Our Focus Groups
Our activities and programs are designed for the benefit of all children with a special focus on those children who are most in need of support, protection or special services.
Children with special needs
children with physical disabilities, children with mental disabilities and children with learning difficulties.
Children in social care
children in social care homes and foster families.
Vulnerable children
children from low-income families, ethnic minorities and victims of violence, bullying or drug-addiction
Our Focus Areas
Education
Creative Expression
Children's Health
THE BEGINNING
2010 Campaign for the “Mogilino Children”
Our foundation started as a fundraising campaign for the Mogilino Children featured in the BBC documentary Bulgaria's Abandoned Children about a social care home for disabled children in the Bulgarian village of Mogilino. Our campaign funded long-term therapy for the Mogilino Children, which were relocated to Varna after the broadcasting of the documentary. In 2010 our campaign evolved into a UK registered charity dedicated to vulnerable children in Bulgaria and in 2019 we also registered as Bulgarian Childhood Foundation in the US.
The BBC documentary Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children
Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children originally aired in 2007 in Bulgaria, the UK and many European countries. BBC Director Kate Blewett followed the lives of a group of children with multiple disabilities at а social care home in the village of Mogilino. The extraordinary international impact of the documentary put strong pressure on EU institutions and the Bulgarian government and helped produce long-term reform of the Bulgarian social care system for children. All “Mogilino Children” were relocated to alternative social care homes providing better living conditions.
OUR CURRENT TEAM
OUR HISTORY
Funding
Our funding comes primarily from private donations from Bulgarian expatriates and members of their social and professional networks in North America, Europe and the Middle East. We also receive matching corporate donations. A smaller portion of our donations come from individuals and private businesses in Bulgaria.
Legal Status
Bulgarian Childhood Foundation is a non-governmental public-interest organization registered in the US. The foundation has a tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS in the US. Bulgarian Childhood Foundation, US continues the activities and has the same mission as YouHelp BG, a UK registered charity (number: 1144211) since 2010.