UNICEF submitted a final report of the funds raised by The Magnificent Six
Sofia, 31.08.2010. Today, Sofia saw the official opening of the last of the Little Houses for the children from the Mogilino care establishment. This ended up the UNICEF project for closing down the Mogilino institution, which was supported by the bTV show The Magnificent Six. UNICEF invested BGN 300 000 for building the Little House. Construction and assembly works were carried out, furniture, equipment and an elevator were mounted so as to make the home fully fit for the needs of people with disabilities. Additional funding will be invested to train the staff in charge of the 8 children.
Mayor Yordanka Fandakova opened the event expressing her acknowledgements to UNICEF and bTV for the confidence to the Sofia Municipality and for their partnership during the construction of the sixth Little House. The Mayor of Sofia committed herself that the children from Mogilino placed in the Little House will receive good care and an opportunity for a normal and happy life in their new home.
Ms. Milena Harizanova, Programme Director for UNICEF Bulgaria, extended her gratitude to bTV and the entire audience of The Magnificent Six, who believed in UNICEF's cause for closing down the care institution in Mogilino and supported it. 'The capabilities of disabled children are often underestimated and their needs neglected. It is important to realise that adequate assistance can provide these children with proper families, remove them from the social homes and schools for assisted development, while nourishing their potential to integrate successfully in society', she added.
Viki Politova, Chief Operating Director of the bTV Media Group, emphasised the significance of the Mogilino closedown project, which was supported by bТV to the benefit and in the interest of all children in Bulgaria. The greatest success of The Magnificent Six is that the closing down of all homes for disabled children in Bulgaria will continue to run on budget funding, after the investment of the funds raised by the bTV broadcast in the creation of Little Houses for children, which is the commencement of a new type of service.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Kalin Kamenov, Deputy Chairperson of the State Agency for Child Protection; Mr. Ivaylo Ivanov, Executive Director of the Social Assistance Agency; Magardich Halvadzhiyan, director of The Magnificent Six format, as well as by participants in the first edition: Nikolay Svinarov, Veselin Marinov, Neli Ivanova and Rumyana Marinova.
As of today, 2 Little Houses were opened in Ruse, 1 in the village of Glozhene, 1 in the city of Varna and 1 in the village of Dve Mogili. The care home in the village of Mogilino was officially closed down in October, 2009.
UNICEF accomplished the activities under the project with bTV's invaluable help, whereas The Magnificent Six did the fundraising for the new services and gave publicity about the miserable care situation of children in institutions. A total of six Little Houses were built for the children and youth from the Mogilino care home who will be provided with a family-like environment.
Read the FINAL REPORT on the implementation of the Project here:>>
The Little House: a family-type placement centre
The family-type placement centre is an alternative community-based social service, where a small group of children live in a home environment. They go to school, communicate with their neighbours, play and meet friends in the neighbourhood. The child and his/her needs are the focal theme in a Little House's life. Each child there is unique, incomparable and will be given the most favourable conditions for development. As at present, 2 houses were opened in Ruse and there are other houses in Varna, Teteven and Dve Mogili.
About UNICEF:
UNICEF is the Children's Fund of the United Nations Organisation and is a part of the big UN family. Since 1946 onwards, UNICEF has established itself as a leading organisation in working with children and is represented in over 150 countries around the world. UNICEF supports children's survival and welfare from early childhood to adolescence. UNICEF extends aid in the field of child healthcare and healthy nutrition, primary education for all girls and boys, protection of children against violence, exploitation and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely with voluntary donations from individuals, companies, foundations and governments.
UNICEF's activity for closing down the care facility in Mogilino is a part of the organisation's work in support of the deinstitutionalisation process in Bulgaria. The main priorities in UNICEF's projects are the assistance for families, foster care, abandonment prevention, etc.
For further details:
Tsvetelina Bonova, Communications and PR, UNICEF Bulgaria, phone: 02-96-96-207, 0882-42-44-43, Email: tbonova@unicef.org
