State Care Leavers
The problem
With one of the highest rates of abandoned children in Europe, Bulgaria's state care system struggles to provide them with adequate care. Once children are 18 they leave these institutions with no money, no job, no home and no hope. Many have no qualifications and find it difficult to adjust to life outside.
Official Bulgarian Government statistics show that between 2001-2005 only 8 young people leaving state care were able to find employment. So what happened to the rest?
For many young people, life on the streets, crime, prostitution and drug abuse become the only way to survive.
We believe that these young people deserve a better future.
Our Solution
The House of Opportunity Programme
Young people leaving state care enter our two year House of Opportunity Programme. Providing them with accommodation, employment experience, life skills training and a loving family-style environment, young people will leave better equipped to lead a successful
independent life.
Our first House of Opportunity, 'House of Joshua' launched in Scravena in 2007 and is already seeing great results. The lives of its first residents have been transformed and we have welcomed several more young people into the house over the last two years.
We've now launched a £2 million campaign to launch 50 houses across Bulgaria by 2015, giving more young care leavers the opportunity that they need to build brighter futures.
We are urgently looking for funds to enable us to start new Houses in Ruse, Gabrovo, Varna and Sofia this year. Can you help?
For more information on the House of Opportunity Programme, how it works and why we're doing it why not...
Are you part of a church?
We are also looking for UK churches to partner with Bulgarian churches that would like to launch new Houses of Opportunity, call Richard Parsons on 01722 427113 for more about this scheme.
Our vision is to see more Houses set up across Bulgaria, restoring the dignity and reviving the hope of more young people.