For the Drug Addicts

2003 – European Year of People with Disabilities

Equal chance for all

2002

Caritas Bulgaria 9, Oborishte Str. 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel.: (+359 2) 944 1858, Fax: (+359 2) 946 1133 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.caritas-bg.org Our addresses

Caritas Plovdiv Caritas Rouse Caritas Sofia parish organizations parish organizations parish organizations

Caritas General Nikolaevo Caritas Malchika Caritas Kuklen 4150 Rakovski 5917 Malchika 4101 Kuklen 1A, Vitosha Str. tel. (+359 6534) 24 01 5, Vazragdane Str. tel. (+359 3151) 36 68 Contact person: Rev. Remo Gambacorta tel. (+359 32) 62 10 32 Contact person: Joseph Bakardjiev Contact person: Rev. Daniel Gillier Caritas Belene Pope John Paul II in Bulgaria Caritas Parchevich 5930 Belene Caritas Burgas (Greek catholic) 4150 Rakovski 3, Benkovski Str. 8000 Burgas 23-26 May 2002 6, Hristo Smirnenski Str. tel. (+359 068) 23 028 1, Sheinovo Str. tel. (+359 3151) 47 08 Contact person: Elka Duleva tel. (+359 56) 402 90 Contact person: Contact person: Deyan Jordanov Rev. Maksimilian Balabanski Caritas Pleven 67, Georgui Kochev Blvd. Caritas Pokrovan Caritas Sekirovo 5800 Pleven 6575 Pokrovan 4150 Rakovski tel. (+359 64) 46 271 tel. (+359 3667) 366 2A, Nikola Vapcarov Str. Contact person: Rev. Angelo Gorgeta Contact person: Maria Pandova tel. (+359 3151) 46 63 Contact person: Maria Pensova Caritas Oresh 5280 Oresh Caritas St. Joseph“ 10, Kamchia Str. 1000 Sofia tel. (+359 6328) 20 33 125, Knyaz Boris Str. Contact person: Sister Kristiana tel. (+359 2) 981 39 31 Contact person: Jolanta Zafirova Caritas parish Ruse 7000 Ruse Caritas Burgas 14, Episkop Bosilkov Str. 5, Tzar Petar Str. tel. (+359 82) 82 15 11 tel. (+359 56) 84 02 09 Contact person: Darina Kalapish Contact person: Vladislav Berger

Caritas Belozem 4150 Belozem Sinchec Str. mob. (+359 87) 67 60 72 Contact person: Raina Kostadinova

Caritas Zhitnitsa There are many ways 4172 Zhitnitsa in which you can support Caritas efforts to serve the people. tel. (+359 3170) 34 63 Contact person: Ana Karacheva Take part in Caritas projects Pray for someone in distress – often the moral support Caritas Duvanli is more desired than material one. 4174 Duvanli If you no longer use a certain thing, do not leave it in the cellar 4, Lale Str. or the attic to decay as something useless – many people would be happy tel. (+359 3123) 24 39 to have just that thing. Contact person: Radka Draganova If you want to renew your wardrobe – give your kept with love clothes to somebody that may be has just one. Caritas Kaloyanovo Make your cash or in kind donation. 4173 Kaloyanovo 31, Hristo Botev Str. tel. (+359 3123) 26 59 Contact person: Slavka Pesheva

Caritas parish Plovdiv Published by: NCF Caritas Bulgaria 4000 Plovdiv 3, Maria Luiza Blvd. Director: Emanouil Patashev tel. (+359 32) 27 02 91 Editor: Svetlana Gyoreva Contact person: Diakon Hristo Tabakov Proofreader: Nikoleta Doumanova Caritas Miromir Translation: Dialogue Company 4180 Miromir Photography: Snezhana Loukanova and Caritas archives 34, Tzar Kaloyan Typeset and printing: Rakurs Sofia tel. (+359 337) 36 45 Year of publishing: 2003 Contact person: Rev. Dimitar Dimitrov Total print: 1000 СONTENT

President's words / 3

I. ACTIVITY 2002 / 5 For the children and young people with special needs / 6 For the drug addicts / 8 For the unemployed / 9 For the refugees / 10 For the single mothers / 11 For the farmers / 12 For the elderly, single and sick people / 13 Financial report / 15

