Future for Bulgaria's Abandoned Children

Novinite Insider » EDITORIAL | Author: Milena Hristova |November 19, 2009, Thursday // 11:50
Bulgaria: Future for Bulgaria's Abandoned Children

Bratzigovo is an impoverished and dilapidated but picturesque small town at the foot of the Rhodopa mountains. The miserable existence of the most vulnerable of the people living here - the kids at “Vassil Petleshkov” child care institution - has been transformed into a fulfilling one thanks to the efforts of Mirko Schwanitz, a German journalist and benefactor.

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Maria is 16 years old. The smiling young lady has been at the home for five years after being abandoned by her parents. Her blond hair, beautiful green eyes and soft voice make her discernible among the sea of dark-skinned faces.

“I do like it here, the director is nice and I have many friends,” says Maria as she hands me a round loaf as a welcoming gesture.

The girl gives the impression of an active and communicative child, but has a stiffness in her attitude that betrays long years of living in strictly disciplined environment. The same holds true for the other children, aged from 7 to 20, who have gathered to welcome dozens of guests and journalists for what certainly will be the event of the year for them – the opening of a modern kitchen, sponsored by German benefactors, which will give them the rare chance of obtaining professional qualification before leaving the home.

Тhe change that the “German uncles”, as the children call them here, has been dramatic, making the home an exception in a field, known in Bulgaria for its chronic neglect, filthy conditions, and the use of physical restraints.

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Mirko Schwanitz passion for Bulgaria started with a visit in 1996, whose impact on his life was extraordinary. Having worked as a journalist since 1989 with a focus on Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Schwanitz received an assignment by a big German newspaper to write an article about Bulgarian child care institutions. The report, however, was never published, which meant that the international outcry for which Mirko was hoping, was fading into an illusion.

“I had written reports and articles about 120 Bulgarian children, who viewed me as a saviour, the Uncle from Germany, who would make a difference in their lives,” Schwanitz recalls. “I felt as if I had capitalized on the misery of these children without actually doing anything for them. I decided I will not be just an observer, but a man of action.”

Committing himself to the cause about which he had only written so far started during the times of the severe economic crisis in Bulgaria in the 90s that escalated in the winter of 1996 and eventually toppled the government.

“I returned to Bulgaria to help, to take supplies, food, clothing and medical aid. But I kept asking myself after that what? What will happen after the food is eaten and the clothes are worn away?”

The troubling questions gave birth to the Association for assisting Bulgarian homes for children in a bid to help turn round the care system for the abandoned kids.

“If only I knew how many difficulties lie ahead of us, I would have hardly embarked on this adventure. I had turned from a journalist into a hamster caught in a turning wheel.”

Yet he says he is not disappointed, nor is he in despair, quite the opposite.

“There are many German donators, who want to help and these are not necessarily rich people or big companies,” he claims.

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Reform may be coming too slowly to institutions for abandoned children in Bulgaria, but the difference the German donators have made to the home in Bratzigovo is impressive. No evidence of human rights abuses, inhuman and degrading treatment and appalling neglect. The efforts of the donators have supplemented the patchy and slow reforms, providing a life cord to the most vulnerable.

The pioneer project, called “Future for you” after an eponymous non-governmental organization, is worth EUR 186,000, collected with the joint efforts of the French association Bonne Mine, Renovabis, the solidarity action of the German catholics, the readers of Rhein Zeitung newspaper from Koblenz, German people and companies.

Planned as a social enterprise, the kitchen will give chance for high-level professional training to eighteen children every year, who come from different homes across the country. The course will last two years and will be assisted by German experts. The kitchen will provide food for 300 socially disadvantaged people and the hopes are that within a year the project will start generating revenues.

“The main problem of the abandoned children has long stopped to be self-care. Their main problem is the transition phase, when they leave the home and have to integrate into the society,” says Mirko Schwanitz.”Many of the children are forced to take up deplorable jobs and fall prey to unloyal employers. They face a big risk of falling into the whirlpool of crime, prostitution or violence. Our project shows them a way out.”

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