Empower Children with Disabilities in Bulgaria

It is November and the colors in Kazanlak have shifted from the rosy glow of the endless rosefields to autumn’s warm yellows, reds and browns. The life in our Small Group Home in the Western part of town is also as dynamic and changing. The last few months have been marked by new beginnings.

On the 14th of August a new team leader took charge of the Small Group Home. Her name is Deni and she has been with Cedar’s team for some time now but she now has a new role and is very excited about it. When asked about what is going on in the house she literally has a story for each day since the 14th. Here is the most interesting:

• The social workers started taking the kids places in town where they could mingle with the rest of Kazanlak’s youth. It has been an inspiring experience for both our children and the local kids as well as for Cedar’s staff. They now have new friends and look forward to those interactions.
• A new girl has been placed at the Small Group Home. A bubbly and charming 14 year old Bozhidara who never ceases to smile. She comes from a large institution in the nearby village Buzovgrad which is also scheduled to be shut down as part of the Bulgarian deinstitutionalization plan.
• One of the girls, Geri (16), has started taking evening classes at the school across the street. Her resource teacher says Geri is very intuitive and fast to grasp the gist of what she’s being taught. They paint and do puzzles together. Another new thing for Geri, according to Deni, is she has learned how to kiss on the cheek. Geri’s hearing is impaired and her kisses are silent but still very sweet.
• One of the boys, Vanko, from the house has been adopted and left for the United States in early September. Everybody in the house misses him dearly. The social workers are following his new parents’ Facebook profile, eager to see new pictures of Vanko at his new home. They say he looks very happy and has grown a lot.

This is just a small portion of the events that take place in the sunny house and we are very happy to be part of them. Thanks to all the donors who have made this possible. It sure is worth it.

Links:

• http://www.cedarfoundation.org/en/welcome-to-the-12th-annual-charity-ball-of-the-cedar-foundation/

This spring for the 7th year in a row our children were hosts to a group of student volunteers (aged 12-14) from the International school in Zug and Luzern, Switzerland. Traditionally the students from the school organize different fundraising initiatives in support of the Cedar foundation’s cause throughout the school year. Then each spring a group of them visits our Small Group Homes in either Kyustendil or Kazanlak to participate in different social and educational activities along with the residents.

This year a group of 15 students visited the Small Group Homes in Kazanlak where they were involved in the building and decorating of a  sensory pavilion for the children. The place is equipped with various swings, cushions and different types of chairs (rocking, poof chairs), curtains and provides a good shade for the hot summer days and a rich choice of sensory stimuli. It was a great joy for all the residents but mostly for the ones with heavier physical disabilities who were pleased to indulge in new and liberating sensations on the hammock swings

The students also helped the kids plant flowers and vegetables in their backyard garden and painted the playground in the Small Group Home. Towards the end of their visit they had the chance to take the residents rose picking with the local farmers since Kazanlak and its surroundings are considered the Valley of Roses of Bulgaria. It is famous for its rose-growing industry which have been cultivated there for centuries, and which produces 85% of the world's rose oil. Everybody enjoyed the fragrant experience and were eventually rewarded with rose petal necklaces.

With all this said we cannot help but be grateful to our dear guests for their brought joyous moments for both the residents and the staff and created memories for months to come. No doubt our kids are looking forward to the next International visit.:)