II. THAT IS CARITAS /19 Events in 2002 /20 The Holy Father in Bulgaria /20 Lighted candles for peace / 21 Caritas Day / 21

III. CARITAS NETWORK /23 How to contact us /24 Our addresses /24 Let us help together /24

Dear Friends,

This year we celebrate ten years since Caritas Bulgaria has been established and begun its hard work – years of support to the needy, the suffering, of protection of the dignity of every person. Activities that were made possible thanks to our partners’, friends’ and donors’ support. Our organization has developed with the encouraging smiles of our beneficiaries as well. The beginning of our activities was laid thanks to the enthusiasm and the active participation of the people from the Catholic community, who in the hardiest years of transition organized collection and provision of humanitarian help for the poorest people in our country, for hospitals and institutions. From the very beginning our work has been focused on the marginalized groups in our society that for different reasons hardly lead any active social life. Today we perform different activities and provide such social services, which help our beneficiaries to develop their potential and resources so that they could be their own advocates. Activities that become possible thanks to our joint efforts and shared love – love that inspires, love that is wholeheartedly being given to others. That is why we address you all – our supporters, partners, donors, volunteers, all of you that often remain anonymous, but truly implicated in the pain of those suffering, those in dire situation, the ones rejected by society. Through your acts of empathy and support you contribute a part of yourselves in the heart of Caritas. You bestow love that gives true joy to those in need. Thank you for your enthusiasm and energy, empathy and tirelessness, for the love you contribute so that the heart of Caritas may beat and bestow hope.

Bishop Petko Hristov President of Caritas Bulgaria It is in my power

to see my fellow-man

If I open my eyes - I will see my brother in every man and every woman, in every brother and in every sister. If I open my heart - he will be there.

If I listen to my soul - I will make no exceptions or differences, because in every person I shall see a fellow man and God Himself.

To be able to see my fellow-man - means to overcome my egoism, It is in my power to look deep into his eyes, to notice him or pass him by, to open his soul, It is in my power to feel his joy and share his sorrow. to confer meaning on him or not,

It is in my power to make him a fellow man of mine… For the children and young peoplewith special needs •

For the drug addicts •

For the unemployed •

For the refugees •

For the single mothers •

For the farmers •

For the elderly, single and sick people •

Financial report •

I. ACTIVITY 2002 For the children and young people with special needs

They dream, they create, their smiles are infectious... Even if not living in a fairy world, they dream fairy dreams full of magic… They generously bestow true love full of tenderness and long to receive at least a small grain of it…

The most needed support – the investment in our children’s education To discover the potential in any child, to help them develop their abilities, irrespective whether they are attending school or their families lack of means has deprived them of that chance or has limited their opportunities for development, irrespective whether they are playing in the street or watching the world through their windows because they are confined to a wheel- chair – that is the aim of Caritas work. All our efforts and activities for children and young people with special needs are focused in this direction.

• In 2002 we continued to work with our young beneficia- • Many children of families, living in hard circumstances, ries in the out-of-school centers of Caritas in the villages of have talents, but they cannot afford to attend expensive fine Kouklen and Malchika. 120 children attended the centers every and applied arts courses. That is why, for these young talents day. At the centers the children are assisted in the preparation Caritas is organizing for a second year now a whole year course of their lessons, they are trained in computer skills, their talents in iconography and decorative art in Rouse. In 2002 18 children are being developed, they have manual training lessons. With finished the course. During the course of training they were the help of the teachers seven and eight grade students pre- acquainted with the life and works of prominent artists, with pare themselves seriously for high schools and vocational fine and decorative arts different techniques and materials, schools entrance exams. In Malchika the children study English with iconography technologies. Those finishing high school too, which undoubtedly enhances their development. Thus seri- were provided a special training for fine arts university entrance ous preparation and entertainment are being combined, chil- exams and the younger ones – for the high schools in arts dren use their free time adequately and parents feel secure that entrance exams. Works of our young artists were exhibited not their children are doing well at school and have the ambition to only in Bulgaria, but also in France and Belgium. develop themselves.

6 • In 2002 Caritas motivated 230 children of Roma origin in the village of Banya to regularly attend school classes by providing them daily with warm lunch. To 20 Roma children from the village, that decided to continue their education after eighth grade in the town of Nova Zagora Caritas provided monthly scholarships. The activities under this project started in 1996 and are being implemented with the support of our partners from the Nova Zagora municipality and the village of Bania council.

