With the help of many teams organised by Saltmine, the conditions at Burzitsa have been improved radically since 1996. Today as many as 75 children live and are schooled at Burzitsa, which is now regarded by the Bulgarian authorities as one of the best centres in the country. In 1999 Saltmine teams built a brand new accommodation block for girls and this is being further extended by our partner group from Devon.  

‘Only with a massive effort will the new building be completed by September 2007’ say’s Saltmine Associate member Peter Barnes. ‘We underestimated just how many builders we would require’ continues Peter, ‘but the challenge, with God’s help, can be met’.

The two main thrusts will be to complete the internal plastering and then to lay floor tiles over an area of 260 square metres by the end of March. We are looking for 4/5 plasters and two labourers followed by a team of six to do the tiling. The finishing work, which will require plumbers, wall tilers, decorators and carpenters as well as general labourers, will then be able to work unhindered from Easter to September.

A number of teams and individuals have already indicated their willingness to help from April onwards and there are some volunteers for the plastering and tiling but can you, or do you know someone who can, be part of the March ’07 teams?

Named after the most famous Bulgarian Poet, the special school at Dragodanovo Near Sliven is a residential centre for around 100 “troubled” children. They cater for the very poor, gypsies, and also those who have committed minor crimes. Many are from broken families; all are socially deprived. Bedrooms are sparse with minimal furniture and little place for personal belongings. Over the past few years there have been many improvements through Saltmine and our partners. All the bedrooms now have double-glazed windows and benefit from diesel fired central heating, which replaced the dirty and dangerous wood-burning stoves. The Government have paid to extend the heating system to the rest of the building, and have also recently undertaken major overdue roof repairs. New beds, mattresses and bedding throughout have all improved the quality of life at Dragodanovo. There are still many needs….including moving the kitchen & dining Room from the dark and damp basement into a new and better area. Some funds are already available for this but more will be needed. One group have raised funding for an extra teacher to be responsible for vocational training skills for older children before they leave. This is a need in many places.

Kermen Children’s Home is situated just 20 km Sliven in Central Bulgaria. It is home to around 60 moderately disabled children and was the first Saltmine project to assist a social institution anywhere in Bulgaria, with help beginning back in the early 1990’s. Much has been achieved over the years. Teams regularly help with painting and other renovation work, food supplements and other aid is given on a regular basis for the children, and a modern minibus was recently provided. Following the influence of Saltmine and our volunteers, around 12 children now attend normal school in Sliven despite their disabilities, and this may well be the only chance they get to break out of the institutional system. Setting up a market garden project at the home as vocational skill training for the older teenage children is next on the agenda.