...On orphanages
Sir
I watched the programme on bTV about residential care for children and young people, and could only agree that the provision was abysmal, and the idea that the establishment had not received an unfavourable report seemed to be an indictment of the inspection system.
There is no doubt that training for both management and care staff is imperative, but this means a large injection of cash. There are a number of people within Bulgaria working towards this end with limited resources. One is Roumyana Hineva, who runs a centre for children in Varna, known as Karin Dom, which offers an outreach service for training and supporting staff in other establishments, but this particular centre is supported by voluntary contributions only and is always in need of financial support.
However, I would suggest that the people who made the programme should also look closer to home. The provision for some of the people with profound and multiple disabilities in the UK leaves a lot to be desired, and certainly the residential provision for the elderly is abysmal in a large number of cases.
People sitting in large rooms with nothing to do except look at one another, low staffing, and while recent legislation is meant to alleviate the problems, it will be a long time before it is effective.
Yours faithfully
Peter Knight MA
...On adoptions
We adopted a beautiful child in 2002 from Bulgaria. We would love to come back and give another child a beautiful, loving home, but the process just does not move. There are plenty of loving homes for these kids if they could get the process straightened out!
Kelley
...On Kosovo
Creating a new “state” on religious grounds in the 21st century in Europe is an unacceptable anachronism.
It is very disappointing that EU countries are prepared to close their eyes and accept/tolerate such an anachronism. An anachronism created that can repeat itself in other countries - especially Balkan countries. It is amazing that some countries that are not prepared to tolerate such a phenomenon within their own borders are prepared to do so in the case of Serbia. What is the point of allowing demagogues to exploit religion, create a state of oppression and terror and split countries into little pieces? By the same logic we are going to end up with the “village/tribal state”.
Those in Europe and the EU who are prepared to tolerate such phenomena are deluding themselves. Such developments will not solve any problems. They are only creating time-bombs in the Balkans and the whole of Europe.
Pantelis Mina
