Bulgarian Child, Inc.
Love and
Loaves to Those in Need
7522 Campbell Rd. - St. 113 - 172 - Dallas, TX
June 2003 Trip
Dragodonovo
Dragodonovo is a school for kids who have had some trouble
with the law. These are minor infractions for the most
part and the kids seemed great - just like you'd expect from
kids.
We were told by the Director that some of these kids
are simply dropped by their parents in exasperation and told
that they are "on their own".
As with so many of these homes the facilities
are in atrocious shape. The showers pictured at right
are two of three showers that work in this building that
houses 100 kids (15 girls - 85 boys).
The heating system is wood and coal stoves
that make the entire building smell as well as very dirty.
The cafeteria is in the basement and very small. While I
didn't ask, I'm sure that they must feed in shifts here.
There was some evidence of crafts being made
and also they told us that there is a woodshop but no
materials. We'll be looking to explore possibilities
with these two things.
We were introduced to this home by Genka
Ivanova and her daughter Plami and son-in-law Yuri (pictured
here). They were giving out awards to the winners of an
art contest that they had sponsored for these kids.
We have promised them a washing machine and also
some blackboards for this fall. The beds and mattresses are in
awful shape and there is no medicine at all except cough syrup.