''SOS Children's Villages Bulgaria'' takes over the management of the Crisis Center for Refugee Children in Ruse

Friday, 19 July 2024

Today, Mayor Pencho Milkov and the Director of the ''SOS Children's Village Veliko Tarnovo – Gabrovo – Tryavna'' Ivan Hristoforov signed a contract for the provision of the social service "Crisis Center for Unaccompanied Children, Foreign Nationals and Refugee Children at Risk" in Ruse. The term of the contract is for a period of two years, starting from August 1.

"The way we treat people in need is indicative of our growth as a society. I believe that the trust you have built so far in the country is indicative of your abilities. It is a privilege for us that you will develop your activities in our city as well," said the mayor. He wished success to the service provider and said that the cooperation between the local administration and SOS Children's Villages Bulgaria is also an opportunity for the Municipality of Ruse to develop its capacity.

The choice for the management of the Crisis Center was made after a competition, and the funding for the activity is in accordance with a subsidy from the state budget. The control over the implementation will be carried out by the municipal administration as the contracting authority.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Mayor Dimitar Nedev, the Director of the Social and Health Activities Directorate Milena Vlahova and the Head of the Social Activities Department Gergana Pasheva.

We remind you that the service is a state-delegated activity and was opened on the territory of the municipality of Ruse on November 1, 2022 by an order for preliminary approval of the Executive Director of the Social Assistance Agency and by a decision of the Municipal Council.

The capacity of the service is 16 children, for whom 24 hours of specialized care are provided by a team of 12 members.

Currently, 13 children from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Syria are accommodated. Since the beginning of the opening of the service, 56 unaccompanied children from 6 countries have found temporary shelter.
The need to disclose this service was identified by the refugee wave and the frequent cases of detention of unaccompanied refugee children at the Danube Bridge border checkpoint, as well as the lack of appropriate services on the territory of the municipality of Ruse.

The service operates successfully, receiving the necessary methodological and expert support from the Municipality of Ruse, non-governmental organizations with experience in the field and state authorities at local and national level.

SOS Children's Villages Bulgaria Association is the first civil rights organization in the country that provides direct care for children at risk. Bulgaria For more than a quarter of a century, SOS Children's Villages Bulgaria has been offering family-type care and support to the family and actively advocating for the rights of children and young people.

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