Internship Opportunities with One Heart-Bulgaria

One Heart Bulgaria internships offer exciting opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of orphans. College students and other qualifying adults are all welcome to apply and participate in this wonderful program. We are affiliated with Brigham Young University's internship program and seek to develop additional partnerships with other universities.

Most of our current internship opportunities involve working in orphanages for youth ages 7-18. The children in these orphanages need good role models and opportunities to develop new skills and gain self-confidence. They also need guidance in planning for their future. Interns can provide these opportunities and have a lasting influence in the lives of many children and youth.

Wherever possible, interns will live in the orphanages and become an integral part of the orphanage during their stay. The intern will participate in the regular daily activities of the orphanage: helping children with the morning routine, accompanying children to school, assisting students with homework, and engaging children in conversation over meals. Interns will also have the opportunity to teach special after-school classes based upon their abilities and interests and the various needs of the orphanages. Such classes might include English, art, music, health, or computers. Each intern will also have the opportunity to participate in the organization of service projects, as we help the Bulgarian people to help their own orphans.

Training and Support:
One Heart Bulgaria representatives will help each intern develop an internship plan, taking into account the intern's abilities and interests as well as the orphanages' needs. Interns will also correspond with our Field Director in Bulgaria, Dr. Nikolai Gavazov. Dr. Gavazov will inform the intern about the orphanage where he or she will be working. He will also secure housing and work with the intern to determine an appropriate work schedule/agenda prior to the intern’s arrival in Bulgaria. Dr. Gavazov will take each intern to the orphanage where he or she will be working and introduce the intern to the orphanage director. He will also act as a liason with the intern, answering any questions and ensuring that the internship experience goes smoothly.

Duration and Timing of Internships:
Interns must commit to a minimum of four weeks. Dates are flexible, but we prefer to schedule internships throughout the year. Interns may choose to spend time in two different orphanages if they are able to stay for at least six weeks (three weeks in each orphanage).

Financial Costs and Funding:
Once an intern has been accepted into the One Heart Bulgaria internship program, he or she will receive ideas for fundraising including sample fundraising letters to send to family and friends. One Heart Bulgaria has partnered with Eyrealm Foundation which has generously offered to match the funds the intern raises up to $500 for four interns a year. For example, if an intern can raise $500 from family and friends, Eyrealm will give that intern an additional $500 towards airfare and housing.

Estimated costs:

• Airfare: $890-$1,100 (may be as expensive as $1,500+ during the summer
• Food: about $5-7/day. Interns who live in an orphanage typically pay about $5/day for food

• Housing:
• 4 weeks: ~$150-200
• 6 weeks: ~$200-250
• 8 weeks: ~$250-300

• Travel In Bulgaria: Approximately $75. For a bus from Sofia to Plovdiv a ticket is about $7 one-way.
  For public transportation in Plovdiv, inexpensive bus cards can be purchased for 2, 4, 6,or 8 weeks at a time.

Housing options:
Housing options vary depending on the length of stay in Bulgaria and the desires of the intern. Some orphanages prefer to have the intern live with the orphans, paying a housing and food cost per day. This situation allows the intern to become an integral part of the orphans' lives while he/she is in Bulgaria. For orphanages where rooming-in is not a possibility, arrangements can be made to help set up appropriate and affordable housing with some of our Bulgarian staff or friends of One Heart Bulgaria.

Location of Internships:
Most interns will work in the city of Plovdiv or the surrounding provinces. Most interns will live and work in one specific orphanage, but will likely have opportunities to visit and do special activities at other orphanages as well.

Requirements:

1. Fluency in Bulgarian preferred, not required.
2. Participation in a Bulgarian cultural class and beginning language is recommended.
3. Must enjoy teaching and socializing with youth between the ages of 7-18 years.
4. Prior  experience working with or teaching youth is desirable but not required.
5. Must be patient and comfortable with youth who may have physical disabilities or abnormalities, mental retardation, and/or multiple social or mental disorders.
6. Ability to plan, teach, and lead special after-school programs or classes in areas such as art, music, sports, drama, cooking, sewing, carpentry, organizing book clubs, computer literacy, etc.
7. Ability to plan and coordinate a service project with the youth (as agreed upon by the orphanage director) such as repainting an area in the orphanage; cleaning up orphanage grounds; singing at an retirement home; gathering clothing in the community, etc.
8. Ability and desire to help with homework (reading, math, English, etc.).  Interns should encourage orphans to excel in their education.
9. Must be at least 21 years old.

Application Procedure:
All applicants must complete an application form and participate in an interview. Contact Hollie and Tony Anderson at HollieTheAnderson@gmail.com for more information.

Q & A:
What about receiving college credit for my internship?
Any interns who would like to receive college credit for this internship will have to arrange it with the appropriate professors at their given university.

Can I bring a friend, spouse, or other family member to work with me?
If the Intern desires to bring a Bulgarian-speaking friend, spouse, or other family member to assist them in their work, they may at their own expense. Other non-Bulgarian speaking companions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Will I have days off? Can I sight see?
Interns are only expected to work 8 hours each day (mealtimes spent with the orphans not Included), 5 days of each week. There will be time each week to sight see and have personal time. Interns are more than welcome to make arrangements to arriver earlier or stay later than their allotted internship, to visit other parts of Bulgaria and Europe at their own expense.

What about illnesses, lice, and health & safety issues?
There is low risk for any serious illness as an intern in Bulgaria. Lice are an apparent risk in any orphanage around the world, but one that is also low in Bulgaria. Interns should take with them any needed medications and hygiene supplies. More information on safety and health will be provided in the training materials.

Damages, Injuries, Theft, and Safety:
One Heart-Bulgaria/Edno Surtse/One Heart will not be held responsible financially, legally, or otherwise for any theft or damages to interns or their property during the internship.

One Heart-Bulgaria /Edno Surtse/One Heart will not be legally or financially or otherwise responsible for the safety of the intern or any injuries, diseases, or illnesses occurring during the internship.

One Heart-Bulgaria /Edno Surtse/One Heart will not be legally or financially or otherwise responsible should the intern be assaulted, kidnapped, abducted, or harmed in any way.

Interns for One Heart-Bulgaria /Edno Surtse/One Heart will be financially responsible for any damages they make in the orphanages.

Interns for One Heart-Bulgaria /Edno Surtse/One Heart will be held personally and legally responsible if they abuse, harm, or have inappropriate relations of any kind with any children in Bulgaria.

For more tourist information and details about Bulgaria, please visit http://wikitravel.org/en/Bulgaria.