Education Centre, Veliko Tǔrnovo

Children without parents in Bulgaria face a difficult life. There is no tradition of adoption or fostering in the country, so most children whose families, for whatever reason, cannot care for them end up in state run institutions. Bulgaria has the highest number of state run institutions in Europe, housing about 29,000 children.

A severe lack of funding and resources - sometimes even for the most basic necessities such as heating and clothing - means that children living in institutions are usually deprived of the quality of education that others with more secure home environments have. This means that many find it hard to gain employment and to adapt to life when they leave the care system. Children all too often leave orphanages with few employment skills and a severe lack of life skills, a situation which leaves many to slide into poverty, chronic drug addiction or criminal activity, including prostitution. Many of the children in institutions also suffer the further disadvantage of being from the Roma minority, which lags far behind the rest of the Bulgarian population in employment, education, health and general welfare.

Background and Project History

During May, June and July of 2006, ZOV UK funded a pilot education scheme whereby children from Penyo & Maria Children's Home were offered English tuition at an education centre in Veliko Tǔrnovo. The scheme highlighted the strong demand for English lessons from the children, and supported the children's ongoing language study at school. It also helped us to get to know the children that we are working with much better, and to develop links with local organisations. As a result of this, the new education centre, hosted within Penyo & Maria Children's Home, started offering lessons on a long term basis in 2006.

One of the biggest difficulties facing children in institutional care, and which they often spoke to us about, is the problem of what happens when they leave the home at 18. The majority of children do not complete their school education, and leave without the qualifications necessary for work or further study. Although speaking English is a key skill for the children, especially in terms of their employability, it is also vital that their general education adequately prepares them and gives them the confidence for independent life outside institutional care. The pictures around this article were drawn by the children as their ideas for what might be in the centre, before it opened.

During our visit in Summer 2006, four ZOV UK members and a band of very keen volunteers from the children's home redecorated the room, in preparation for the education centre's full opening. With vibrant colours, a new soft floor, photos of the children and new learning materials, it is now a welcoming and inspiring place to come and learn. As the children were involved from day one, they have a strong sense of ownership; we hope that they will use it as a place to nurture their potential for brighter futures.

From all of the time that we have spent talking to the children and Penyo & Maria, it is clear that they all want to learn and hope for brighter futures. As with any child, all they need is the encouragement and support from caring people in a caring environment to help them achieve their goals.

What the centre now offers

English tuition, dance and music lessons, and dedicated homework support in a variety of subjects, is now offered for the first time within Penyo & Maria Children's Home. We would like to see education as an integral aspect of the children's lives, and for the ZOV UK education centre to be part of their home life, rather than an extension of school. The director and staff of Penyo & Maria, Mrs. Bankavo, has given her full support to this move by offering the use of a large room within the home for the children's learning.

Ms. Ventislava Koleva, a lecturer in Arabic and Linguistics at Veliko Tǔrnovo University, has been appointed as the English teacher. She has quickly struck up an excellent rapport with the children. At present, ZOV UK supports two sessions in the room per week, and we hope to be able to staff it on a daily basis in the future. We are also offering one-on-one sessions for children who already have an understanding of the English language. The centre has five computers, which can be used in lessons, as well as to give children access to the Internet. Access outside lessons is supervised by the staff in the home. The computers are available initially for four hours per week, at the weekends as well as weekdays, to fit around the children's school and work commitments.

Recent Activities

The education centre has recently been used as a focus for music, media and arts projects in addition to its regular activities - for more details see our main projects page.

In future we hope to extend the number of lessons and subjects offered in the centre, and, funding permitting, to extend our work beyond Penyo & Maria, to help children in other homes.