Tabitha – Bulgaria Foundation

Meeting the Dutch group at the airport and transporting them to Roman. The volunteers will be accommodated at the building of Roman orphanage with the permission of the mayor of Roman and the Department of the Child Protection. The volunteers will stay in the home and will take their meals together with the young people from the orphanage. The menu will be worked out in advance and will be considered with the tastes of both sides.  All participants in the project will take an active part in the laying, serving and cleaning of the tables after the meals.
Welcome party – the two groups of young people get to know each other in a more relaxed and easy environment. The coordinator – Tabitha Bulgaria will have shopped and organized the party together with the Bulgarian group as agreed in advance.

Setting up of a steering (leading) group which includes two persons from the youth groups (Dutch and Bulgarian), the leaders of the groups, the project coordinator (Tabitha Bulgaria) and the director of the orphanages. They work out the agenda details by days. The agenda has been developed in advance during the visit of the president of Help Tabitha in Bulgaria and agreed by the two groups. Changes could be made only to facilitate the efficient execution of the project. The steering group will meet every day to discuss the project, to supervise the execution of the main goals of the project, the quality of the activities. Any problems that may crop up during the project will be solved and the group will be vigilant to the terms abiding and the implementation of the program. The effective realization of the program depends on the good organization, good will, consideration with the aims of the project and discipline.
Allocation of the daily duties to the participants of the project – we set up three-person groups who are responsible for the cleaning of the rooms, toilets, washing of the dishes, the kitchen and the home maintenance. The participation on equal footing in activities which are not very exciting will make the young people feel more comfortable together and will boost their self-confidence.
Short lecturing on Safety awareness and procedures and rules in the Home read by the Yvette and the chief engineer of the The young people get acquainted, each participant introduces himself by telling few wards about his name, family, education/occupation, interests, motives to participate in the project.
Discussion on VOLUNTEERING, the values of the volunteer work and means to attract the interest and spread the volunteering values among the young people. The Dutch people share their motivations to come and help the Bulgarian children in institutions.
Free time and sports.

Introducing the Dutch group to the Roman surroundings – a walk around, acquainting the young people with the history and the development, the livelihood and lifestyle of the town. Speaking about the youth’s situation and its role in the community. To turn the volunteering idea into action, both the Dutch and the Bulgarian people will participate in cleaning the building of the Roman orphanage where the children with disabilities live – Roman 2, in order to facilitate the painting of the renovated wind on the second floor.

Preparation of the walls for painting and later for drawing on it. The common work and volunteer labor bring people closer and help them overcome their cultural barriers and facilitate the social inclusion of the people with disabilities.
Day on Holland – presentation about Holland and its educational and social systems and opportunities for the realization of the young people. The necessity of good education and vocational training to prevent school dropout and subsequent standoff. Experience with volunteering. Visit of representatives from the Dutch Embassy, ​​free discussion in an informal atmosphere.
Sports activities and tournaments (typical Dutch games).

Preparation of the walls for painting
Art Session “I myself”,d how I see myself as an European – what makes me an European.
Work on the theme “The Youth in Europe – the same difference – 2011”: the young people will discover and gain knowledge on the different socio-cultural realities, they will learn from each other, will show entrepreneurship. Art session on the theme “Together in Europe ” (pointing, role-playing, acting, pantomime;
Leisure time – BBQ at Albena’s country house

Painting of the walls, cleaning and preparation of the base for drawing on them.
Play roles on the theme “Alike and different”; exchanging the nationality roles
2011 Year of the volunteering.  Discussion on the EU strategy to invest in the young people and to mobilize their potential for the further development of the young people with the participation of the EU Representative in Bulgaria.
Cocktail party with folk dances – learning typical Bulgarian and Dutch dances with a professional teacher.

A visit to Mezdra and the Home for children and young people with disabilities – introducing the Dutch group to the vision for improvement the life of disabled people for the next ten years. Acquainting with the children from the Home, the sheltered and protected homes.
Swimming pool in Vratza – sports games and fun. Lunch at the swimming pool
BBQ at Albena’s place

Introducing the new vision for the deinstitutionalization in Bulgaria and the prospects for the young people who leave the homes. Discussion on possible changes to help disadvantaged young people and those with disabilities. Sharing the Dutch experience and that of Tabitha and innovative methods for working with people with special needs.
Free evening

Trip to Gorski Senovets, Strajitza,  Veliko Turnovo and Arbanacy.  Visit to the Home for children with disabilities and Day Care Centre in G.Senovets and Strajitza. Acquainting with the new social services – Centers for accommodation of a family type and protected house. Discussion the prospective for the young people with special needs. Sharing the Dutch experience in communication with such young people..
Accommodating the young people in a Hotel.

Visit to Veliko Turnovo, the old capital of Bulgaria. Introducing the Dutch group to the Bulgarian history, sightseeing to Tzarevetz and other historical sites.

Visit  to Ethara  on the way back to Roman. The Bulgarian Architectural-Ethnographic Complex “ETAR”, is an open-air museum and a neighborhood of Gabrovo (8 km south of its center) in northern Bulgaria.
It presents the Bulgarian customs, culture and craftsmanship. It spans over an area of 7 ha and contains a total of 50 objects, including water installations and houses with craftsmen’s workshops attached. As a whole, the complex’s goal is to illustrate the architecture, way of life and economy of Gabrovo and the region during the Bulgarian National Revival.
Lunch in a typical Bulgarian pub.

Organizing the annual BBQ with IWC, agreed in advance by the coordinator of the project. The mayor of Roman, representative of the Childcare Department will attend the BBQ. The ladies from IWC who are wives of diplomats and international organizations and banks will greet the young people, will see what has been renovated and completed by the Dutch volunteers, will learn more about the project “Youth in Europe the same difference – 2011”. The young people will prepare together with their Bulgarian friends an entertaining program – songs, dances which they will present to the ladies. BBQ lunch and talks in a friendly relaxed atmosphere, discussion about volunteering, IWC will share their more than 20 years of experience with volunteering. Fun and entertainment.

Cleaning the home and the yard
Discussion with the active participation of all the young people about the results from the project, focusing on the cultural difference, each group identity, and everybody’s role and responsibility for building the future of Europe.  Strengthening the role of each participant in the project – the Dutch, as old members of the EU have the opportunity to help disadvantaged young people and to convey their experiences in voluntary activity. Bulgarian young people have the chance to feel the respect and commitment of the Dutch volunteer to their fate.
Assessment of the achieved goals during the exchange / incl. results from the voluntary work in the renovation of the right wing on the second floor in Roman 2/
Plans for further contacts for next year.
Farewell party for all the participants in the project.

The Dutch volunteers are going to Sofia. They bid goodbye to the young partners in Roman. The Dutch group will be accommodated in a hotel in Sofia. Sightseeing in Sofia, information about the history and culture and development of the capital.

Flight back to Holland