Number of Children: 65
Ages: 7-19 yrs.

Sponsors: Anonymous

Special Projects Available

Tanyo Voivoda Orphanage is located in the town of Assenovgrad which is 14 miles south of Plovdiv in the skirts of Rodopi Mountain. This town of 30,000 is known as the Bulgarian Jerusalem because it has 36 Orthodox houses of worship. This facility was originally a textile factory and is in very bad shape and needs a serious renovation. Plans for a renovation have been made and the municipality will fund it.

There are 65 children living here between the ages of 7 and 19 years. Maria Sirakova is the director and is assisted by a staff of 22 individuals, including 1 social worker, 1 psychiatrist, 9 tutors and 10 service workers. There is also a part-time nurse and music teacher.

It is interesting that the orphanage itself started a program of developing a Protected (transition) House Project on its own. There are a few Protected Homes in Bulgarian where children are organized into “families” so they can become more self-reliant by living in apartments with a caregiver. Tanyo Voivoda has transformed part of their facility for this purpose. This program is somewhat similar to the Opportunity Homes Program that One Heart Bulgaria is organizing and funding. The director is asking OHB to help them furnish the house.

One washer and two dryers:   These are urgently needed. Cost: $4,000

Medical office:  A space is needed for medical examinations and treatment of sick children. The plan is to purchase and install prefabricated partitions in an existing space. Cost:  $2,000

Powdered milk: Powdered milk is a food item needed by all orphanages because the authorities forbid the use of fresh milk. Milk can be purchased locally for $2,626.20 (1,800 EURO) for a metric ton (1,000kgs.) Our field director expects to arrange a discount on this price. Most orphanages need about 250 kgs. per year. This would supply 4 orphanages for one year. Powdered milk can also be supplied through a container shipment from a supplier in the U.S. Cost: $2,626.20, if purchased in Bulgaria.

To sponsor this orphanage, or to help out with a special project, contact our Sponsorship Director, Donna Dushku (donna.dushku@oneheart-bg.org).