Raising children in institutions is harmful to children and society. Many studies report a 1-month delay in child development for every 3 months spent in an institution.
However, this statement is still counterintuitive for many people. There are 5.4 million children in institutions globally. And 9 out of 10 of these children have relatives who would take care of them with the relevant support system.
Hope and Homes for Children is a British charity whose Bulgaria branch closed the first orphanage back in 2010 in the town of Teteven.
This became possible after the Strategy on Child-care Reform that the Bulgarian government enforced in 2010 and the BBC documentary on Mogilino two years earlier.
Nowadays Bulgaria is about to become the first country in Europe that has ceased institutional care for children. There are only 3 remaining institutions left in Bulgaria: in Varna, Pleven and Stara Zagora.
We hope the cause for the invisible children of Bulgaria is close to your hearts and you will support our campaigns at Podkrepi BG here.
Wishing you a beautiful holiday season!