Another important task is to increase the number of those willing to continue their education and finish secondary school. This is a fact already – in the new school year 30 children continue their education in the neighboring town. Expansion of the activities is forthcoming, which comprises a study of the needs of parents and active work to motivate them to take part in the project.

The main objective of our joint work is to increase the level of literacy and erudition of local people and the children cov- • For second consecutive time Caritas organized a prepara- 7 ered by the project to finish their primary education, which will tory class in Rouse for children of Roma origin who are not flu- be an important prerequisite for their integration in society. ent in Bulgarian. Our efforts were focused on motivating the children to attend school. The program covered speech, intel- lectual, psychophysical and esthetic preparation necessary for successful training in the first grade. As a result of this 14 children successfully graduated 2001/2002 school year and some of them are already first grade pupils in two of the most presti- gious schools in the city – the English Language Secondary School and the European Languages Secondary School. • It is very important to provide education opportunities, consistent with the individual peculiarities and abilities of handicapped children and young people. That is why in the three day centers where we work with physical disabilities children and young people in the towns of Rouse, Yambol and Sofia the efforts of Caritas and the parents were focused on developing all the children’s abilities, so that they may acquire social behav- ior and become independent and self-dependent to the maxi- mum, to be able to self-service themselves. In 2002 the centers were visited daily by more than 105 children and young people, who availed of the following vital for them services: – kinesitherapy that contributes to the improvement of their physical condition; – art therapy, which by the means of art presents to the chil- experience. At the camps the children had the chance to form dren the world surrounding them and helps them free them- good friendships; they developed their curiosity and skills by selves of their personal negative emotions; participating in different educational games. They took part in – logopaedical help, aiming to improve their speech com- maintaining the camps, supported by the encouraging smiles munication; and example of their Italian friends, volunteers in some of the – consultations with psychologist, which help them to camps. In order to preserve the interest for knowledge aroused release the accumulated tension and contribute to achieving a in the children, at the beginning of the new school year Caritas balance between the surrounding world, the parents and envi- provided to the most needy of them a set of the most necessary ronment; they help the children find themselves. To find them- school appliances. selves and to get to know the others, but also to show one’s abilities and talents, so that society may see them because people have only heard of the handicapped, but they are not used How to contact us: to live together with them… Out-of-school preparation activities • Out-of-school Preparation Center at the village of Kouklen Donata Chankova tel. (+359 88) 941 365, [email protected] • Center for Work with Children "St. Ana" at the village of Malchika Nina Gamsuzova tel./fax: (+359 6534) 24 01, [email protected] • Icononography and Decorative Art Courses Galia Stefanova tel. (+359 82) 844 576, [email protected]

Activities in support of children of Roma origin • For the children from the village of Banya Tsveta Georgieva tel. (+359 2) 944 18 58, [email protected] • We are convinced that the combination of education and • Preparatory class for children in unequal social situation game is the best way to teach children; while at the same time Diana Ivanova they enjoy themselves. That is why in 2002 we again organized tel. (+359 82) 844 576, [email protected] children camps under the Children Summer Program. Thus ade- Activities for physical disabilities children and young people quate vacation was provided to 709 children of poor living con- • Day center Milosurdie ditions, who were given the chance to rest in the mountains or Ana Konstantinova at the seaside. The camps were organized in Bourgas, Zlatni tel./fax: (+359 82) 845 059, [email protected] Piasatsi, Ahtopol, Plovdiv, Hisarya, Apriltsi, the villages of • Day center Blagoveshtenie Assenovo, Tsarev Brod and Banya. Some of the kids have never Viara Granitska tel. (+359 2) 958 14 82, [email protected] ever seen or felt the sea, others have not had had the chance • Day center in the town of Yambol to climb the beautiful hills of our mountains. That is why we Petia Teneva truly enjoyed their spontaneous joy and unforgettable tel. (+359 46) 6 32 99, [email protected]

8 For the drug addicts

Running away from the real world and seeking a way out in the illusory one. Youth, beauty and talents – they have them all, but they remain hidden behind the walls of the illusion in which they have buried themselves. The least we can do for them is to be with them. To help them ask for help, but this requires strong, sure and responsible love. Love that will help them to recapture their self-confidence, to awaken their hope for a life free of delusions

