Completed
The Pediatrics Department at Dupnitsa Hospital will be completely renovated under the "Firefly" project
On November 15, 2024, the Pediatrics Department of St. Ivan Rilski Hospital in Dupnitsa announced the launch of the Firefly project – an inspiring partnership that promises to transform the hospital environment for children. The project is being implemented by the For Good Foundation in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Dupnitsa, the Municipality of Dupnitsa and St. Ivan Rilski Hospital. The event brought together key individuals committed to the cause, including: the Deputy Mayor of Dupnitsa, Ms. Dafinka Georgieva, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Krum Bonev, long-time pediatrician, Dr. Valentina Nikolova, as well as representatives of the Rotary Club of Dupnitsa, the For Good Foundation and architects involved in the project.
Support from the local community
Deputy Mayor Ms. Georgieva said: "It is important that children feel safe and cared for during their hospital stay, and a cozy environment plays a key role in this. Dupnitsa Municipality will support the project with 100,000 leva, and we hope that together with the efforts of the non-governmental sector and citizens we will raise the necessary funds to make this dream come true."
Dr. Bonev emphasized the importance of the initiative: "The pediatric ward is an example of professionalism, but it needs renovation, which will further improve the care for our young patients. We thank everyone who is part of this process."
A change that brings comfort and hope
The Firefly project aims to transform children's hospital wards in Bulgaria, focusing on creating a warm, functional and inspiring environment. In the Dupnitsa ward, all patient rooms, reception rooms, manipulation and office spaces will be renovated.
Among the highlights of the project are:
Creating a waiting room and play area to reduce stress for children and their parents.
The creation of kitchenettes that will provide amenities such as a refrigerator, microwave oven, and hot water kettle.
Interior improvements including new beds, duvets, linens, bedside lamps and fun wall decorations.
Arch. Magdalena Slavova and the team of the For Good Foundation made key changes to the initial design to ensure that each space would be as comfortable and welcoming as possible for the children and staff.
The power of unity
The project is proof of how different sectors can join forces for the sake of good. Thanks to the partnership with the Rotary Club of Dupnitsa, which has already raised 125,000 leva, the Municipality of Dupnitsa, which is providing 100,000 leva, and the St. Ivan Rilski Hospital, which will invest at least 50,000 leva, half of the necessary funds have already been secured.
A1 doubled the good: Another 150,000 BGN for renovation of the children's ward
With every donation during the campaign "We are connected by goodness: Donate for the children, and A1 will double the amount", the good grew. Thanks to this initiative, A1 was able to raise an additional 150,000 leva, which will be invested in the renovation of the children's hospital ward.
These funds will help create a more modern, comfortable and healing environment that puts the child at the center of care and facilitates the work of medical staff.
We thank A1 and everyone who joined the campaign - because together we are turning children's hospitals into places of peace, care and hope!
The total cost of the project is 638,000 BGN, with the remaining amount expected to be raised through donations and support from businesses and citizens.
We look to the future
The Firefly project in Dupnitsa will begin in the spring of 2025, and the ward will continue to receive patients, temporarily moving to an alternative location. This means that care for young patients will not be interrupted. “Our dream is for every child in Bulgaria to be treated in an environment that brings them comfort and peace,” said Nadezhda Rangelova-Boyadzhieva, co-founder of the For Good Foundation. “Together we can achieve miracles – today in Dupnitsa, tomorrow throughout the country.”
Let's together turn children's hospitals into places of hope, peace, and healing.
The completely renovated pediatric ward of the St. Ivan Rilski Hospital in Dupnitsa opened its doors on October 19, 2026. This is the 12th pediatric ward in Bulgaria, completely transformed under the project "Firefly - a hospital that doesn't look like a hospital" of the "For Good" Foundation.
The opening day was special for more than one reason. On October 19, Dupnitsa celebrates the city's holiday, the St. Ivan Rilski Hospital celebrates its patron saint's day, and the medical community celebrates the Day of the Bulgarian Doctor. This year, all these occasions were joined by another one - the opening of a space where children will be able to receive medical care in a more relaxed, welcoming and functional environment.
For us, this is another step towards the big dream of a complete ReDesign of Children's Healthcare in Bulgaria – healthcare in which the child patient is placed at the center of care, and the hospital environment does not create additional fear and anxiety, but supports treatment.
Every year, the pediatric department of the St. Ivan Rilski Hospital welcomes around 700 children. They are cared for by 5 doctors, 8 nurses and 6 orderlies – people who dedicate their efforts to the health of the youngest patients every day.
Before the transformation, the ward needed a complete renovation to meet both the modern requirements for a hospital environment and the needs of the children, their parents, and medical specialists.
The project included 10 patient rooms with a total of 18 beds, an intensive care unit with 2 beds, manipulation rooms, an isolator, a reception area, and the common areas of the ward.
A major renovation was carried out, including restructuring of premises, construction and renovation of sanitary facilities, replacement of flooring, lighting and electrical installation, as well as a complete renovation of the walls and interior.
New medical equipment, hospital beds and furnishings were delivered, and furniture was made to suit the size and purpose of the individual rooms.
But as in every "Firefly", the most important thing is not just how the compartment looks after the renovation, but how the new environment will affect the people who spend time in it.
„"Firefly" - Dupnitsa is much more than a successfully completed renovation. It is an example of what can happen when a cause stops being "someone's" and becomes a common cause.
The implementation of the project was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of "For Good" Foundation, Rotary Club Dupnitsa, St. Ivan Rilski Hospital, Dupnitsa Municipality, local businesses, hundreds of donors, volunteers and partners.
Particularly important was the role of the Rotary Club of Dupnitsa, which organized a large-scale local donation campaign, mobilized the support of businesses and citizens, collected a significant portion of the necessary funds and assumed a large part of the payments for the implementation of the project.
Thus, gradually, an entire community united around the transformation of the children's ward.
During the opening, Metodi Dimitrov from the Rotary Club of Dupnitsa recalled the beginning of the initiative:
„"When the idea was born almost four years ago, we had a very limited budget and big ambitions. Then the For Good Foundation appeared with their Firefly project - we already had a big and even more ambitious goal in front of us - to transform the pediatric ward from a place that arouses fear and anxiety, into a space of comfort, hope, warmth and security for children."„
He also highlighted the most important result beyond the renovated premises:
„"This project showed something much bigger – the power of a united community. Project Firefly became a reality thanks to NGOs, businesses, schools and citizens walking hand in hand."„
For Good Foundation
Raiffeisenbank (Bulgaria) EAD
BIC code: UBBSBGSF
Support us with one click!
Support us with one click!
By campaign
For subscription donations and other ways to donate, visit http://www.dmsbg.com
