ROMAN ORPHANAGE
We have been involved with the Roman Orphanage in Bulgaria since 2001 via the 'Star of Hope' charity volunteers. Brian Sumpton has visited the home regularly and in the summer of 2007 he again joined the children on holiday with a donation of £200 from 'Poetic Hours' readers. Afterwards he sent us this message...
Once again for the fourth year running myself, and this year my wife Polly had the privilege of joining volunteers from the Bulgarian organisation 'Star of Hope Foundation' (www.starofhopebg.com) at a summer camp for underprivileged children.
The children came from three different locations, the special needs orphanage in Dolno Draglisthe, the special needs orphanage in a town called Roman as well a group of children in need from an area called Strumjani. In total this year 55 children between the ages of 7 to 16 were taken to a summer camp in a town called Velingrad in the Bulgarian Mountains.
Many of the children orphaned in Bulgaria are from Romany families
probably the most excluded group in Bulgaria. Often they are abandoned because their parents are financially unable to look after
the, or just don't want them. One girl on the camp this year had been dumped at the side of a rubbish skip.
Many of the children don't psychically show the scars of their awful lives but each could tell their own story of abandonment, neglect or abuse.
Despite now being in the European Union facilities in Bulgarian orphanages are still a major problem with low standards of sanitation and heating contributing to illness among the children, and a lack of individual care leading to physical disability. Bulgaria has one of the highest proportions of institutionalised children in Europe. Many of the orphanages in Bulgaria are crumbling and children are living in poor conditions.
However we had a brilliant time with the children and I'm missing them lots already, but I'm sure they had a week they will never forget.
This years theme was based on a story called "I love you just the way you are" probably something the children don't hear very often. But that's what we did all week; love them just the way they are.
We did all sorts of activities, football, swimming, walks in the forest, making necklaces, drawing, other party games plus lots more.
One day the owner of a small fairground when he saw the children said "bring the children; they can all use the rides for free". They certainly felt special that day.
During the camp one of the normally emotionless Bulgarian orphanage workers with a tear in her eye said "it was the happiest she had ever seen the children".
On behalf of the children, the Star of Hope Foundation, Polly and me thanks to Poetic Hours for your support and encouragement
and wonderful donation which helped make this camp possible.
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