Bulgaria faces a difficult epidemiological situation with – guaranteed anonymous blood test for availability of blood regard to drugs abuse. Almost the whole range of illegal drugs conveyable infections is offered currently in the country. – consultations with physician about the ways and places, The drug, which represents the most serious threat for pub- where the addicts be treated lic health is heroin. During the last 5-6 years it caused more than – consultations on other health issues that have arisen from 90% of the cases that sought treatment at the specialized units drug abuse in Sofia. Most often (by more than 75% of the drug addicts) it – provision of vitamins, hot drinks and snacks – and what is is shot intravenously. The average age of individuals seeking most important warm and human, friendly attitude. treatment after heroin abuse has dropped from 24,7 to 22,5 An important condition and prerequisite of our successful years. work is guaranteeing the anonymity of the visitors. (Source: the first National Strategy for Combating Drug Abuse Our statistics for 2002: 2002-2007). • Total number of contacts: 1,615 • Clients that visited us for the first time: 229 The Caritas Moving Surgery for Field Work with People – From the total number of contacts 624 are people of Dependent on Psychoactive Substances is open every day from Roma origin 14:30 till 18:30 in seven regions of the Capital: the National • 70% of the beneficiaries inject themselves Palace of Culture, the garden in front of Ministry of Youth and • Blood tests made: of 109 people Sport, housing estate Lyulin, Fakulteta neighborhood, Tatarli Of those 9 have been in contact with Hepatitis type B, neighborhood, housing estate Drouzhba-2, Central Railway 64 – with Hepatitis type C and one – with HIV, 11 – with syphilis. Station. Moving Surgery for Field Work with People Dependent The services offered by the Caritas team to its beneficiaries on Psychoactive Substances are as follows: Gabriela Mineva – provision of first medical aid (treatment of places of injec- tel. (+359 2) 920 08 25, [email protected] tion, of abscesses, etc.)

9 For the unemployed

Nowadays in our country we see the differentiation between those who are qualified enough to remain on the labor market and those who find themselves on the other side of the barrier to deepen even further. In order to cope in this difficult situation the unemployed need understanding and support, they need to share their confidence in themselves. Most for them valuable is the help that enables them to further develop their potential, to acquire new skills and improve their qualifications. The support that would enable them to be their own advocates.

About the situation in our country For this reason computer skills training of unemployed is an In December 2002 the number of unemployed in our coun- important part of the Organization’s work. Computer skills from try was 544.2 thousand or 16.8% of the economically active an advantage before are becoming a pre-condition for job population. Of those 302.8 thousand were men and 241.4 thou- application now. In 2002 two hundred and fifty unemployed sand – women. The unemployment rate for last year was graduated the Caritas computer skills training courses in the 16.7 %. Although, the number of unemployed has dropped by towns of Rouse and Sofia. This activity of the Organization is 92.3 thousand compared to December 2001 and the start of being implemented in partnership with the Labor Bureaus, national employment promotion programs implementation, Caritas France and the trainees themselves. After successfully unemployment is still one of the most serious problems of finishing the training, the trainees get certificates for the skills Bulgarian society. Last year the long-term unemployed (over acquired by them. From all courses graduates more than 70 one year) were 358 thousand or 65.8% of all unemployed. 130.9 have already found a job. Caritas provides to the trainees also thousand have no length of service (they have never been hourse for self-preparation, which is used not only to practice, employed) or 24.1 % of all unemployed. but also for providing support in writing job applications, letters of motivation, resumes, information and advice as to how to prepare for interviews with their potential employers.

Contact persons:

• Computer skills training courses in Rouse Svetlomira Slavova tel. (+359 82) 82 15 12, [email protected] • Computer skills training courses in Sofia Todor Chobanov tel. (+359 2) 986 65 60, [email protected]

10 233.8 thousand have lost their last job due to lay-offs. 55.8 thousand have been temporarily or seasonally employed. (Source: National Statistical Institute).

