The Problem

Bulgaria is, despite recently joining the EU, one of Europe's less prosperous countries, and still faces many economic and social problems. ZOV UK's work focuses on the many orphanages and other children's homes that still exist in Bulgaria. For decades, it has been normal in Bulgaria for disabled, orphaned or otherwise abandoned children to be sent to state-run institutions, often in remote rural areas, away from public view. Efforts are now being made by the Bulgarian government to change this philosophy, promoting fostering and adoption, but these ideas are new to Bulgarian society, and so building a new system will take time. It will also require the breaking down of ethnic barriers; a disproportionately large number of the children in institutions are from the Roma minority, who in the current climate would face a particular struggle to find adoptive or foster parents. There are also be some severely disabled children who will always need specialist care.

Unfortunately, the institutions currently available in Bulgaria, whichever group of children they cater for, and despite the best efforts of orphanage staff, are rarely up to the task. There is a severe lack of funding; many homes are in a very poor state of repair, and staff frequently struggle against the odds to keep the children warm in Bulgaria's harsh winters. ZOV UK has seen homes that are unable to buy winter bedclothes for the children, or to repair toilets or bathrooms. In this struggle to make ends meet, issues such as providing staff with training to care for the most disabled children, or providing adequate education to the children can fall by the wayside. It is well known that children in care in the UK frequently struggle to cope in later life; children leaving the Bulgarian care system face an even more difficult prospect, all too often with poorer education than the general population, insufficient life skills, and frequently with the double disadvantage of being stigmatised and excluded due to their ethnicity.

ZOV UK's Solutions

ZOV UK is currently only a small organisation; however, our education projects have already helped many children in orphanages to take steps toward building their education, confidence and integration with society. Our current main project, an education centre in Veliko Tǔrnovo, provides term-time tuition in English, IT and Performing Arts to children at Penyo & Maria orphanage - and will expand in future, funds permitting, to offer more lessons to more children. We have also helped orphanages to buy essential supplies and make essential repairs in crisis situations. We currently focus our work on the town of Veliko Tǔrnovo in Central Bulgaria, where we have a strong base of local contacts, although we hope to extend our work further afield as our organisation grows. For more information about our projects, click here.