House of Opportunity
‘I am accomplishing one of my long-term dreams – I am going to University ’
Tsetsi, a House of Opportunity resident, cannot remember life before the orphanage. He doesn’t know how or why he got there and when he left at 18 he trusted no-one. He would not speak unless he had to. Now, after two years at a House of Opportunity residential training centre, he laughs and jokes with people, has a good job and has started a degree in marketing. Read Tsetsi Interview
The harsh reality for Bulgaria’s state care leavers
Between 2001-2005 only eight young people who left state care in Bulgaria went into full time employment.
For Tsetsi, life could have been very different. Most orphanage leavers have no money, little education, no family and no idea about life outside an institution. With few options, many fall into crime and prostitution or become victims of human traffickers.
Houses of Opportunity
Our two year residential training programmes provide young people leaving state care with:
- Training in healthcare, cooking, budgeting and IT
- Employment experience
- Loving support from houseparents
- Accommodation in a safe, caring environment
Each house accepts four new residents every year, enabling each resident to receive individual care and attention - often for the first time in their lives.
We are working with Bulgarian partners to launch Houses of Opportunity right across Bulgaria. Currently we have Houses of Opportunity in Botevgrad, Ruse and Gabrovo.
Long term impact
By empowering state care leavers to break out of poverty and lead successful independent lives, Houses of Opportunity help to prevent these young people from abandoning their own children in future.