• The share of young unemployed people is also big. Despite their good education they cannot find a job either. The reforms in some sectors result in lay-offs of considerable number of people in economically active age, who in order to be com- petitive on the labor market need to acquire new skills and qualifications. For the refugees

What are people forced to run away from? – From the horrors, because they are persecuted, because they are not free, from hunger, from the cruelty of war…

Refugees are people who are outside their countries because of well-founded f ear of persecution based on their race, reli- gion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, and who as a result of this cannot return home. The geopolitical location of Bulgaria determines its attractiveness to people that seek protection and security in Europe. Among those predominate Iraqis, Afghans, Iranians and others. As a country signatory to the Geneva Convention, Bulgaria has to grant refugee status to people that qualify for it. Brief statistics of Caritas work • Thus 2,888 people sought asylum in our country in year 2002. Of those 75 were granted refugee status and 781 were In 2002 Caritas provided support to 2,127 people in total that denied such status. Humanitarian protection was granted to were applying for refugee status and such that had one. 646 people and the protection status of 138 was extended. The • Packets of food were given to 1,279 people. proceedings of 651 people were closed and the humanitarian Integration packets to 523 cases. protection of 5 people was terminated. There were 4 cases of • terminated status under the Geneva Convention. • Emergency medical and dental care was provided to 268 refugees. That year Caritas continued its work under the Social Adaptation and Integration of Refugees Program, under which • 57 people graduated the computer skills training course. support is given to vulnerable groups, seeking asylum, in status How to contact us: granting procedure: elderly people, inveterate diseased per- Migration Service sons, large families, unmarried or deserted parents, handi- Tsveta Georgieva capped people, children without escort. tel. (+359 2) 944 18 58, 988 23 65 [email protected] The following services are being offered under this Program: Social support and social consulting – Social support and social consulting; Yolanta Zafirova – Medical and dental services; tel. (+359 2) 986 65 60, [email protected] – Computer training. Emergency medical and dental care Tsveta Georgieva tel. (+359 2) 944 18 58, [email protected]

Computer skills training for refugees Todor Chobanov tel. (+359 2) 986 65 60, [email protected]

11 For the single mothers

Life granting love True love shall overpower evil, It shall make you forget yourself, Overpower your fears and overcome all difficulties, And take on the duties of a mother. The love of a mother grants life, overcomes rebuke and hardship. Love, which in times of misery fills the heart with true joy.

The tendency of extramarital births in our country was kept • In support of maternity and children life the Rozhdestvo in 2002 too. Last year 29,478 such cases were registered, which Hristovo Center was established four years ago. It renders both makes 43.5% of all births. (Source: National Statistical Institute). spiritual and financial support to single mothers and their chil- These data, of course, do not point out in how many of these dren. In 2002 25 mothers and their children visited the Center cases we have single mothers. Unfortunately we have no exact every day. Another 20 single mothers, who are unemployed and statistics as to the number of single mothers, but we know that live in hard financial conditions and in full isolation, have been they are not a few and that they need support and a helping supported on a regular basis. In the Center the mothers get hot hand in order to cope, to bring up their children, whom they meals for themselves and their children, indispensable medi- have welcomed with so much love and for whom they are will- cines, support in solving different administrative and other ing to overcome all difficulties. Often such mothers are com- issues pertaining to their situation, care for their children in the pletely deserted by their friends and relatives, they have no form of clothes and shoes, notebooks and school appliances, home, and for lack of means their children cannot attend lessons with pedagogues. They learn to sew and cook, to make kindergarten. They usually do not work for years and rely only clothes and toys, to improve and acquire new skills that will help on the welfare benefits given by the state, benefits that cannot them find a job in order to support their families by themselves. cover even part of their every day needs. And these problems The mothers are involved, they are partners in the implementa- give rise to new ones, which provoke single mothers to isolate tion of the Center’s activities. Each day one of them takes care themselves and withdraw into themselves. of the children, helps in the preparation of food and the cleaning of the premises. Thus everybody makes a contribution and renders support. They celebrate together different holidays; they experience and solve the problems and overcome the difficulties together, and share their joy too. Thus last year we all together experienced and overcame the sorrow of several girls, who had left parentless children institutions, suffering from the lack of a family and longing to have one of their own, they also found themselves in the situation of single mothers in order to keep and give birth to their children. Sharing the joy makes it even greater and the greatest joy for everybody in the Center were the 9 "Center babies" born, as 12 well as the marriages of two of our women.

