Assenovets Orphanage – “Maria Rosa”

Location: Assenovets, Bulgaria

Number of children: 10

Ages: 8-18 yrs.

Needs: personal hygiene supplies and medicine $100/month; mentor $120/month.

How we help: sponsorships help provide basic hygiene supplies, immunizations, and any needed medications for the children. OHB sponsors helped establish a library and maintain a library that is well-equipped with books of all kinds, four computers, desks, tables, couches, puzzles and games. We also provide a librarian who helps the children with their reading and homework and monitors their activities. The librarian also provides craft/art projects for the children and serves as a mentor. The library is the children’s favorite place to gather, socialize, study, and do quiet activities.

To sponsor, please contact Deborah @ 435-764-3093 (text messages welcome).

About the Orphanage

Assenovets orphanage was built in 1960 and is in very poor condition. The Nova Zagora Municipality plans on making renovations but renovations are half the battle. The children need better food and nutrition, bedding, medical care, recreational programs and education on personal hygiene. The orphanage is located 4 miles from the city of Nova Zagora and our organization has a very cordial relationship with the Vice Mayor of Nova Zagora who sent a municipality representative with our directors to visit the orphanage early in 2008. They were given a very complete tour and were able to discuss all issues concerning the home.

The director is Nikolai Mangarov and the home currently has a staff of 23, including 11 caregivers. Currently, there are 29 girls and 40 boys. Nikolai Gavazov, our field director, reports that the children are very well behaved which perhaps is a result of a caring staff.