Our goal in working with the children living in Bulgarian orphanages is to provide them with the love and emotional support they need, while also providing the practical tools necessary to prepare them for a successful future.

The children in Bulgarian orphanages come from various backgrounds. Some are orphans in the true sense of the word. Others have been taken from their parents because of neglect/abuse or have been given up by their parents because they are unable or unwilling to care for them. Unfortunately, the situation in most Bulgarian orphanages is very bleak. In many orphanages, there is one caretaker for 20-30 kids. Even the most deeply motivated worker would not be able to meet the individual needs of these children. Most caretakers however, underpaid and unsupported, are less than motivated. With so little attention and guidance, these children fall into bad habits from a young age. Theft in orphanages is commonplace. Girls learn prostitution from a young age; men prey on the girls living in orphanages, or the older boys in the orphanage may use them. In many of the orphanages, the youth have no one enforcing school attendance. A large number of them attend classes sporadically, if they attend school at all. Not only do they lack the knowledge that may be needed in a future job, they lack the structure and discipline that a classroom setting provides. Many are not able to cope well in the “real world” because they have never learned any kind of work ethic or taken on any kind of responsibility. Another large problem facing the children in orphanages is that the majority of them are of gypsy decent. Bulgarians are generally very prejudiced against gypsies. Many of these kids will have a difficult time finding jobs merely because of the color of their skin.

In our ministry, our foundational aim is to meet the children’s need for love and attention. Once we have built a level of trust, we try to help them understand their self-worth, to respect themselves and others, to learn good decision-making skills, and to prepare for a productive and full life after they leave the orphanage. We offer lessons and tutoring in the orphanages, mentoring, sports and job training, as well as yearly camps, all with the goal of building up the individual child, while at the same time equipping them with life and job skills that will enable them to successfully integrate into society as young adults.