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Bulgaria

FUNdraising Campaign 2008

We have invited local schools, colleges, businesses and organisations around the area to support this event by holding fundraisers on our behalf.  Last year we raised funds to complete the majority of the building work on our Children’s Resource Centre in Bulgaria.  We envisage that with funds raised this year the centre will be fully operational.

BOURGAS, BULGARIA

►Children's Centre

The Children’s Centre is located in the Ravlinko village 20 km North West of the Black Sea resort of Bourgas.  The village is predominantly a poor, fairly isolated rural community set in the foot hills of a mountain range.  Road access is good, but with apparently no public transport.  Bourgas the busy Black Sea holiday destination is about a thirty minute ride from the village.

We have purchased a redundant village school located in the heart of the village which will be developed as our Children’s Centre.  The facilities will probably include elements of the following though the centres development will be organic and reflect changing local and Real Aid’s needs; 

• Residential respite care of institutionalised children from Eastern Europe

• Holiday breaks for the same

• Educational resources for the same

• Animal and farm care

• Specialist education for talented children

• Specialist educational classes for local children and adults, (computing and English)

Work came to a halt during the heavy winter snow, but has now recommenced.  The main building is now in use and the extensions and the rest of the facilities will hopefully be completed later this year.

Some educational groups have already started; these include English and mother and toddler groups.

As Eastern European countries become more in line with the EU, prior to joining, the type of activities of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) will inevitable change and develop. 

REAL AID does at present support several projects in Albania, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine etc, this support has in the past centred around the supply of Goods in Kind (GIK).  This type of support will continue though inevitable the need will decline, especially in the countries that have recently joined the EU.

Taking account of the coming changes REAL AID has decided to open a children’s resource centre based in Bulgaria that will also in time become a forward office of REAL AID.  Logistics and aid forwarding facilities will also be an integral part of the new project, enabling our expansion into Asia and beyond.