WIDER COMMUNITY AND AWARDS

It is not just the children we support. As part of the mentoring programme we have 100 student volunteers.  30 student volunteers have found jobs as social workers and specialists in children protection. Around 700 students have participated in the wider project since it started . 2 mentors have been employed directly by ZOV and 26 work in the same centres in which we work.  90% of the Crisis Centre staff has been part of the ZOV Outreach and Mentoring Project.  Three Directors of the homes we work with have been Mentors.

We also help support social care professionals who often work part time on very low salaries. By providing part-time employment and extra income they are more likely to continue working within the challenging field of social care. Our core staff have been with us for over 12 years.  We run training courses for our staff from the homes, and for members of municipality and child protection on key issues including personal wellbeing.

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION IS KEY

Most importantly, we can confidently state that we have improved the children’s confidence and sense of value in their community. Whether through participation in sports competitions, selling crafts they have made at a bazaar, or performing in a concert in front of the wider community, ZOV children now know that they are cared for and that someone believes in them to go on to do and be whatever they wish. We will continue to support these children through to the futures that we know they deserve.

SOCIAL CARE SYSTEM

ZOV has been involved in 30 conferences and strategies for social care and child protection policy. Members of ZOV staff became part of Regional Strategy planning of social services in the Veliko Turnovo area for 2016 – 2020. ZOV has provided emergency care and help in the deinstitutionalisation process.

“For me and for our team ZOV is something really special. Special, because it is not just an organization that supports disadvantaged children, but this is a cause for all of us – for children, for staff, for the team, for the centre. We are really privileged to be part of this cause, and to see that someone cares not only for the children, but also us as teachers and care givers. Nobody respects us, everyone just blames us. We are 24 hours with children and ZOV is the only organization that cares for us and understands that support for children is not possible without people and specialists. ZOV supports us with training and attention.  They respect us and we will never forget it.  We are so grateful and we feel a part of the ZOV cause with all our hearts and souls. Thank you and God bless you! Venecia Krasteva, teacher at Penyo and Maria Centres for Children Deprived of Parental Care