NEWS

Bulgarian Red Cross Youth has launched new program to support children and youngsters who are leaving social institutions by providing alternative services
The project called “Social Programme for Providing Services and Support to Children and Young People Leaving Social Care Institutions” is financially supported by Velux Foundation. It is being implemented in cooperation with the International Cooperation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Europe Zone) and within the timeframe: December 1, 2010 - November 30, 2014.
There are two main components of the project. The first one forecasts an opening of a Foster Care Consultation Centre which is supposed to encourage promotion of this type of care in Bulgaria. Beneficiaries of the services will be future and present foster parents; however the Centre will also cooperate actively with other NGOs and institutions working in the field and will involve volunteers of the Bulgarian Red Cross in its activities. There are several tasks to be completed till the end of the project such as: research on the public attitude towards foster care, conduction of trainings for future foster parents, and lobbying to support state law amendments which favour foster care. Some of the expected outcomes are as follows: acquisition of better understanding and positive attitude towards foster care, increased number of foster parents and significant number of conducted trainings for future foster parents and for BRCY volunteers.
The second major part of the project is the construction and the establishment of a protected home for youngsters who are leaving different social institutions. This is considered to be a key step towards their successful integration and resocialisation in the society. The capacity of the protected home is 12 people and each of them is allowed to stay not more than a year. The stay in the protected home is meant to support development of social and professional skills. Another goal is to promote partnerships with representatives of corporative sector in order to deliver suitable trainings for the inhabitants and to provide them with opportunities to join an internship program. Young people will be involved in continuous education through participation in mentorship programs to assist them in the preparation for admittance exams to enter university. They will be able to take part in professional qualification courses which are coordinated by the Agency for Employment. All youngsters who are living in the protected home will be able to join the activities of the Bulgarian Red Cross Youth and to act together with the volunteers of the organization.