Orphanage and football in Krumovo Blog
For a couple of months now, me and Darren have run a campaign to raise 3160 leva (approximately £1130) for the Yambol Children's Home to have a wheelchair ramp from the ground floor to the outside of the building, which at that time had shallow steps only, making it very difficult and dangerous for the care staff to take the disabled children outside the premises.
With the help of Bulgarian Real Estate Online, Quest Bulgaria, UK2BG and lots of private donations from family, friends, members of this forum and OBW, and the money I won for the blogs competition on here, we have raised the total required, with a small amount over which has enabled us to buy some shinpads for the boys Darren coaches football to in Krumovo.
We can all make a difference to the under privaleged kids of Bulgaria, whether they are in care homes, their own homes, or in schools.
By making donations of much needed equipment, nappies, cleaning materials, food, toys and books, clothes and bedding to the homes, by giving your time to the kids either by teaching them how to cook or sew, let them help you garden or learn Bulgarian and maybe teach them English, play football with them, this sort of thing will have a huge positive effect on them and help you to integrate.
Here are some ideas for the sort of stuff which you can add to your suitcases or buy for the home in Yambol or one near you.
Here are the steps with the new wheelchair/pushchair access (Before and After)
Works carried out by Bulgarian Real Estate Online
Football Kit and what a difference it can make
Darren coaches a local group of boys in the village of Krumovo.
The boys age from 5 to 23 and absolutely love the sessions, which are twice a week, if they had it their way it would be more often!
We made an appeal for some kit and this was the result.
Dencho helps fit the new boots supplied by UK2BG
New Kit donated by Exeter City Fc
Kit kindly donated by Exeter City Football Club, UK2BG and youth football clubs in Exmouth, Devon
Many thanks to everyone who has donated so far
You can make a huge difference to people's lives, none of this is difficult and it really is fun so what's stopping you?
Nikki and Darren
http://danniabg.tripod.com
August 2007
Great news last week from Phil at BRE Online, the wheelchair access fund is almost at the target, not 17000 leva, but only 3160 leva!!
12.07.2007
Many thanks Tracy and Harry from Malik Manastir for your donation, added to the pot. (1350 bgn)
ANOTHER UPDATE 02.07.2007
Chris from My BG has kindly agreed that anyone wishing to make specific donations of money for the wheelchair ramp fund can do so by making it known to him at the time of the donation, so if sending a cheque please attach a note with it, or if transferring money please email Chris to let him know your name, amount and that it is for the wheelchair ramp fund.
We have hit the first 1000 leva (1250) thanks to My Bg, Carriemc, Philr68, Ann Bell, Alex Garrett, Dominae and Helen and my prize from the My BG Blogger competition which is fantastic stuff!!
So anyone wanting to donate, here are the details of how to do it
http://www.mybulgaria.info/content-250.html
Many thanks Chris and Everyone else so far.
Nikki
Phil at Bulgarian Real Estate Online has started a progress meter on his Yam Jam Studios site to help raise the 17000 bgn required to buy a wheelchair ramp for the Yambol Orphanage.
He has kickstarted the appeal with a 100 bgn donation himself, to add to it please contact Phil or myself.
Thanks Phil
We met with Phil's builders who specialise in disabled needs at the home last Thursday and discussed the requirements, an architect will now need to visit the site and discuss the options and then hopefully get a price a lot less than what the director has been quoted 2 years ago, which was rejected by the BG government, but now BG are in the EU the rules and regs are likley to be far stricter so could be a similar cost.
Will keep everyone updated on this.
Ed Joy from RealAid emailed to say that the list the director gave from the home, has been approved and though RealAid still cannot promise anything, as soon as the needs are met they will be shipped over for the home.
Me and Darren also have asked for some equipment for a group of lads Darren is football coaching, and that has been approved as well, we cheekily asked for a petrol lawnmower to keep the grass short that they play on, plus football boots, shinpads, training equipment, drinks bottles, kit etc.
Lets hope we can all make it happen!
We have managed to get the largest estate agent based in the Yambol area to agree to become a central collection point for donations for the orphanage in Yambol
If you have any donations whatsoever, please take to the offices of
Bulgarian Real Estate Online
4A Preslav Street
Yambol 8600
Hopefully this will make it easier for those of you who cannot get to our place as it is in the centre of Yambol, and maybe if you shop around Yambol you might buy a couple of bits for the orphanage and you can drop off with Phil and Co and BRE Online.
Many thanks
You can help too!!!
Sept 21st
Visit to
Today we met up with Caroline and her friends Frank, Fiona and Lynda in Phil’s office in
We wanted to visit the children’s orphanage in
The day before we had searched high and low for teethers and cot mobiles as we had heard that they don’t have a lot to stimulate the babies and we thought it may help.
There is not a lot of choice for baby stuff we found and prices were not a lot different than
We found lots of teethers so bought a whole load of them.
Margarita from BRE took us to the orphanage and introduced us to the manager, and stayed to translate for us, which we were all very grateful for.
I expected the home to be dark and dingy, I suppose because of those awful documentaries that have been aired on tv, but this home was light and airy and brightly coloured.
The staff were very friendly and the manager came to talk to us about the children.
