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All of One Heart Bulgaria's programs have been created with the primary goal of dramatically improving the lives of orphans in Bulgaria. We achieve this on many critical levels through sponsorships of individual orphanages; completion of special projects for the orphanages; providing specialized medical care; implementing life skills training programs for the teenage orphans; and training orphanage staff, to properly care for the orphans.
Our efforts have the added benefit of supporting the local economy in Bulgaria by purchasing locally produced foods and products and by employing local Bulgarian citizens to help implement our programs in Bulgaria. Our efforts are only limited by the amount of support we receive, the number of helping hands and giving hearts. Read below about our programs and find the best way for you to get involved with One Heart Bulgaria.
° Programs
° Orphanage Sponsorships
° Special Projects
° Grandmother Nurturing Program
° Opportunity Homes
° Internship Program
° Orphanage Training Program
Our Programs
One Heart Bulgaria creates special on-going programs that have a tremendous impact on the orphans. These programs are designed and developed to meet the pressing medical needs of all orphans and to give special life-skills training to the teenage orphans.
Medical Programs
Through the medical programs One Heart Bulgaria can provide medical equipment, surgeries, and treatment for children suffering from illnesses and disabilities. Sometimes early intervention can improve the condition of the child so much that he or she can have a normal life, even returning to live with his or her own parents.
Hydrocephalus ProgramHydrocephalus is the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain, leading to their enlargement which in turn, causes an enlarged head and eventually retardation, blindness, and loss of motor-skills. This otherwise crippling and fatal condition can simply be treated by surgical insertion of a shunt, which helps drain the excess fluid. There is no reason why any child should have to endure this correctable condition. The Bulgarian government pays for the surgical procedure, however they will not pay for the actual shunts, which cost about $800.00 each. Because parents and orphanages cannot afford this expense, many children in Bulgaria are dying from hydrocephalus, usually by the age of three. In order to properly implement this program, One Heart Bulgaria must have a constant supply of shunts. As of summer 2006, Integra Life Sciences and Medtronic donated shunts valued at over $55,500. The lives of many, many Bulgarian orphans have been saved so far because of these shunt donations (see photo gallery). One Heart Bulgaria also facilitates pre-operational assessments, corrective surgery for Bulgarian orphans and underprivileged children suffering with hydrocephalus, and then ensures that post-operational and follow-up care is provided. In September of 2006 and again in December of 2006, Dr. John Clark, a neurosurgeon from St. George, Utah, spent a month in Bulgaria as part of a One Heart Bulgaria initiative. He performed several surgeries, trained local neurosurgeons, and also researched and assessed needs for the further development of the hydrocephalus program. Donations to this program can be made through the Sara Ann Ginn Hydrocephalus Memorial Fund. |
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| Executive Director Deborah Gardner helps tend Sammy before his shunt operation for hydrocephalus at the Pirogov hosptial in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 2007. Sammy developed hydrocephalus after being severely beaten by his parents. He is now in an orphanage. | ||
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| Deborah was able to witness Sammy's operation during which one of One Heart Bulgaria's shunts were implanted. | ||
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| Sammy awakes after a successful operation. |
Grandmother Nurturing Program There is wide interest in this program. We are receiving a number of calls with requests from orphanage directors to be included on our list. One Heart Bulgaria has employed 3 babas to give care to children at orphanages. This program has proven to be a great success. The monthly salaries of the babas vary from $60 to $90.  Grandmother Representatives Vanya and Viki are supplied with bags full of educational toys, books, and games for the children. |
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Vanya is dearly loved by the children at the Sv. Paraskeva orphanage where she is "grandma" to 65 babies and children ages 0-4. | |
Dental Program
Dental care is inadequate for many orphans in Bulgaria. Through funding and visits from volunteer dental care providers from the USA, the needs can be met. For more information on how you can help provide dental care for the orphans, please contact Jan Wray @ jan.wray@oneheart-bg.org or 801-792-6731.
One Heart Bulgaria provides dental care to 500 orphans
Life-Skills Training Programs
One Heart Bulgaria is developing programs to help teenage orphans gain valuable life, social, and occupational skills. Learning such skills, combined with the steady attention of trained and compassionate leaders, will help implement the successful reintegration of the orphans into the Bulgarian society and decrease their chance of involvement in criminal or anti-social behavior such as prostitution, drug addiction, robbery, or joining the Mafia after they leave the orphanage. One such project, currently being developed, is the Opportunity Homes Program.
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Opportunity Homes
Learn about an Opportunity Home project especially for girls
Purpose: The purpose of the Opportunity Homes program is to provide eighteen year old orphans with an opportunity to learn how to live successfully on their own. Orphans will gain greater self-esteem and confidence as they receive training in the following areas: social and work skills, personal money management, housekeeping, and general problem-solving.
Details: Under the supervision of a government paid social worker and One Heart Bulgaria house parents, qualifying orphan teenagers will live in our Opportunity Homes for one year. During this time, they are expected to adhere to the rules and moral standards of the program while maintaining a job in the community, contributing to household responsibilities, and participating in group social activities and community service. Each participant will receive a welcome kit with essential items to help them get situated with their new living circumstances. Through instruction from the social worker, and with guidance from the house parents, orphans will learn the skills previously mentioned with the goal of graduating in 1 year.
Graduation: Upon graduation from the program, each participant will receive a certificate of honorable completion plus some essential household items for living independently.
