In 1998, a group of young people from Stara Zagora tried to help the town’s street children, conducting daily visits in a bid to win their trust and friendship. Conversations with homeless children - usually Roma - explored their daily battle for survival and the reasons why they did not want to return home.

Volunteers improvised games and lessons and sought the assistance of the police or hospitals. They were able to provide coupons, with which the children got a snack and some bread from a small shop in the town, as well as clean clothes.

Eleven years later the Samariani (Samaritans Association) is one of the most respected social service organisations in Stara Zagora. Working to create a better future for children, it is also now operating at a national level.

One of the Samaritans’ Association projects - a children’s home in Sladuk Kladenets (Сладък Кладенец, meaning Sweet Well or Sweet Spring) - was funded by the Belgian organisation Help The Children and the association boasts an excellent relationship with Belgian partners who help the association to perform various services that respond to the needs of vulnerable groups.

Over the past 10 years the organisation has attracted 1 083 250 leva, received from 22 different sources, which has been used to undertake social projects. Among the biggest benefactors, apart from Help The Children, has been the Children of the World Foundation in America.   

Among other projects in progress are a complex for social services for children and families in Stara Zagora and a Crisis Center called Samaritan House for children over the age of 14 and abused women. Also in the pipeline is a foster care unit and a centre to provide social, educational and health care to youth at risk.