Location: Across the country (with training sessions in Sofia)
Situation:
Since October 1998, Doctors of the World (DoW) Aquitaine has been working with Bulgarian childcare professionals to improve the situation of children cared for in institutions. A closing conference was organised in June 2009 in Sofia to assess these 10 years of activity in Bulgaria. It was chaired by the French ambassador and was attended by around one hundred people.
As a recent member of the European Union, Bulgaria has recorded higher economic growth than the continental average. Despite this economic progress and the reforms started by the government, the European Commission continues to highlight deficiencies in tackling corruption, the management of regional aid, and food security. Since the health situation remains unsatisfactory, particularly in specialised institutions (orphanages, institutions for disabled people, prisons), Doctors of the World is involved with projects dedicated to children.
As a result of DoW's work in Bulgaira over the last 10 years, 700 people working in institutions for children under three have been trained, as well as 300 personnel in centres for disabled children.
Activities:
DoW continues its support for the Bulgarian association 'Child and Space' as part of the project 'Children and their symptoms'. Founded on two objectives, this project first of all trains personnel in the centres for disabled children as well as social workers in the child protection agency. Secondly, DoW support this personnel by way of 'supporters' (trainers who are Bulgarian nationals), who carry out two working visits per year to each facility. Aided by the French Institute, which finances the trainers' travel costs and the publication of bilingual (French-Bulgarian) training material, 50% of the programme is financed by two Bulgarian foundations.
Outlook:
The ultimate objective for DoW is to train personnel in the vast majority of institutions for disabled children throughout the country. In 2009, we will withdraw and leave the Bulgarian association 'Child and Space' in charge of the project, as they become more autonomous.
