Our three centers in Sofia celebrated International Father’s Day. The Roma children made cards for their fathers and wrote messages to them. We conducted an informational campaign in the community about the important role that fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and brothers play.
Thanks to Tulip Foundation for the art materials!
We participated in an event organized by Sofia Municipality dedicated to Children’s Day, presenting the work of non-governmental organizations working in the social sphere.
Psychologists, educators and social workers from HESED organized outdoor activities for children, young people and families. Activities included art-workshops, games and talks with parents. We highlighted the methods “Play with Me – Toys Library” and MOVE (developing skills through physical and sports games for children and young people). The parents and children were very interested in our work and despite the rain, spirits were high!
The three-day awareness raising workshops on discrimination took place as part of the project “Story_S – Springboard to Roma Youth Success”. They served to prepare an anti-discrimination campaign planned and conducted by the youth themselves. We discussed the various types of discrimination, the students gave examples from their daily lives, and in small groups started to plan the future campaign, which will be held in 10 places chosen by the participants.
Last week we celebrated National Father’s Week. We are extremely proud of the parents of the children in our centers! We are especailly proud of the fathers, some of who used time from their annual leave to celebrate with their children.
Our project “SKILLS: The Key to Successful Social Inclusion and Educational Integration of Children at Risk” through the Social Protection Fund aims to create conditions for developing skills in children and youth for better inclusion, personal development and capacity building for supportive family environment; developing social and life skills in children so they could grow up to be harmonious and successful individuals; and increasing the motivation of children to learn as prevention of school dropout and awareness of the importance of education, for better integration into the social and employment realms.
It was turn for the third group of participants to immerse themselves in the fairy-tale world of horses. They learned the different breeds, got acquainted with the horses, and gave them treats. The love and care for the Other go hand-in-hand and our participants went through horse cleaning, feeding, saddling and bathing of their four-legged friends. An additional bonus to the experience was the group’s acquaintance with their new friend – a man who told and showed the children and teens how to shoot a bow and arrow and how to handle a sword!
We had a ceremony with certificates for successful completion of preschool for the school year 2017/2018 for the children enrolled in our group “Little bell” („Zvunche“). The children whole-heartedly performed the play “The Giant Turnip” for their parents who were filled with pride and joy and for guests from Sofiyska Voda and Sofia Bread House. The young graduates also received certificates for active participation in “Theater of crumbs” and for best little baker. Parents and their children played Movement, Games and Sport for children’s psychosocial development (MGS) games together. Celebrating educational milestones becomes an important event for the whole family.
The theory from the classroom seminars and booklets was applied in practice by a second group of participants. Sixteen children and adolescents attended a 5-hour practical course on horse riding and horse training. The coaches at Equestrian Club “Olympic” demonstrated and led the participants throughout the process of preparing horses and caring for them. For some children, this was their first meeting with the wonderful world of horses, and for others – the opportunity for professional contact with instructors and horse riders. The children with previous experience with horses received professional advice on feeding and caring for the animals before and after races and for effective non-violent horse training.
Under the expert guidance of two instructors, the children and teens were able to get acquainted with the basic skills of riding, care, saddling, horse-riding, and types of equipment. In this session, the students managed to overcome their fears, to support one another, to learn together, and to create new friendships – between them and the horses, as well as among themselves. At the end of the day they had already become friends.