How to contact us:

Single Mothers Center Rozhdestvo Hristovo Liudmila Balikova tel. (+359 2) 958 22 34 [email protected] For the farmers

Support through training and opportunity for future real- ization or employment is the service that people in active age without much chances of finding a job in a small town need most. That is why in 1996 we started the Agricultural Renewal Project in the town of Belene, which united in agricultural cooperative "Utro" 60 land owners. The basic goal of Caritas with the implementation of this project is to establish an innovative and independent agricultural farm, which applies the basics of biological agriculture. In 2002 we continued our work under this long-term project by providing an agronomist-consultant, complementing the machine stock and construction of a compost site and other improvements of the base. For the needs of the cooperative loans for experimental activities were secured, and special training of the working team was organized. The area of arable land increased and reached over 1,996 dca. The broad consultation of cooperative members with agron- omists from Bulgaria and Switzerland helps them produce high- quality and ecologically pure production. The agricultural 2001–2002 year was a very successful one for the cooperative also in financial aspect, which shows its pos- sibilities for sustainability.

How to contact us:

Agricultural Renewal in Belene Pavel Arabadzhiev tel./fax: (+359 658) 23 228 [email protected]

13 For the elderly, single and sick people

If we look into their eyes, we will find hidden deep down there the traces of the joyful moments of their lives. If we look into their faces, we will find in the deep wrinkles the traces of time and their sorrow. If we look at their hands, we will see that they tremble with fatigue… If we talk to them, we will touch on their wisdom, but we will feel their loneliness too. If we get absorbed in their memories, we will open and touch their souls…

The tendency of our country’s population ageing was kept in 2002 too. According to statistical data the average life expectancy is 71.85 years and population growth is -5.8. The number of pensioners in Bulgaria was 2,349,045 in 2002. The So by our work we are trying to support them and average pension in the country is BGN 101.47. A lot of people respond to their needs, adding understanding, attention and get the minimum pension, which amounts to EURO 50 (BGN friendliness. 53.64), money that is absolutely insufficient to cover even part of everyday expenses and cares. (Source: National Statistical Institute data as of 01.06.2002).

• The economic situation in the country does not yet enable a great part of the elderly people to live a normal way of life, without worrying about food, payments for heating, medicines. Many of the elderly people live in constant worries and uncertainty, in loneliness and isolation. Particularly hard is the situation of the sick and the single that need daily medical and social services and sometimes just human warmth. The most demanded by our elderly beneficiaries services are: medical home care, preparation of hot meal, purchase of groceries and medicines, cleaning of their homes, arrangement of administrative matters.

14 Medical consultations and provision of medicines

In 2002 the Surgery and Social Pharmacy in Plovdiv continued their work. They have been functioning for 6 years now in support of the most needy. They offer free service to elderly people of low income and no general practitioner. 9 physicians, of recognized authority, work as volunteers in the Surgery. They make free medical checks and give consultations to beneficiaries in need. Last year they checked and consulted 910 patients.

The Social Pharmacy has provided specialized and indispensable medicines to 3,587 people in need.

• In support of elderly women in Rouse is the needlework- training course that started last year. 8 women are being trained every day in needlework. Thus they acquire skills, where- by they can be useful both to themselves and their families, and enjoy their free time in friendly conversations and social contacts. The women sew with great pleasure various things that are being used in Caritas activities.

Caritas on wheels for the elderly, single and sick people

Meals-on-wheels is one of the first projects of the Organization. Its purpose is to support sick people confined to bed and single elderly people by providing them with hot meals. In 2002 hot meals was provided on a daily basis to 192 beneficiaries from the villages of Belozem, Pokrovan and the towns of Plovdiv, Sofia and Rouse.

15 In Plovdiv and Sofia the beneficiaries are supported also with indispensable medicines, medical consultations and assis- tance in solving important social and health issues. For the elderly people, who can walk and get out of their homes, the canteen in Pokrovan becomes a place for social contacts in the afternoon, where they may review the newspapers and jointly take part in different initiatives. Home care

In 2001 Caritas developed a National Home Care Program that aims to provide nursing and social services to sick, single and elderly people at home. The Program is being implemented in cooperation with the beneficiaries’ general practitioners. Nurses render the following services at home: they monitor the patients’ condition, measure blood sugar, help them with their toilet, wash them, make injections and take care of bedsores, etc. Although to a lesser degree they provide also some social services, such as help with the housekeeping, visits to general practitioners to certify health books, shopping of medicines from the chemist’s, conversations with and consultations of the patients and their relatives. The first pilot center under the Program began its work in Rouse beginning of 2002, and the second one – in November in the town of Rakovski. The Program covers 120 beneficiaries in total. In order to be of service to other elderly people in need, we are going to open in 2003 another home care center in the town of Belene.

