team of young Roma people are helping with the plastering after Sofia Baptist Church received […]
“When the children are little they are exploited for labour, later when they grow up they are forced to prostitute, and when they become unusable, if still alive they are used as donors of organs” said Mrs. Pushkarova form the foundation “Risk monitoring”, answering a question about the fate of the girls trafficked out of […]