News
The Forgotten Children of Bulgaria
1176 children are entered in the adoption register. This is just the beginning of the procedure, which should start 6 months after the parent does not come back for their child. Social organizations say this deadline has not been met and the process has been delayed for years. The Social Assistance Agency denies it.
See more in the exciting stories of Genka Shikerova and Gloria Nikolova
https://www.svobodnaevropa.bg/a/31702836.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoDkYtC5-Gc
The project "I want to be..."
The project is orientated towards the older children placed in institutions in Bulgaria who are supposed to leave the only place they knew so far and start living on their own, in most of the cases without to be able to rely on relatives, parents or other supporting community.
The children deprived of parental car in Bulgaria are still many. Big part of them had lived for long time in the institutions and the group homes and in front of them there is the necessity to do everything on their own, while going through all the challenges in finding a job, home, new social environment ecc.
Some of the new group homes were founded tofacilitate children and adults with age range over 20 years in order they to be prepared in adequate way for the time where they will leave the institution and start living on their own.
We all know that for many young people sometimes it is difficult to get professional orientation and to find a job. For the children deprived of parental care this is really big challenge and that is why our appeal is to unite our efforts and to help them in this not very easy initiative to build their own life style.
Our project collects funds for specific institutions that in written that declared their desire and readiness to participate. Thanks to the directors of the institutionsthe children will be able to take part in different courses which will be organized in the same town or in the bigger town close to their orphanage. The professional course will vary depends on the location where the institution is situated but still the majority of them are orientated in the most common jobs: cooks, hairdressers, masseurs, manicurists, cab drivers, drivers of agriculture machines ecc. The children suitable for this courses will be in the age range over 15 years.
The main purpose of these occupational courses is to help the older children to develop and profound their interest in activities they feel they will be good in and to have the chance to find their own place in the working world once they need to leave the institution which was their home.
Quick facts:
The average price for course in cooking is around 500 BGN/250 EUR
The average price for course in waitressing/bartender/valet and maid is around 320 BGN/160 EUR
The average price for course in hairdressing is around 450 BGN/225 EUR
The average price for course in massages is around 450 BGN/225 EUR
The average price for course in manicure, nail care and acrylic nails is around 450 BGN/225 EUR
The average price for course in driving is around 700 BGN/350 EUR
Methodical guidelines for preparation of the child for adoption
With Decision dd. April 12th 2018 of the Council of Ministries was formed working group which to discuss and prepare methodical guidelines on preparation of the child for domestic and inter-country adoption for ensuring the child’s best interests.
In the course of the working group were given various suggestions regarding the discussed topics, as well as multiple adequate ideas which helped the realization of the current guidelines.
On behalf of State Agency for Child Protection were taken actions for reconciliation of the guidelines from all licensed providers of social services for children, as well as providing a standpoint on the topic which has been taken into consideration in the conclusion part of the working group. Thanks to the cooperation of Agency of Social Assistance were given good suggestions for good practices in the area of adoptions, from the work of the social workers in the Social Assistance Directorates.
Crossroads of America Adoptions Conference
The Crossroads of America Adoptions Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana was held for second year in a row. The Conference agenda included various workshops and seminars on intercountry adoption matters. Host of the Conference was MLJ Adoptions and for the second year, Vesta's representatives took part in it. They presented to the prospective adoptive parents the Bulgarian adoption process and the humanitarian projects of Vesta.
Meeting with the French Adoption Agency (AFA)
In September 2012 part of Vesta's team traveled to Paris to meet with representatives of the French Adoption Agency, accredited adoption agencies and prospective adoptive parents.
During the first day, Vesta's team met with the French Adoption Agency. The meeting was dedicated to the adoption process in Bulgaria, the waiting child program, the work of Vesta and AFA.
During the second day, at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris, a meeting on intercountry adoptions in Bulgaria was conducted. The meeting was organized jointly with NGO Mission Bulgaria. Representatives of accredited adoption agencies, representatives of the French Adoption Agency and prospective adoptive parents attended the meeting. Detail on the adoption procedure in Bulgaria were discussed at length.