Important: This orphanage has been closed. Please visit one of our other orphanage pages via the menu on the left.

This home is located in a small village of 180 inhabitants, 65 miles south of Sofia, in a large coal mining area. The orphanage was built in 1960 and is in very poor condition. The only maintenance done on the buildings in recent years included replacing the windows in 2002 and plastering and painting the walls of the bedrooms in 2003.

The orphanage is in need of many more repairs. The orphanage is staffed with a speech therapist, a psychiatrist, a pediatrician, and people in housekeeping positions, though all are poorly paid. The children are very rarely visited by anyone and are deprived of any family care whatsoever.

Twenty-two children are confined to beds. Most of the children have moderate to severe disabilities; most have mental disorders. Many are unable to use the bathroom independently; the restroom facilities are not designed for people with disabilities, in any case. This has led to a huge laundry burden. Hygiene items plus diapers, sheets, waterproof mattress covers, disinfectants, detergents etc. are in permanent shortage. Bulgarian Child, Inc. has hired four babas (grandmothers) to give needed attention and loving care to children at this orphanage. Additional caregivers and staff are also needed in order to keep up with all the many needs of the children. Our sponsorship funds provide fruit and vegetables, medicines and hygiene supplies. Gorna Koznitsa's director, Mrs. Margarita Permakova, is easy to work with and has appreciated One Heart Bulgaria's involvement. She is very grateful for the wonderful sponsors and donors who have supported Gorna Koznitsa the past several years. Gorna Koznitsa applied to One Heart Bulgaria for funding for an industrial size dryer and for help with their heating system. Subsequently, in 2006, One Heart Bulgaria helped finance washers and dryers and repairs for their heating system.