At the end of 2004 “Blagotvoritel” Foundation started its first pilot project. Our attention was focused on children deprived of parental care who live and are brought up in social homes. Over 4700 children based in 60 establishments around the country are growing up isolated from their natural social environment, with an inferiority complex, and lack of faith in their own abilities. This prevents them from demonstrating their inborn abilities and talents and is a barrier to their social integration.

“Blagotvoritel” Foundation chose to give support to the young people coming of age during the transition period of their lives. That was the beginning of the “Social and professional adaptation” project. Its main goal was to encourage the integration of those coming of age, on the threshold of their independent adult life, by offering them more opportunities for future professional realization. Тhe project gives the young peolpe opportunity to follow courses of their chosen preference; courses in construction, driving, cooking, confectionary, waiter's courses, cosmetics, massage, and manicure. Some young people prefer computer, language and university entrance preparatory courses. The effect of the courses was there for all to see: the young people became part of a new environment, made friends with people of similar interests, became aware of different view points and attitude to life. The certificates they received on completing the course contributed substantially to a raised self-esteem and self-confidence which helped them to find a suitable job.

As a result of the project, the rest of the children in the Home were motivated, in spite of the adverse circumstances, to cope with the challenges by being more ambitious, persevering and self-reliant.

Participants in the project

Svetlana Stoikova: I’m dreaming of continuing my education and some day maybe I’ll become an accountant or a beautician in a studio of my own. Your support is an opportunity to go ahead.	Stanislav Dinev: For me health comes first. All the rest is achievable if only you possess an ambition, tremendous drive and the necessary means.
Stefan Karaivanov: I’m determined to accomplish what I have set out to do, personally and professionally. The most important things for me are to be healthy, to complete my education successfully and to have good luck, of course.	Vesselin Nikolov: You have to study, to know, to be able to achieve things, to prove yourself all the time.
Radoslav Tsvetkov: I want to believe that I can, but that’s difficult. The fact that I’m alone is traumatic.	Velizar Stavrov: I shall have to look after myself, that scares me. I’m not ready for it. I hope the profession I master on the course would help me make a living in the future.
Stefan Emilov: I want to follow my dream: a good job. If I have that I’m sure to have a successful future.	Kamelia Yankova: I want to be healthy and to complete my education.
Radostina Dimitrova: For me it’s important to finish school successfully and to have a good job and never to be parted from those who are helping me.	Alexander Pantov: In my opinion, an additional profession wouldn’t go amiss, if you like it, of course. I’m keen on sport and my dream is to study at the Police academy in Simeonovo.

In the project participate young peolpe from the Children's Homes “P. R. Slaveikov”, “Hristo Botev”, “Asen Zlatarov”, SOS Children's Villages from Sofia, and children from socially disadvntaged families.

So far 60 young people have taken the opportunity to gain additional professional qualification.

From the beginning of 2005 “Blagotvoritel” Foundation decided to award the efforts of the students from the 8th to the 13th class of “P. R. Slaveikov” Home, "Hr. Botev" Home and SOS Children's Villages from Sofia with monthly stipends. The students having excellent grades received a monthly stipend of 50 levs, while those with very good grades received 25 levs.

Through the stipends we were able to motivate the young peolpe to aim higher, to achieve better results, and to realise that the efforts made are rewarded.

On the Web    

In 2005 the Foundation created by its own means first computer and Internet club with 4 PC configurations at orphanage “P. R. Slaveikov” Home in Sofia. This was the beginning of the new project "On the Web".

Aim of the project: enabling children aged between 7 and 18 growing up at Homes for Children Deprived of Parental Care (HCDPC) in the Republic of Bulgaria to gain access to new information technologies and the Internet to overcome social exclusion in which they reside.

Area: At the moment 21 computer and internet clubs are set up in Homes throughout the country and the project is growing further in Sofia, Razliv, Dolna Banya,Bratsigovo,Isperih,Doganovo,Blagoevgrad,Yakoruda, Plovdiv,Stara Zagora, Asenovgrad,Velingrad and Novi han

Results: According to the needs of every home computers and auxiliary equipment are delivered, computers are networked, they are constructed on Internet connections, there has  provided regular maintenance, training is conducted of children and teachers willing to work with basic computer programs.

 Already more than 1400 children have access to the World Wide Web and can communicate with each other through the project site www.vmreja.com.

Microsoft donated to "Blagotvoritel" through organization Tech Soup the following software: Office 2007 Suites, Office 2010 Suites and Apps KMS, Office Professional Plus 2010 MAK, Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista – MAK, Windows Vista – KMS, Win 7 – KMS, Win 7 – KMS, x64 Ed, Windows XP Prof, 32/ x64 Ed. – MAK, Win 7 – KMS, x64 Ed, Windows XP Prof, 32/ x64 Ed. Began installation of these products in 13 Internet clubs.

I Need a Job           

Aim: To support young people raised in HCDPC in their professional integration by helping them to develop active behaviour skills on the labour market.

Defined goals:

• Learning more about different professions;
• Being aware of the personal responsibility when planning the choice of a profession;
• Developing skills in filling job application papers and in being confident and competitive when interviewed by an employer.

Target group: Yong people aged 16 to 18, of different social status and athnic origin, from HCDPC "P. R. Slaveikov", Hristo Botev" and "Asen Zlatarov" in Sofia.

Activity Period: April 2007 - present

Project Development: The Project will be launched at the beginning in HCDPC in Bratsigovo and Stara Zagora,  and later on in other Homes.

Getting to Know Myself

Aim of the project: to provide young people, growing up without parental care, with the support they need to go through successful adaptation during the transition from life in an institution to independent life through adequate psychological training.

Specific objectives:

•      providing opportunities for young people to become aware of, analyze and break up with existing prejudices related to their own personalities;

•      development of coping skills and acquisition of new behavioral models;

• creating prerequisites for proactive behavior during self-realization.

Target group: young people of varied social and ethnic background, aged 16 – 18, from the P.R Slaveykov, Hristo Botev, and Assen Zlatarov homes in Sofia.

Start date: April 2007

Future developments: the project model will be applied with new participants from the homes in Sofia, Bratsigovo, Stara Zagora, Doganovo, and Dolna Banya.