Training Staff in Institutions for Disabled Children

Location: Throughout the country (training courses in Sofia)

Situation:

In the period leading up to EU accession, Bulgaria has seen sizeable economic growth. However, despite the government s commitment to carry out reforms immediately, the European Union has pointed to three weaknesses: efforts to tackle corruption, the management of regional aid, and food security. The gradual social improvements mask deep regional disparities and major social inequalities, in particular for the Roma community whose situation remains worrying and whose health status is appalling.

Activities:

MdM is supporting a Bulgarian association called ‘Child and Space’ as part of the ‘Child and his symptoms’ project which is run in two ways:
• Training the staff of eight institutions, four disabled children’s centres and the social workers of the child protection agency;
• A training programme for all the staff in the institutions and centres delivered by ‘supporters’ appointed by the Bulgarian project co-ordinator.

Outlook:

• Training the staff of the majority of Bulgarian institutions for disabled children.

Project start date: January 2005

End date: June 2009