BULGARIA 2009

Overview

The DARE project to Bulgaria was established to ease the plight of the children of Bulgarias Roma gypsy population. In the town of Kyustendil, a three hour journey from the countrys capital, Sofia, there is a gypsy village in which tens of thousands of Roma gypsies live. For many, the conditions there are substandard, with poor sanitation and inadequate housing.

Unfortunately, the problems for the people of the village run much deeper than that, many are heavily indebted and live in fear of their creditors. Many turn to crime and drugs to ease their suffering, these vices of course bring problems of their own. In addition, the Roma face extreme discrimination from the local Bulgarians making it very difficult for them to find work and escape the cycle of poverty in the village.

This harsh environment has brought about the phenomenon of ‘orphans with parents, the title should not imply that their situation is any less desperate than actual orphans. Often their parents are involved with drugs, in jail or so poor that they cannot look after them.

Our contacts, Jack and Elsabe Louw, are a South African couple who, while doing missionary work in the area, were compelled to help these children. One little girl in particular, Lora, captivated them. When they first found her in a local institution unable to talk, seriously underweight and days from death, they knew they had to help her. After a lengthy bureaucratic battle they were able to adopt her and take her back to South Africa for rehabilitation. It was at this time they set up the Lora Foundation, in honour of their new daughter, to help the many thousands of others like Lora.

Thanks to Jack and Elsabe, Lora has lived to be a happy, healthy seventeen year old who has went from being unable to talk to speaking Bulgarian, English and Afrikaans. With the help of international organisations like us, the Lora Foundation is able to provide the relief so desperately needed by the other children, and can hopefully turn their lives around too.

In the summers of 2004 and 2005 DARE sent teams to a local orphanage and school established to provide a much needed refuge during the academic months to some of the most destitute gypsy children. The hundred or so lucky children who attend are provided with the education and support necessary to equip them to improve their quality of life in the future.

The summer camp in which the team will work this year, as last year, is situated in the Boboshevo Mountains. It is a welcome break for the children from the gypsy village in which they spend their summer. Its an opportunity for them to learn and play, and work through the issues they face in life.

Activities

This year the project will take place in a 10 day summer camp. There may be some light construction work – i.e. helping to build a playground, but mainly the volunteers role will be working with the children, playing games and perhaps teaching some basic English. Another aim of the camp is to provide some form of counselling to the children to help them through the issues they face in their lives e.g. drugs and pick-pocketing, this is another task for our volunteers.

Our volunteers will not be working alone, but alongside other international volunteering groups.

It must be stressed that the camp has a strong Christian ethos and much of the counselling and study centres on the teachings of the bible. There is no problem with volunteers of different ethnic and religious backgrounds attending, but we require that volunteers are respectful and accepting of their religious views, and are fully prepared for a Christian faith based programme.

Dates

The dates last year were fixed at 26th July to the 11th August, we expect this year to be similar and will have confirmation in due course.

Cost

Flights directly to Sofia from Gatwick with British Airways are frequent and reasonably priced.

The cost for the camp will be approx. £170 euros, this includes transport to and from the camp, accommodation and three meals a day.

You should make allowances for extra travel costs, such the buses or trains and any overnight stays before you reach the project. The hostels in Sofia typically charge £10-£15 a night. It is advisable you book these in advance, as there will be a large number of you. Eating out in Bulgaria is extremely cheap - £2 or £3 for a good meal.

Volunteer Qualities

Volunteers having experience in working with children would be valuable, however this is not an essential requirement. We need fun, creative, enthusiastic, committed team players who want to experience a different way of life with open eyes.

For more information, e-mail daredundee@googlemail.com