Children's Complex "Faith, Hope and Love", Kichevo

Name

Once upon a time, there were three sisters - Faith, Hope and Love - and their mother, Sofia. She strove to instil in them the strength of spirit, needed for a pure and righteous life.

"For us to be better", H. Popov

Who we are

Children's Complex Faith, Hope, and Love, Kichevo, was established on the territory of the Municipality of Aksakovo in 2000 to provide assistance and integration for Roma and Bulgarian children of unequal social status, aged from 3 to 15.

Our activities are aimed at enhancing children's well-being and giving equal opportunities for education and training.
We work in the following areas:

• Work with children at risk - opportunity for social integration and adaptation.
• Work with children faced with dropping out of school - equal opportunity for education and training.
• Work with parents - mutual assistance, duties and responsibilities

Detailed description of the project

The children's complex consists of a Kindergarten and a Family-Type Centre for Accommodating Children from highly vulnerable society groups of Roma and Bulgarian origin, who are in need of support (poor and permanently unemployed parents).
90 children aged from 3 to 15 live and are brought up and taught at the complex and 90 % of them are on a constant weekday regime from Monday to Friday.
A team of specialists (teachers, a psychologist, a speech therapist and healthcare professionals) carries out mobile activities to identify children with social problems.

Objective

To develop a children's complex as an integration and prevention model for children at risk in the optimal social and pedagogical conditions.

Current activities

• Educating and training for children of pre-school age
  
  Daily education and training activities are held with the children from the kindergarten in accordance with the national educational standards of the Ministry of Education and Science. The children are divided into three groups of 20. They are looked after around the clock by teachers and assistant tutors.
  
• Meeting the education and training requirements of 30 children from 1st to 8th grade
  "The school: desired territory". The children are given the opportunity to attend the local school until noon. Their self-study for the next day and the organisation of their free time are tended by three teachers and supporting personnel.
  
• Fostering children's specific abilities
  Extra curricular activities. We facilitate the children's social adaptation and help build personal expression and a positive outlook. The following clubs are available: Applied Arts, Music, Sports, I Cook, Library.
  
• Preserving the Christian values and virtues
  Systematic classes in religion with an Orthodox priest from the Metropolis of Varna and Veliko Preslav. These are the first steps in the world of the children's bible, the Christian holidays, traditions, and customs.
  
• Our work with the families
  Courses, workshops, educational lectures, group and individual consultations for parents of children at risk.
  
• Classes for children with special needs
  A speech therapist, a psychologist, and, if necessary, a social worker (psychological and social counselling)
  
• Work on intercultural education and antidiscrimination activities.
  
• Organisation of joint activities with volunteers and practitioners in a number of programmes.
  
• Medical and health care.