Forgotten

This orphanage houses children with criminal pasts include theft and prostitution, yet the crimes are usually instigated by the parents of the children. Even so – shockingly – Amanda says it is the youngsters who are punished. "This is particularly appalling, considering the age of these children," says Amanda. "There is a high incidence of runaway kids who are returned in one or two weeks by the police. When the children reach 18 they are released with no money, no life skills and no training to help find employment."
Small wonder then that some of the youngsters relapse into old habits. "One girl said to me: ‘There’s nothing wrong with prostitution. If I work as a prostitute I can pay my bills and won’t go to prison.’"

"I would like to guide the children so as to prevent criminal and anti-social behaviour and teach them life skills so that they can find employment after leaving this institute," says Amanda.

Maxim Gorky desperately needs more social workers and teachers for the children. In the past a Peace Corps volunteer worked at the orphanage, providing mentoring care to the children. Unfortunately, she returned to the US once her term ended.

Much still needs to be done. The children love skiing and have a ski run next to the orphanage. Amanda wants to provide the children with a ski instructor and a music programme as well as tuition in basic cooking skills, hygiene and safe sex. Also the children need to be taught a trade before they are ready to face the outside world.

"The orphanage badly needs complete renovation," says Amanda. "We have done our best with the funds we have raised, but 15 000 euro does not go far. We need toiletries for basic hygiene and stationery to help with education."

Amanda says she spends as much time as possible with the children, just listening and playing with them. She was appalled to discover that some of the staff actually beat the children. "What message does this send to this generation of children?  If you are unhappy with a situation, just hit out? The staff needs to be re-educated; if the staff are not retrained, how can we help the children?"

Doubtless, that’s a message that will resonate with people familiar with institutionalised care in Bulgaria. Yet, as the story of the Mogilino children’s home reveals, there is hope for improvement provided more people like Amanda get involved.