Future for Bulgaria foundation

Young people in Bulgaria have at least one thing going for them: the Future for Bulgaria Foundation. On December 2 2006, the foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary as an advocacy group for Bulgarian children. Based in Sofia, the foundation has branches in Kurdjali and Rousse, as well as a cultural centre in Plovdiv’s Old Town and a day centre for disabled children and youth headed by Peter Tzintzarski newly opened on December 20 2006.

Among the many projects supported by the Future for Bulgaria Foundation, one highlight is Youth Settlement Mladost in Plovdiv. This settlement is comprised of 70 apartments in three blocks, housing 78 Bulgarian youth who grew up in orphanages. For three years, recent leavers of orphanages can live in the apartments of the Youth Settlement Mladost paying a nominal amount to cover utility costs. University students are allowed to live in the settlement until they graduate, while others receive job training and other professional skills courses.

For the Youth Settlement Mladost project in Plovdiv, the Future for Bulgaria Foundation works in collaboration with private and public organisations alike to secure funding and support. The project is a part of the Plovdiv Municipality Strategy for Development of Alternative Services for Children and is supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.

Besides the Youth Settlement Mladost project, the Future for Bulgaria Foundation also raises money to provide scholarships for orphans to attend university. In 2005, six scholarships were awarded to students across Bulgaria with financial backing by AIG Bulgaria.

As well, the Future for Bulgaria Foundation hosts a wealth of cultural activities in their cultural centre in Plovdiv that colour the lives of youth in the Plovdiv area. In June 2006, exhibitions and other programmemes, including a puppet show, was held to celebrate Children’s Day. The foundation has also worked with other organisations to arrange exhibitions in Sozopol, Veliko Turnovo and Koprivshtitsa.

A love of the arts is also promoted among young people in Bulgaria via the foundation’s many competitions over the years, from song writing and painting to poetry composition. The foundation works tirelessly with groups such as Anubis Publishers and other organisations in order for young winners of such competitions to have their work showcased for public enjoyment whether at home here in Bulgaria or abroad in countries such as Macedonia, Russia or other parts of Europe.

They have also organised sports camps for children in Pamporovo and summer camps for orphans in the villages of Ravda and Byala.

FBF initiatives include:

Children’s Summer Project
Summer 1997, 1998
Brought orphans to summer camp in villages of Ravda and Byala, with funding from the Open Society Foundation, Foundation for Civil Society Development and others

Golden Rooster National Festival
Started June 1 1998
Song competition, in collaboration with Bulgarian Song. Based on idea of composer Boris Karadimchev

Open-air exhibit Ochrida 2000
Art exhibition in Ochrid, jointly organised with Macedonian Blagovestie Foundation

Annunciation
March 23 2001
Children’s painting competition, organised with Anubis Publishing House

Poetry competitions
May 2003
“The Flower I Cared For” and “For the Friends” poetry competition
2004
“I Need Good in my World”

Assist with travel expenses of students participating in international competitions

National Competition for Poems dedicated to a United Europe
May 2005

Another national poetry competition
May 2006

Child’s Centre for Art, Sofia
Painting, icon-painting school Spectrum, Theatre Kopcho, School for Ceramic Art, co-operation with Pchelitsa magazine – best student art is published

Gestime
Young singers with impaired hearing; gives concerts in Spain, Russia

Spektur Drawing School
Student painted the courtyard of the Polyclinic at Pigorov Hospital

Visited the Special Children’s Oncohematology Hospital; brought gifts and presented puppet show; donated more than 1500 leva to parentless child care homes in Sofia and Plovdiv for eggs and Easter breads (kozounak)
Easter 2006

Organised exhibitions at Cultural Centre in Plovdiv; works by children of parentless homes, children with diabetes; United Europe, Kopcho musical puppet show
Children’s Day 2006 (June 1 2006)

Plein air (Children’s Art Centre)
Sept 2006
In Sozopol; fourth one of year to expose students to professional arts; others took place throughout the year in Veliko Turnovo (May), Plovdiv (June) and Koprivshtitsa (July)
Scholarships
Given each year by FBF to students in secondary schools who are orphans and who demonstrate potential for art

Computer rooms
2002
In effort to bring computer skills to schools, opened two in Velingrad, Surnitsa and Rousse

Better Start in Life scholarship fund
For orphans and half-orphans to go to college; administered with AIG Bulgaria

Day Centre for Disabled Children & Youths Project
In brand new building, part of four-block settlement of the FBF

Other activities

Faith & spirituality
Working with churches, monasteries, mosques

Revival of the Bulgarian Book

From Us to You
June 13 2006
Art exhibition, puppet show programme
At Plovdiv Arts Centre, organised with Georgi “Slona” Bozhilov Foundation