Child sponsorship update from Trjavna, Bulgaria

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Trjavna, Bulgaria from Winter 2008.

In 2008 the SOS Children’s Village Trjavna became 15 years old! For a child’s life this period is a long time as these years pass in childhood and teen age. The children who crossed the village threshold in 1993 are already independent adults now, self-assured young people with successful professional realization, which indeed is the best proof for the quality of care we provide in the unique for our country model - SOS Children’s Villages. On behalf of the children, SOS mothers and colleagues, I would like to express our most sincere gratitude to you, dear friend, who gave and continues giving your support being our valued partner in upbringing a child. A heartfelt thank you!

In SOS Children’s Village Trjavna at the moment sixty-eight children live from two to fourteen years old. In September 2008 nine children became first graders as the first school day was emotional for all of us. The future eight-graders, who completed their elementary education, were prepared to move to the SOS Youth Home in Veliko Tarnovo as we organised a special farewell festival for them. During the summer all of them applied and were admitted to study in various vocational high schools. In 2008 we have twelve new admissions - six girls and six boys. The two boys - the one who studies in sports school in Pleven town and the other boy, who studies at the school for mountain guides in Cherni Osm town, are doing very well completely integrated into the local environment and their educators are satisfied with their performance.

At the SOS Youth Homes in Veliko Tarnovo we have at the moment 35 children who study in high schools and prepare for independent adult life. This year we had four graduates, who already have a job and succeeded in their adult life after leaving SOS.

Growing up in Bulgaria

The new children at the village are accommodated after official decision of the Child Protection Departments in larger municipalities of neighborhood towns of Gabrovo and Veliko Tarnovo. This is important, so that the contacts of the children with their biological parents and with other relatives can be kept. To all of us it is especially important that the children know their roots and continue developing their relationships with their relatives. The children in the SOS village are accommodated in accordance to the requirements of the Child Protection Law. This is as well the main responsibility of our new social worker.

The children from the SOS children’s village study at the two local schools in Trjavna and we are doing our best to be in permanent contact and to support the work of the teachers. As result of our joint actions during this school year we provided the possibility children from the SOS village who have delays in education to work individually with a tutor and in this way to overcome their difficulties. The self-preparation of the children is supported by the two educators and also by three tutors, who work with the children additionally in order to keep up with the school material, to overcome the difficulties, or to prepare for exams at the end of the school year for entering a new vocational high school. The children are able to use consultations at the psychologist, psychotherapist and speech therapist.

An important part of the life in the village and particularly for the children, are the spare time activities, which we organize and which are popular with the children. In 2008 we organised many sports activities - table tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, contest for best fishing rod, swimming competitions and water fests during the summer, and applied bicycling in the towns of Blagoevgrad, Kranevo, Trjavna and Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. The sign of success is the success of our children in various sports forums. A tradition is already to win the Spartakiadas of SOS Children from Bulgaria, Romania, and Macedonia. This year the competitions were held in Macedonia at the Lake of Ohrid and both teams from Bulgaria were announced to be very successful.

Celebrating events in Trjavna, Bulgaria

Except for the sportiveness we also take care of the spirit of our children. They participate in groups and courses in theatre classes, applied arts, culinary activities, wall painting, literature courses, folklore singing, carnival costume and mask competition in Gabrovo town where we won the second place, computer courses, Mathematics and chest competitions. In this way we give the children a broad-minded view developing their common sense in the various aspects of life.

Again during the summer a summer camp at the Black Sea took place, where we enjoyed ten wonderful days at the international children’s camp in the village of Kranevo, where except for the memories of the sea waves, our children developed contacts with children from all over the country, also Russia and Ukraine.

In a joyful and non-traditional way we celebrated the International Day of SOS Children’s Villages worldwide - 23 June - with a barbeque for everyone, a musical and artistic program, an open discothèque. The day ended with fireworks which impressed all and mostly the youngest children.
To us the selection of new co-worker, which was carried out this year, was also important. A new social worker was appointed. The new colleague quickly got into her responsibilities and we all hope that she will work sufficiently and dedicatedly in the best interest of the children who are living in SOS Children’s Village Trjavna. At the moment a recruitment campaign for new SOS mothers is in progress, so that we can give to even more needy children a family based care and a loving environment.

We can say that our work and our joint efforts were successful only when at the threshold of independent life from the child who entered SOS we have a self-sufficient grown up adult having a normal life.

All children living in SOS Children’s Village Trjavna, SOS mothers, co-workers and myself wish you, dear friend, peace and happiness! We wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2009 Year! Thank you!

Yours sincerely,

Ivan Hristofforov
Village Director