In 2003 after a long and futile search for alternative care for our children with disabilities a group of parents founded the association Trust me. In 2004 the Centre for Rehabilitation and Integration of children and young people with disabilities opened its doors in Samokov. Our children need training in independence and decision-making as well as practical skills. Leaving their homes they find themselves in a world, which is very difficult to cope in: they have bad coordination, they lack self-confidence and have no idea how to use the object surrounding them.

Choosing the project activities we aimed at creating conditions in which the children and young people with disabilities can achieve new skills and gradually move from actions to activities developing their thinking, memory, will, feelings, movements. We wanted to give them knowledge and experience.

We selected activities, which contain the principles of good practices of working with children with disabilities. We started with the interests of the children – a person learns and remembers when he/she is interested. All activities are aimed at manual work involving the senses, which leads to focusing and concentration. 

We chose professional materials for the project activities in order to guarantee its quality and efficiency. We purchased markers and paints, which can be used over a long period of time. This allows us to continue the activities after the end of the project funding. 

When planning the project activities we were guided by the idea of gradual development of the skills and abilities of our children. That is why we chose different materials: clay, decorating china and glass objects, as well as ready-made figurines.The final products have been presented to the public regularly at exhibitions where people can contribute to the project by purchasing our products. 

With the raised funds we bought new materials and expanded the activities according to the children’s skills and interests. In the spring of 2008 we decided to make martenitsa and in the process we discovered that the children are very good at working with beads. 

Trust Me Association, Samokov

Dimitrinka Milenkova

13 Todor Peev Str. 
2000 Samokov 
Tel. 00359 878 449 589; 00359 878 360 261 
doverimise@mail.bg