There are around 75 children in all, I think there were 11 babies but I lost count and the rest are older and we couldn’t see them as they were asleep.
We asked the manager what the home really needed and she said they receive anything at all with thanks, but mostly a supply of nappies is the an ongoing necessity.
We were allowed to hold the babies as this is what they are lacking most. There are not enough staff to give all of the babies attention all of the time, so it was lovely to give them some of our time although this would need to be a regular thing to be really worth while and I hope that when me and Darren move to Bulgaria we will be able to dedicate some of our time to this place.
The first baby we met was Nadia, soon to be adopted and start her new life known as Hope.
Here she is with Darren
Then we met “Sad” Ivan as apparently has never smiled since being born, he just has sad little eyes but is otherwise a very contented little chap.
The manager said as she was looking through the clothes we had brought, that they can decide who will suit what items and colours.
This is little Nassi who modelled some of the clothes
He is just the happiest baby
We hope to be able to have a fundraiser when we have our leaving party and also to raise awareness of the orphanages in
There are more details on My Bulgaria about some of the orphanages in
22nd December 2006
2nd Visit to the Orphanage in Yambol
We went into Yambol today and decided we would buy all the stuff we intended after our collection of money from family and friends in the UK and Bulgaria. We went to the shop Pim Pam in the high street in Yambol centre, and picked out socks, bibs, booties, babygro’s, warm jackets, cups and bottles, dummies, nail scissors, brushes and combs, sports clothes, bedding, toys, a swing, a truck, the whole counter was covered in all the stuff. And the manager in Pim Pam gave us a podarik (gift) of a desk and chair, and then when they added it all up and we chose some more clothes he took 10% off so we chose 2 more coats. We asked Daniel to come and translate for us which he did, and then we went to the supermarket to buy loads of nappies in all ages, baby shampoo and oil and cream, wet wipes, cotton buds etc and loads of sweeties as these are luxury for them the same as we were told the Santa’s were for the school children, and then we went off to the orphanage. Now before we understood the ages of the orphanage to be up to 4 years, but today we were told there are also some up to 7 years old, who are sadly handicapped, but we also bought some jackets and things for them too. We saw the babies again, 12 were there today and one I recognised from before, but otherwise all were new babies. We asked about Nadia (Hope) who was adopted last time, and she is very happy in her new life. We then went upstairs and met about a dozen children up to about 6 years. As soon as we entered the room, they threw their arms around us all; they were all glowing and happy. We gave them smarties and they had never seen them before, we had to show them how to open them and pour them out of the packets. They were so beautiful and it was such fun for us all to give some time to these gorgeous children. I spotted Nassi from the previous trip, except he was not smiling as before, and this was because he didn’t recognise me, but when I blew kisses to him, he then smiled. I hope he gets a home soon as he is adorable, as they all are. Rik and Shell came as well as Mike and Helen, but Rik waited outside as he said he would find it upsetting, but Shell was glad she came in although she was apprehensive about it. Daniel afterwards said he felt very pleased to have been invited to be part of today, and he wished he could do something good for the children too, but he is also a Bulgarian with little money, so we reminded him he is helping, by translating for us and by being there. I think this was probably his first time in the home. He has taken lots of photographs, so I have to wait for him to send them to me as my batteries went this am, and he also let the children take some photo’s as the camera fascinated them. Many many thanks to everyone who has helped us do this for the orphanage, you have made a difference to these beautiful children. We hope you all have Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Nikki & Darren xxxxxxxxxxxxx
17th February 2007
Visit to the orphanage
We went again today, this time we took Dorothy and Mike from Inzovo, and Garth and Gillian from Boyanovo, and of course our good friend and translator Daniel.
They were all surprised at how well looked after the kids are, it was nothing like what anyone expected; as Garth pointed out, it is better than the hospital here.
We saw more of the children this time and more of the home. Looks like upstairs has had a make over, with nice rubbery vinyl and brightly coloured walls and curtains.
When we arrived the first person to greet us after the staff of course, was young Stefka (Steffi). She was in the baby unit which surprised me as she isn't a baby!
She was very shy to begin with but inquisitve and soon made friends with us all.
We then went upstairs and met 2 lots of older kids, between 1 year and around 4 years.
Nedko was one of them and he was asking all of our names and if he couldn't quite hear or understand he would shout "eh?" he is a real character and the staff said he is going to be a lawyer when he grows up!
They all sat down to enjoy their sweets and were very well behaved whilst we took loads of piccies of them.
This is Natalie, (Darren's cousin's little girl) who wanted to donate one her toys to the orphanage, even though she really likes it.
Thankyou Natalie
And this load of goodies was bought with the 100 leva Judy (Ricks' (RIP) Mum) left us for the orphanage, there are some bags of choccy too, but would melt in the sun!
We decided to get bottles as last time I noticed they were using coca cola bottles. Thankyou Judy
Sheryl and Del have given a load of clothes which no longer fit their children Spencer and Ellesha, thanks guys x
Thanks to Alexander Garrett a freelance journalist for his donation of £20.
Thanks to James and Evelyn Noble for their fantastic efforts in raising money and buying clothing and goods for the orphanage, see more of what they have done so far here
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