News

Our activities have always been transparent and widely promoted and this is the reason why we enjoy the great interest of many people to support our child centered causes in one or another way. In 2012 our major priority is related to including the society more widely in our activities with direct meetings, volunteering initiatives, learning and exchange of know-how forums, parental capacity courses and fundraising initiatives. Up to now the space we have available did not allow us to implement all these activities due to the fact that our centers in Sofia and Plovdiv are very small and they are fully occupied by the direct social and psychological work with children and families at risk especially the children abandoned in social homes! »

Ivanka Shalapatova – the Director of “For Our Children” Foundation was honored as “Woman of the Year” in the category “Society” of the “Grace” magazine’s annual competition. Her award was presented by the Ambassador of Italy – Stefano Benazzo at a stylish ceremony held at the Military Club on December 11, 2011. Ivanka Shalapatova dedicated the award to all women in “For Our Children” Foundation and who fight to provide a family for every single child in Bulgaria more than 13 years. “This one award is a great recognition for many years of work I did. For all 13 years in the Foundation I have not stopped working for happiness in the lives of more children by professional social work and true charity. For all these years I knew that these values are still valid in our society and increasingly individuals who earn their battles, relying on these values. To make Charity and Good is difficult in Bulgaria, but it is not impossible. »

Today is the feast of Saint Anne, who is the patroness of Marriage and Family. Honoring it “ For Our Children” Foundation and “ Flying lanterns – Bulgaria” company are starting a charity initiative for supporting abandoned children. Two euro of each kit branded with “Light for Our Children” will be used to help children at risk of abandonment. Sets are two beautiful flying eco-lanterns and they can be ordered on the company website. »

Little Iva is already one year old. She lives with her foster mother – Temenushka Minkova for eight months. The team of “For Our Children” Foundation organized a cheerful family holiday in this case. Iva was most interested in the cake with the doll “Barbie” shape. She could not taste it, because Iva is still too young, but she kept the doll itself and she was pleased. Iva received and another one gift – it was a music fish that contribute to the development of her hearing and eyesight. This toy glows with bright colors, it sounds different issues and thus promote the child’s cognitive processes. »

The Bulgarian euro-commissar Crystallina Georgieva visited the Children’s Center of Foundation “For Our Children” in Sofia, where she met with the team and the Board of the Foundation. The visit of the commissar Georgieva is on the occasion of the latest project of Foundation “For Our Children” for building Children’s House for abandoned new born babies and kids with sever disabilities in the capital. Mrs. Georgieva was a patron of the traditional charity event “Evening of the Virtues”, which was organized on the 17th of November, 2011. On the event was raised funds of 50 550 leva, which will be used to start the project. »

On the occasion of “Day of the Christian Family” the Children’s Center of Foundation “For Our Children” in Sofia congratulated all foster families it works with. Traditionally on this day in the Foundation we celebrate the efforts of the foster families, who give a chance to the abandoned children to have a real home. Our social workers this time had been prepared a small surprise for each parent. With a basket of flowers and a card with a personal message we greeted the parents, who were touched to the heart by the gesture. »

The Children’s Center of Foundation “For Our Children” in Plovdiv had organized a meeting – feast with children and kinship families, where the children are established. The guests to the event were more then 40 representatives of the Departments for Child’s Protection, suppliers of social services, municipal administration, the State Agency for Child’s Protection, Regional Directorate “Social Assistance”, members of the Council for Coordination to the Foundation. »

For a third consecutive year “For Our Children” Foundation has organized the charity event “Evening of Virtues”. With desire to help to kids with severe disabilities at the event attended many famous Bulgarians as Ministers Tomislav Donchev, Lilliana Pavlova, Nona Karadgova, and Totu Mladenov, businessmen, partners and friends of the Foundation. The third edition of “Evening of the Virtues” collected 50 500 leva and with these donations in the capital will begin the construction of the Children`s House for kids with severe disabilities and abandoned new born babies. »

Some works of the artist Boyko Kolev will be sold from 10 to 24 November 2011 in support of Foundation “For Our Children”. The paintings and products will be shown in the exhibition room of PRODOMO, at 12 “Tzar Osvoboditel”, Bul. in the center Moskov Miele. Every 100 leva from a sold painting and product will be donated to children in need. »

The team of the “Foster Care Center” of “For Our Children” Foundation has been engaged in the “Horo in Sofia” festival event, not with folk dances, but with information booth. Participation is a part of the Foundation’s program to recruit foster families for abandoned children. »