Goals: The long term goals of this program are to decrease the likelihood of suicide, alcoholism, prostitution, drug addiction, unemployment, homelessness, and other anti-social and/or criminal behaviors among young adult orphans. In addition, we believe nurturing the rising orphan population through this program will create a better image of orphans in Bulgaria’s communities as crime rates and unwanted pregnancies decrease and their communities are strengthened.
Future programs
A woodshop class, a sewing co-op, and various other micro-enterprises would also provide valuable employment skills for the orphans and generate revenue for the orphanages.
To become involved with these life-skills training programs, please contact:
Donna Dushku at donna.dushku@oneheart-bg.org.
Sponsorships
A sponsorship is a commitment from an individual, corporation, family, or community group to donate a specific monetary amount to provide an orphanage with basic needs for one year. These needs can include supplemental food, medicines, hygiene items, bedding, therapists and caregivers. The cost of a sponsorship is based on the needs of the specific orphanage. In most cases a sponsorship equals approximately $50 per child per year. The cost to support an orphanage for children with special needs is slightly higher. Sponsorship expenditures are tailored to the needs of the individual orphanage. For instance, the infant orphanages may need diapers and food, while the special needs orphanages may require therapists and medicine. The needs of each orphanage are assessed under the supervision of our field director in Bulgaria, Nikolai Gavazov, PhD. Dr. Gavazov manages orphanage sponsorship funds after consulting with the orphanage directors and the One Heart Bulgaria Board.
To participate in the Sponsorship Program, sponsors choose an orphanage and make a formal commitment to provide the necessary funding. The orphanage is contacted and the assessment and sponsorship process begins. Then a contract is developed with the orphanage and the field director oversees the expenditure of the sponsorship funds. Sometimes a large orphanage or one with special needs may require multiple sponsorships; in which case, several individuals or groups may sponsor one orphanage.
Sponsors receive regular newsletters and feedback on the children’s health, activities, and needs. Conditions of their orphanage and expenditure of funds are also included as well as pictures of the children, orphanage staff, and of the orphanage itself. These personal reports come through Dr. Gavazov and our Sponsorship Director, Donna Dushku. Our treasurer, Jennifer Djambov, sends donation receipts including necessary tax information to participating sponsors.
Of the approximately 300 orphanages in Bulgaria, One Heart Bulgaria currently gives aid to fifteen orphanages. The following orphanages need sponsors:
Name |
Type of Orphanage |
Full or Partial Sponsorship |
Children Rehabilitation Hospital, Kotel |
Ages: 3-18 yrs. Children: 56 |
$4,200/yr |
Slaveikov Orphanage |
Adolescents. Children: 167-200 |
$1,800/yr |
Vidrare Orphanage |
Ages: 4-18 yrs. Children: 91 |
$2,100/yr |
Zelenikovo |
Ages: 4-7 yrs. Children: 45 |
$1,400/yr |
Please look over the list to determine which orphanage you would like to help and then begin your sponsorship by contacting Donna Dushku at donna.dushku@oneheart-bg.org or (435) 753-4618.
When the needs of the children in the orphanages exceed the scope of sponsorships, orphanages may submit proposals to our board for extra support and funding. Such proposals usually include requests for additional medical care and supplies, diapers, washing machines, educational supplies, or critical renovations for the orphanage itself. Upon board approval of the proposal, donors are then sought out for funding of the project.
More Information about past projects and present projects needing funding.
Internships
One Heart Bulgaria internships offer exciting opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of orphans. 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 understanding what they might want to do with 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 orphanage they serve and thereby become an integral part of the orphanage during their stay. This enables the intern to participate in the regular daily activities of the orphanage: helping children get ready for school, walking with them to school, helping struggling students with homework, and engaging the children in conversation over meals. Interns will also have the opportunity to teach special after-school classes based upon the intern’s abilities and interests and the various needs of the orphanages. Such classes might include English, art, music, health, computers etc. Each intern will also have the opportunity to participate in the organization of charity projects within Bulgaria itself, as we try to help the Bulgarian people to help their own orphans.
More Information and answers to common questions about the Internship Program
Orphanage Training Program One Heart Bulgaria is excited to develop a training program for workers in Bulgarian orphanages. Workers in the orphanages we visit are often tired and disillusioned after years of physically and emotionally draining labor. Most workers settle for orphanage jobs when they can't find any other kind of work. They receive little training and are required to care for large groups of children. The result is that the children receive only the most basic care and do not get the positive adult interaction they require to become healthy and successful adults. The Training Program is designed to develop appropriate skills and attitudes in the workers, while at the same time helping them understand the importance of their work as a role model—someone who is shaping the future of Bulgaria. Training covers such topics as child development, the rights of children, positive behavior management, social skills development, and understanding the needs of children with disabilities. |
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| Orphanages which wish to participate in the training program commit to sending each member of their staff to at least one training session a quarter and orphanage directors are invited to attend all trainings. Participating orphanages will receive a small grant at the end of the training cycle, part of which is earmarked to fund training-related initiatives: the purchase of books, educational supplies for the children, equipment, child development resources for the staff, etc. | ||
The development cost for this program has yet to be secured. One Heart Bulgaria seeks assistance in raising the funds necessary to fully implement the program. The orphanage workers are often the closest thing to parents that these children have. By contributing to the Training Program, you can help to provide these surrogate parents with the knowledge and skills they need to bring up a large family. Family Dynamics International Launches Training Program in Bulgarian orphanages. For more information please contact Roberta Stapely at Family Dynamics International at familydynamicsinc@hotmail.com . |
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