PLOVDIV

"Rodopski pansion" provides home and care for disadvantaged children at the ages of 6 to 18. Most of the children are orphans or abandoned, some have mild to medium levels of learning or mental disabilities. The home also provides support to families who are temporarily unable to take care of their kids. The parents are being encouraged and taught effective parenting skills while the children stay in the social home. The establishment also runs a Crisis center, which serves as an emergency shelter for abused and traumatized children or those from problem families. Another program of the Social home is for social and professional integration. It prepares for independent living 17 - 20 years old youths who grew up in this or other similar facilities throughout the country. During the day they attend vocational training courses, but the volunteers may meet and spend time with some of them in the evenings and weekends. The socially disadvantaged background of most of the children is considered to be the reason for many problems, which they face in school, in their contacts with other people, in their everyday life. That’s why the interaction with other young people from different countries while working, playing, learning together in the frame of an international volunteer project effectively supports their socialization and adapting to life in mainstream society. The main objective of the project is establishing intercultural social contact between the children and the group of international volunteers from all parts of the world, as well as improving children’s communication skills.

The establishment has a program working with children with autism. The program involves both residents of the orphanage and children with families in town. Volunteers who are interested or have previous experience working with autistic children are very welcome to join these particular activities.