Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Whilst we are over the moon with all you donations and help, can I please ask that you think about things carefully prior to visiting this institute with out contacting me first.

The children at the institute have a regular routine. This is not a normal Orphanage, all the girls from as young as eight years are housed here because they have been used in human trafficking mainly by their parents. Most children self harm. These children are in a high risk category of HIV.

I am involved in this particular institute as these are the forgotten children. In general people give to babies and the younger institutes. This institute was not getting help. It is not the fault of the children that they have been used in human trafficking and other criminal offences, this is the fault of their parents. This was a way of life to survive prior to the police saving the children.

These children do self harm and we are working at reducing the problem.

Please it is not good for these children to have coach loads of people turning up looking at them, these children have feelings and don’t understand.

Please, please spare a thought for these children prior to visiting. If you feel that you can not allow yourself to give without seeing for yourself the problem first hand, don’t go in big numbers, just one or two people. This is no place for your children due to the high risk implications.

I am willing to arrange a visit in a supervised and safe way if this is the only way that you are willing to donate. I will always explain to the children first why you are there ect.

This may come accross as Amanda being over protective, but I can add a little bit of background to her comments.
Yesterday Amanda took a phone call from one of the children in floods of tears asking for Amanda to come and see him ASAP - he is just 8 years old.

When Amanda arrived he was still in tears saying 'why are all these people coming to see us, I am frightened and I don't want to see them.

The children were ushered into a room and were instructed to dance for visitors. How degrading is that?????

Amanda took over 2 hours to calm him down and explain why the people were there but the lad was still disraught and still is today.

So no, Amanda does not own the Orphanage but she is the one person the children trust - and that is over and above any member of staff or senior directors.

So all she is asking, is that she has prior notification of your arranged visit so she can be there to ensure the children are not placed under any undue stress.

These are very vunerable children, and they should not be viewed at animals in a zoo to be stared at.

Amanda will also ensure all visitor are protected from any children who may be subject to any illness that could be transmitted.

Give the lady a break - she's doing a magnificent job and doesn't need us to break her spirits.

Pete

As a teacher myself, you must be aware of 'Safe Guarding Children' in the UK. I have never worked in a school where strangers have been allowed in to view children without prior arrangements. Why should it be different standards for these children?

As to the children not being instructed before being viewed, children are never 'instructed' before OFSTED either, are they?

Yes, their plight has touched our hearts but everything has to be carefully managed, these children are too vulnerable.

I have offered my services as a SENCO, trained counsellor and trained child protection officer but would only go if Amanda felt it would benefit the children and then only after showing my CRB Police check.

Teacher,

I understand that you most probibly meant well, however I would like to put the record straight. I know that you were not aware of the full facts, therefore i feel duty bound to alert you of the facts.

Your visit was scheduled with the director as I mentioned earlier in this discussion, prior to your group visit the director had given instruction that the children must go into the large room once the visitors arrive and dance for them. Please correct me if i am wrong but this is exactly what happened.

As a teacher, i believe that you will understand that not all children are comfortable around strangers.

I would like to ask if all the parents of the children were aware and give their full written authority for you to take thier children in an institute which poses a high HIV risk?

I saw no mention of the school in which you represented maybe you could let us know the name and address of the school. You were fully responsible for those children that have been entrusted in your care by the parents.

I agree that the director should have informed you previously that this was by no means an ordinary Orphanage but the leader of your group should have done a little home work for the protection of these children in your care. I guess the director was hoping for a financial contribution. Did you bring anything for these children? I ask this as no one saw any donated items and if you did kindly donate i would like to ask the director what happened to them. Maybe you could clarify the situation?

I do not post to up-set or anger you in any way, i simply want to protect the children in this institute, just as you would like to protect your children. These children are not here to dance for strangers, what is this telling them? most of these children have been involved in human trafficking prior to be placed, therefore i can not condone them dancing for a room full of strangers when they do not understand why. It is wrong by any means of the word. The director was not present when the children were dancing. I know and understand these children. The telephone call from one of the children was not amusing, he was not having fun, he was clearly traumatised.

Does the school in which you work allow a room full of complete strangers visiting rights without being checked by the authorities? In the UK we have laws that help protect our children, i just ask that everyone apply the same principals prior to participating in visiting institutes in Bulgaria. THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT PERFORMING SEALS

I am sure that every parent that has children will understand these basic rules.

To all readers

Over the years of working with the institutionalised in Bulgaria, i have lost count of the sheer numbers of visitors (strangers) that come into spend an hour with the children, cuddling them just to have photo's taken for their family album. What message do you think that this sends to these children? Would you be allowed to enter a school in the UK and just cuddle any child that takes your fancy and have your photograph taken with them? I THINK NOT. Soeone needs to protect these children, the director clearly is not doing a very good job.

This is what i am trying to stop, not promote.