How to contact us:

Home Care National coordination centre Angel Gyorev tel. (+359 2) 944 18 58, [email protected] • Home Care Center in Rousse Nadia Bobeva tel. (+359 82) 845 162, [email protected] • Home Care Center in Rakovski Aneta Sariiska tel. (+359 3151) 47 82, [email protected]

Medical Consultations and medicines • Surgery in Plovdiv Maria Milichena tel. (+359 32) 272 141, [email protected] • Social Pharmacy in Plovdiv Maria Milichena tel. (+359 32) 272 141, [email protected]

Meals-on-Wheels • Meals-on Wheels in Rousse Darina Kalapish • Home Services in Sofia tel. (+359 82) 821 511 Iskra Yakova [email protected] tel. (+359 2) 981 39 31 Social Canteen in Plovdiv • • Club Canteen in the village of Pokrovan Ivan Zlatev Maria Pandova tel. (+359 32) 272 141 tel. (+359 3667) 366, [email protected] [email protected] Needle and Thread Project Sister Yola tel. (+359 82) 821 511, [email protected]

16 We would like to thank: Our Caritas partners; the local and central government authorities; our colleagues from the non-governmental sector in Bulgaria and abroad; the companies, which with their donations supported us in our undertakings and all volunteers and employees, who with their labor and enthusiasm made possible our activities.

Financial report

Incomes 2002

BGN Total: 725 438 EURO (1 418 832 BGN) BGN

BGN

BGN Government Local Caritas NGO Foreign Cartitas institutions private own and other NGO in donors incoms Bulgarian funds Europe in % 0,8% 0,7% 3,6% 9,1% 21,4% 64,4 %

Expenses 2002

Activities for elderly, single and sick people Activities for children 15.28% and young people 20.20%

Home care 13.84%

Children and young people Activities for farmers for disabilities 8.12% 23.07 %

Activities for refugees 8.37% Activities for drug addicts Activities for unemployed 2.38% 2.09% Activities for single mothers Total: 562 608 EURO (1 100 365 BGN) 6.64% It is in my power

to see my fellow-man

If I open my eyes - I will see my brother in every man and every woman, in every brother and in every sister. If I open my heart - he will be there.

If I listen to my soul - I will make no exceptions or differences, because in every person I shall see a fellow man and God Himself.

It is in my power to make him a fellow man of mine… Events in 2002 •

The Holy Father in Bulgaria –

Lighted candles for peace –

Caritas Day –

II. THAT IS CARITAS Events in 2002

Dear Friends,

By the statement and the pictures below we would like to remind you about the joyful event in the life of our community, which has left unforgettable memories in our hearts – the Apostolic Visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to our country. We all as representatives of Caritas or as parishioners took active part in all events related to the visit of the Pope. We shared and experienced the joy of the Catholic community and the people of Bulgaria from the beneficial visit of the Holy Father to our country. Those days of spiritual meetings with His Holiness Pope John Paul II charged us with new strength and enthusiasm; they made us feel proud that our Organization belongs to the Catholic Church. But that also induced us to be more responsible and active in our work, to maintain and develop the prestige of the Organization. Caritas Bulgaria

