The aim of the project was to establish a local practice for overcoming the secondary capsulation of children living in social institution who study in the mainstream school through common socializing activities with youth volunteers.

Within the frame of the project 26 pupils from the Finance-Economic School and the Language School in Haskovo passed two trainings on volunteering. For a period of six months the young volunteers were working with small groups of 3-4 3rd grade children from St. St. Cyril and Methodius Primary School. The groups were mixed with both children with and without parents.

Through various activities and games volunteers were helping the younger children to improve their social skills and to learn to communicate freely. The interest towards volunteering was enormous and instead of the expected 15 volunteers 26 youths took part in the project activities.

Desislava Jeleva from 12 grade, shares: “I am a volunteer for my own satisfaction, because to see that you’ve helped someone or that you have done something good, something that fills with joy somebody else – that’s feeling is out of comparison.”

Krasimira Damyanova says that because the children are really enthusiastic the common meetings continue after the end of the project. The Association will look for different financial opportunities for their various volunteer ideas.

Hope Association 
Krasimira Damyanova 
35, Tsar Ivan Asen, Str.; entr. D, fl. 3, ap. 9 
6300, Haskovo 
Tel. 00359 885 815 085 
Fax: 00359 38 669 045 
hope96@abv.bg