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.