Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi Sally,



I thought I should explain in more detail;



I was very concerned that children had been allowed to go into a high risk zone of HIV, the children in this particular institute are in high risk category of having contracted HIV. None of the children have been tested for HIV, yesturday when the visit happened there was a broken window behind where one of the visitors were standing, There was blood from one of the children dripping from the window. This is not an ordinary orphanage the girls as young as 8 years have all been involved in human trafficking with out the use of condoms, this means they are a high risk catagory. One of the children at the institute telephoned me as he was distresed that lots of people were there and they did not understand why. I went to the institute directly and saw the little 8 year old scared in the corner of his room. the director had not explained that visitors were coming. All the other children were dancing and having fun. But one child was upset and scared at such a large group being there and not knowing why, he believed that he would be chosen to be taken and used in human trafficking . that is one to many children upset. The director after being on holiday for 3 months had turned up just for the visit and left after, her interest was clearly not with the children of the institute. this institute is no place for a school visit, i don't believe the parents were aware that this institute is high risk. It is believed that one of the children that ran away last week had contracted HIV prior to being placed, this child had sexual relations with one of the boys in the instutute whom in turn had sexual relation with two of the girls, I think you will see where this is going. As there was fresh blood that could have contaminated any of the visitors with small cuts naked to the eye, this could have spread disease ect. As many of the children self harm on a regular basis, this would have posed risk in itself. We are trying to get these children tested for HIV but as things stand we have not been successful. I only wish that people would think about the feelings of the institutionised children prior to visiting. The fault lies with the director she should make people aware of the risks.



Please understand that I do try and protect both sides. If all the parents of the children that visited this institute had given their permission for their children to visit a high risk HIV zone then the teachers are legally covered, but if not the school could be held liable. I believe that the director is at fault and should have highlighted the issues prior to allowing a visit to take place.



There are ways in which I could have protected the group if I was advised of a forth coming visit. I could have ensured that the visit take place in a sterilised environment. I would have spoken with the children and asked who wishes to see the visitors first ect.



The director simply told all the children to dance for the visitors, the director was clearly at fault here also, the children are not performing seals. Whilst most of the children were happy to perform in the hope that they would be rewarded with chocolate, there were a couple of children that did not wish to perform and worried about the consequences after the visitors had gone.



The director has been on holiday since 15th December 2008 and none of the children that have joined the institute since that time new whom she was, she arrived just for the visit and left directly after, I believe that she was hoping for a financial contribution that would not have reached the children.



I will take this matter up further with the director if she returns to work on the 17th April as planned.



Best regards,



Amanda