NB This section is under development. We will soon describe more of our old projects.
Some old projects:
Big Orange Bus
A bus specially equipped as a mobile sensory unit was launched in Bulgaria in 2002. The bus, complete with ball pond, bubble tube, musical instruments and a range of sensory toys, will cater for children and young adults with a range of disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome, who live with their parents and also in residential homes. The Bus operated in a number of different locations in conjunction with other available educational and recreational facilities in local day centres. The Bus was staffed by Bulgarian professionals and volunteers including teachers and speech therapists, working in collaboration with English partners, Big Orange Bus, which is run by Lucy Rose and Adam Mansel. The Bulgarian Bus has attracted funding from the Know-How Fund, via the British Embassy in Bulgaria. The project is being run in conjunction with Save the Children Fund.
The Health and Day Centre, Plovdiv
The Health and Day Centre was set up in July 1998 with the help of the United Dutch Foundation at the Pediatric Oncological Department at the Medical University in Plovdiv. The Centre supports children who have been diagnosed with cancer, and their families The support can come in many forms: financial and emotional. Financial support is given to families who are in need of money for travel to and from the hospital for treatment. In some cases the family requires monthly support in order to buy food as well. Emotional support is given via the psychologist, the nurses and the rest of the team at the Centre. To maintain and develop its activities the Centre raises money from various sources. To date, sponsors include Glaxo Wellcome, McDonalds, the British Consulate in Varna. Over the years Friends of Bulgaria has supported several projects of the Centre.
Star of Hope Projects
These are some of the projects run by Bulgarian charity Star of Hope, which we have supported over the years.
2003
- Supplying winter clothing for the Special Needs School, Dolno Draglishte
- Christmas reunion of families and prisoners, Bobov Dol
- Children's homes in Blagoevgrad region (funds raised by Northants Christmas Card Recycling)
- Central Prison, Sofia: Christmas gifts from Northants parishes distributed to prisoner’s children
2004
- Summer Camp, Special Needs School, Roman (funded residue of previous grant)
- Supplying IT equipment for the Special Needs School, Gotze Delchev
2005
- Summer Camp at Baba Stana, near Troyan
- Winter clothing, Special Needs Schools Dolno Draglishte
2006
- Special Needs Vocational Training School, Sofia: Christmas party
