Child center in Muzeiko - Children's center in Muzeiko

Dear friends,

"Muzeiko", "America for Bulgaria" Foundation, "Za Dobroto" Foundation, "Teach for Bulgaria" Foundation, "Education without backpacks" Foundation and the MindFit team joined forces to open a day care, creativity and education center for children driven out by the war in Ukraine. Working every day from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:00.

The most painful sight is that of a frightened small child. Tears rolling down the cheeks silently. We saw children like that many times in the last 9 days - Masha, Viktoria, Lerka... The most beautiful sight is that of a child with eyes glowing with joy. And we continue to see such sights at the Foundation's Center for Children's Smiles in SoftUniDigital created in cooperation with the Open Doors Situation center.

The vast majority of Ukrainian women seeking peace in Bulgaria arrive with their young children. For some our country was the ultimate goal and for others the journey simply led them here. All of them are disoriented, emotionally and physically exhausted, clueless about what awaits them. They have lost their entire known world. Fathers and older brothers, grandparents and friends all stayed behind. These children already know separation, loss and war. The 10-year-old boy is already a small man, offering support to his mother and younger siblings.

For these children we are building a new larger day center, where they will receive attention, care, food, will be able to share with other children the normal child activities – playing, having fun and learning in a cozy and safe place to cope with trauma .

• As of Monday "Muzeiko" is providing rooms for the new children's center for about 100 children. We will provide them with half-day care with food and program of activities - from 9:30 to 13:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00, or full day care from 9:30 to 17:00.
• We organize groups for children aged 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. They will have time to play, paint, sing, do theater, go out and educate themselves.
• From Wednesday to Sunday there will be family time for children and parents to view the exhibits in "Muzeiko" - from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Our team includes educators, psychologists and speech therapists who will help children adapt. And a nurse – one of the Ukrainian mothers who, instead of seeking help for their children, offers help to others.
• We will be flexible in making programs of activities where the children feel like children – a little happier, curious, loved, cared for and protected.

The center is one of the initiatives of US and Bulgarian partners in support of the thousands of Ukrainians forced to flee their country. The United With Ukraine portal helps people who are already located in Bulgaria or planning to come to Bulgaria, in areas such as housing, childcare, employment and continuing education for students, etc. There you will find current information for the initiatives and all necessary contacts.

The war reveals both the worst and the best in people. The good is always more, it must be more because of the defenseless victims of the madness.

We will keep you informed on how each day goes for the children in the center. "Za Dobroto" Foundation - Nadia and Jana, are our coordinators there.

Volunteers with experience in working with children, in Ukrainian or Russian and in English are welcome. We need your help for a few hours a day. Children need you.

Please fill out the volunteer form and we will contact you.

Друзі,

Muzeiko, Fund "America for Bulgaria", Fund "For Good", Fund "Reason in Class", Fund "Education Without Borders" and the MindFit team joined forces to create a center for learning and creativity for children who were forced to leave of Ukraine through the war. The center will be open daily from Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The most painful sight is seeing a frightened little child with tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Unfortunately, I have seen such children many times in the last 9 days - Masha, Victoria, Lera... The most pleasant sight is seeing a child with eyes shining with joy. I have seen such children many times in the Children's Smile Center at SoftUniDigital, which was created jointly with the "Open Doors" Situation Center.

Most women seeking shelter in Bulgaria come with small children. For some, our country was the final destination, for others, they got here by chance. Everyone is disoriented, emotionally and physically exhausted, uncertain about what the future holds for them. Their children lost their entire familiar world. Their parents, older brothers, grandmothers, grandfathers and friends stay there in Ukraine. These children have already known rozluku, lost and fought. A 10-year-old boy becomes a little man, a support for his mother, younger sisters and brothers.

For these children, we are creating a new large day center where they will be able to receive attention, care, food, where they will engage with other children in their usual children's activities - play, have fun, learn in a comfortable and safe place and deal with trauma.

• On Monday, "Muzeiko" provides rooms for the new children's center with approximately 100 seats. We provide half-day care with meals and an entertainment-educational program - from 9.30 to 13.30 and from 13.30 to 17.00, or on a full day from 9.30 to 17.00.
• Організовуємо групи для дітей 4-6, 7-9 та 10-12 років. Діти матимуть час, щоб грати, малювати, співати, грати в театрі, гуляти та навчатися.
• On Wednesdays and Sundays, there will be a family hour for children and parents to view exhibits in "Muzeiko" - from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Our team includes pedagogues, psychologists and speech therapists who will help children adapt. A center nurse is one of the Ukrainian mothers who, instead of seeking help for their children, offers help to others.
• We will be flexible in order to create programs in which children really feel like children - a little more happy, inquisitive, protected, surrounded by care and love.

The center is one of the initiatives of American and Bulgarian partners in support of thousands of Ukrainians forced to leave their country. The United With Ukraine portal helps people who are already in Bulgaria or plan to come to Bulgaria, in such matters as housing, child care, employment, additional education for students, etc. On the portal you will find up-to-date information about initiatives and all the necessary contact data.

Війна проявляє в людях всі найгірші та найкращі якості. Добра завжди більше, його повинно бути більше заради беззахисних жертв божевілля.

We will keep you informed about what is happening at the center every day. Our coordinators - Nadia and Zhana - "For the Good" fund.

Запрошуємо волонтерів з досвідом роботи з дітьми, що володіють українською або російською та англійською мовами. Ми потребуємо вашої допомоги на декілька годин. Ви потрібні дітям.

Please fill out the volunteer form to contact us.

Дякуємо всім причетним і всім, хто приєднається до створення нового чудового дитячого простору посмішок!