School of Arts and Crafts for Socially Disadvantaged Children "Dimitar Ekimov", village of Rusalya
Because of your generosity we have exceeded our goal and collected over $50,000. The money will help feed, clothe and keep warm all the kids through 2019-2021 school years. Thank you!
$50,510
Raised: $50,510
Goal: $25,000
About this project
The School of Arts and Crafts for Socially Disadvantaged Children “Dimitar Ekimov” in the village of Rusalya was founded by individuals who recognized the insufficient care socially disadvantaged children get from state institutions and the complete lack of educational forms for their integration in society. The school provides instruction in traditional dancing, music instruments, knitting, and other crafts and arts, in addition to the standard school program. Children learn gardening and help with housework, which creates a sense of community and family – an emotion that many of them experience for the first time. A team of teachers, mentors, experts and artists lead them to self-awareness and self-expression, which allow them to take control of their behavior and are key for kids with learning issues.
The children come from families living in extreme poverty with no previous access to any form of education. Some of them were unable to communicate prior to coming to the school, which resulted in their complete isolation from society. Many of them show signs of anxiety and aggression when asked to complete simple tasks. With the right tools for motivation, the school has been profoundly successful in taking these children out of their toxic environment and integrating them as beneficial elements of society.
Funding for the school was initially provided by Velux Foundations, a Danish charity with a history of funding social projects in Bulgaria, which stepped in to support the initiative by providing funds to renovate the building, previously an abandoned school, purchase land, construct additional buildings to serve as dining room and dorms and cover a year of operational costs. The idea was to create a unique model for integrating socially disadvantaged children which can later be adopted by state-funded institutions across the country. The school still relies mainly on donors and luckily there has been a few over the years to help with operational costs. Unfortunately, funds are hard to come and the school halted expansion and could soon close doors.
Watch a short video about the school or read a news article for more information.
The school’s mission is:
- To provide an opportunity for talented and gifted children to receive free quality education and upbringing.
- To help to maintain, develop and improve their natural potential and turn it into a capital for their future;
- To provide an individual approach and professional care, excellent facilities and environment filled with comfort, peace and love;
- To promote the growth of good and smart people motivated and confident to realize their professional and life start;
- To provide the best team of teachers, mentors, experts and inspiring artists who lead children to self-knowledge and self-expression.
Top Contributors to this campaign
PAAY
JFD Brokers
Gergana and Boris Genov
Stefan Tsvetkov
Rubella Beauty
Polina & Orlin Jordanov
Tanya Veleva
Enio Nakov
Lyubka Bakalova
Kamen Stoykov
Pavel Piperkov
Ivo and Pavlina Nenin
Polina Marinova
Polina Gerontieva
Radoslav Zlatev
Dimitar Kolev
Nedyalko Gerontiev
AC Nielsen Bulgaria
Iva Petrova
Ivelin Spasov
Dessi O’Carroll
Iva and Kaloyan Mihaylov
Petar and Iveta Arizanov
Nelly Damyanova
Ivelina Velikova
Vladimir Kostadinov
Michael Alexander
Stefan Zhelyazkov
Mila Yankova
Ivaylo Mandadjiev
The Nielsen Company, Bulgaria
Ivan Palov
Jivka Cohen
Mariya Krasteva
Petar Stoykov
Momchil Milev
Eleonora Gateva
Martin Mavrov
Svetlana Ivanova
Maya and Alec Stephanov
Malena Georgieva
Liliana Petrova
Yordan Betsinski
Ani and Vasco Yordanov
Vanya Stefanova
Brendan Duffy
Tsvetomir Petkov
Deyan Ninov
Penka Nikolova-Baltov
Toni Angelov
John Ciesielski
Footprint Labs, Inc
Georgi Peev
Victor Penev
Arto Indjian
Destrida Manalu
Presiyana Barbazova
Polia Petkova
Oktay and Kristina Veliev
HealingShore.com
Antonia Bakalova
Margarita Markova
Jillian Youngblood
Anton Bakalov
Iva Krasteva
Kiril Lazarov
Martin Paraskevov
Elena Yaneva
Irina and Neno Pachovski
Paul Kuveke
Stoytcho Stoev
Anthony Pompliano
Martin Nikolov
Kremena Dimitrova
Svetla Marionova
Dilyana Dimitrova