Future and Hope Project - Halfway House for young people without parental care leaving social institution
One of the most difficult moments in the lives of the abandoned teenagers and orphans living in the social institutions, is when they finish school and have to leave the institution. They have been deserted by their parents or relatives, and don’t have any material support or developed skills to start their independent lives. As many of them have special needs - either physical or mental disabilities - the need for more extended assistance becomes apparent.
In order to provide the much needed help for these young people, in June 2006 we started the Future and Hope Project - a Halfway House for girls who leave social institutions.
An apartment was rented in Sofia to accommodate up to five girls aged 18 to 23. Star of Hope’s staff assists them with emotional and behavioural matters and trains them in “skills for life” such as:
- Understanding their rights
- How to find work
- Budgeting
- Tenant responsibility
- Organizing their everyday lives, etc.
Seeing the good results, Star of Hope Foundation decided to expand the Future and Hope Project by opening a Halfway House for boys on the 1st of July 2010. The boys are happily living in an atmosphere of comfortable home supported by the social worker and our volunteers. As a partner in the project, Lions Club Sofia - Vitosha supported us in a partial renovation of the apartment, as well as they pay the monthly rent for it.
Our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment that encourages the young people to make the best of themselves and to give them hope for a better future.
During my time with the Halfway House Project, I learned how to budget my income and also how to take care of
myself. Thank you!
Antonia, former resident
More Photos - Halfway House for girls
More Photos - Halfway House for boys
News
On October 12th, 2011, Star of Hope organized a visit to the Bulgarian Parliament of the pupils from the Knjaz Boris I Special Needs Vocational Training Boarding School in Sofia.
In September 2011, Vessy and Veronika started their studies in the Filaretova Medical College in Sofia. The girls are part of our Future & Hope Programme – Half-way Houses for vulnerable young people.
July 14th – 20th, 2011, we held a camp in Sapareva Banya for underprivileged teenagers from Sofia and Strumjani Municipality. The camp had a strong emphasis on Prevention of Antisocial Behaviour.