Help People in Bulgaria Overcome Addiction

Our most notable event over the past few month was our charity photo exhibition Together on the Road, held in support of another structure of our organization - the National Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling Helpline.

The exhibition is an initiative of the photography workshop in the Rehabilitation program. For several years, we have been organizing charity exhibitions to raise funds and make our cause more recognizable.

The exhibition was preceded by a panel discussion under the same title, during which we talked with our guests about the stigmas, stereotypes, loneliness, community and how Covid-19 changes our understanding of dependence and non-dependence.

The photography exhibition continued on 25.09. and 26.09., in one of the most popular photography venues in Sofia. The personal associations on the topic of eight great Bulgarian artists in photography were presented in 30 frames. Each of them donated their time and art, standing behind the socially significant cause involved in the exhibition.

We have also been working on an important project directly linked to the epidemic. We launched a mobile application through which people suffering from addiction can contact our team and receive support in difficult situations. This will enable us to reach more people using modern technology while ensuring their privacy and not exposing them to health risks.

We also had time for some creative activities to boost our Christmas mood even in these difficult times. We made some home-made bars of soap to keep our hands clean and our moods festive.

Our team wishes you warmth and health over the holidays!

On March 13, the Bulgarian government declared a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant that gatherings of people were prohibited, people had to work from home if possible, etc. I believe most people were not prepared for this experience.

For us, as a day program for psychosocial rehabilitation, this created big challenges. It made it necessary to change our whole day-to-day routine and that of the people in the program as well. It was quite unusual to see the day center empty, it is usually full of people. We are used to thinking that being together is the way to recovery because the relationships in the program are probably the most important therapeutic element. This time, we had to stay apart to stay healthy.

After the initial shock, we tried to find a way to keep our activities running and continue providing support without putting anyone at risk. We started having online sessions with the participants in the program and even held groups online.

In the midst of all this, we applied for a hardship microgrant from GlobalGiving and we were approved. We are so thankful for this because we had to provide additional materials to ensure adequate hygiene. These expenses were unforeseen, and our budget was already stretched.

Currently we are slowly returning to our usual routine while following the recommendations of the Government. In other words, we are finding ways to be together again in a safe manner. You can make this easier by donating to our cause or sharing it with your network!

Best regards and stay healthy!

Our team