He is a Bulgarian brother and that is enough… house, at night, amid life’s difficulties, he will always find the candle burning in my window. Let him knock, let him knock! He From the Address of the Holy Father will not be asked whether he is Catholic or Orthodox: he is a at the Departure Ceremony Bulgarian brother and that is enough. Let him come in: two 26 May 2002 brotherly arms and a friend’s warm heart will welcome him to the feast". Distinguished Authorities, These words are repeated today by the Pope of Rome, who, as he takes leave of this beautiful Land of Roses, keeps Dear Brother Bishops, before his eyes and in his heart the images of his meetings with Sisters and Brothers in the Lord! all of you. My visit to the beloved land of Bulgaria, God bless Bulgaria, with the abundance of His grace may He although brief, has filled my heart with emotion and joy. The make its people feel my affection and gratitude, and may He Pope has been given the opportunity to meet the Bulgarian grant this Nation days of progress, prosperity and peace. people, to admire their virtues and qualities, to appreciate their great talents and generous energies. I give thanks to God who has granted me the possibility of 20 making this pilgrimage during the very days on which the memory of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Apostles of the Slav people, is celebrated. One last word to all the beloved Bulgarian people, without distinction. A word that echoes what was said by my predeces- sor, Blessed Pope John XXIII, when he left this country in December 1934 ... To the crowd that had come to bid him farewell, Archbishop Roncalli said: "If anyone from Bulgaria should ever pass by my Lighted candles for peace in the Holy Land

Extract from Caritas appeal on the campaign Lighted candels for peace 14 – 20 December

The victims of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis run into thousands, most of them being civilian Palestinians exe- cuted by Israeli soldiers and Israelis that have lost their lives in terrorist actions, organized by Palestinian terrorists. Thousands of victims and both peoples mourn, both peoples cry for the Holy Land. Human tears pleading for justice and peace, pleading for understanding, forgiveness and reconciliation. Reconciliation that would stop the tears, that would put an end 10 November – Caritas Day in Bulgaria to the forcible occupation and the provoked by it sinister ter- rorism. Because the war and the bloody actions cannot be away out, because they cannot bring peace. On 10 November, the Sunday before the celebration of the Blessed Catholic Bishop Eugene Bossilkov (13 November) Caritas Reconciliation should be built by all, that is why let us we, Bulgaria celebrated together with its beneficiaries, volunteers gathered in our temple, contribute to it by symbolically lighting and officials, with all who partake to the cause of the a candle. Thus the flame of your, of my, of our candles will make Organization – Caritas Day in Bulgaria. a beacon that will signal not only of the empathy to those that suddenly part with their dearest people, to those that die in The Day was memorable for two joyful events: inhuman pain, to those, who lead by their fanaticism ruin their • A second Home Care Center of Caritas was opened in the soul forever… town of Rakovski • Formally opened was Caritas Rouse Day Center Milosurdie The flame will be also a proof of the power of faith. The faith that helps when the bombs are falling, when the bullets are whistling, when people are dying and there is no light… And when there is no light, one could remember it and light it from that memory…

Let our lighted candles and our prayer light the light where there is no light, let them be our call for peace in the Holy Land!

On December 19, 2002 Caritas Bulgaria was entered into the Central Register of the Ministry of Justice as a non-profit organization for socially useful activities.

21 It is in my power

to see my fellow-man

If I open my eyes - I will see my brother in every man and every woman, in every brother and in every sister. If I open my heart - he will be there.

If I listen to my soul - I will make no exceptions or differences, because in every person I shall see a fellow man and God Himself.

It is in my power to make him a fellow man of mine… How to contact us •

Our addresses •

Let us help together –

III. CARITAS NETWORK How to contact us

Caritas Sofia Caritas Plovdiv Caritas Ruse 190 Alexandar Stamboliiski Blvd. 3, Maria Luiza Blvd. 3, Bogdan voivoda Str. 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria 7002 Ruse, Bulgaria tel./fax: (+359 2) 920 08 25 tel. (+359 32) 27 21 41 tel./fax: (+359 82) 82 15 12 е-mail: [email protected] fax: (+359 32) 63 12 76 е-mail: [email protected] Head of Board of Directors: е-mail: [email protected] Head of Board of Directors: Maria Popivanova Head of Board of Directors: Mincho Minchev Executive Director: Rev. Roumen Stanev Executive Director: 24 Velika Koleva Executive Director: Stefan Markov Tsonka Yurieva Our addresses

Caritas Plovdiv Caritas Rouse Caritas Sofia parish organizations parish organizations parish organizations

Caritas Belozem 4150 Belozem Sinchec Str. mob. (+359 87) 67 60 72 Contact person: Raina Kostadinova

Equal chance for all

2002

Caritas Bulgaria 9, Oborishte Str. 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel.: (+359 2) 944 1858, Fax: (+359 2) 946 1133 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.caritas-bg.org