Over the past decade, OSI has seen our Bulgaria children through remarkable change and development in their country, including Bulgaria's entry into the European Union.  Focusing on our initial core group of children, we have helped them grow and have seen them through this sometimes painful transition for themselves.  We have gradually reduced our Bulgaria program, as Bulgaria's economy has developed, and as our initial children have grown up and out of the program, though we remain very proud and communicatively involved with many of these.

Slatino Orphanage - OSI's initial effort in Bulgaria, beginning in 2001, was at an orphanage for 40 children in the village of Slatino, near Dupnitza, about 65km south of capitol Sofia.  Providing daily care for these children, with them we also endured the closure of the orphanage in 2005 and the scattering of the children to various orphanages, foster homes, and relatives' homes.  Our mission turned to helping each of these children through their difficult transition and into their new lives.  These children are all now established young-adults, and we still maintain contact with many of them.

Dupnitza Orphanage and Mahali - In 2003, OSI also began sponsorship of children at Dupnitza orphanage, in addition to a unique sponsorship effort for children living in impoverished families in the desperate "mahali", -Roma communities that surround Dupnitza.  OSI liaison Jennifer Hee established our Day Center where our orphanage and Roma children could come for counseling, tutoring, independent living classes, leisure, or just a shoulder to lean on.  The Day Center established by OSI is now operated by a local charity and continues to serve today's children in the community.

Projects - Special projects accomplished for our Dupnitza and Slatino children:

	Day Center October 2006 - Ongoing Facility for life skills- and vocational-training and other functions for our Dupnitza children...

Dupnitza Events - Special events and excursions provided for OSI-Bulgaria's Dupnitza children:

	Halloween 31 October 2006 Halloween party for our Dupnitza children at our Day Center...		SofiaLand 8 September 2006 SofiaLand amusement park...
	Summer Camp in Greece 24-29 August 2004 Week-long seaside summer camp in Alexandra, Greece...		Mount Vitosha 25 July 2004 Day-trip to the top of Mount Vitosha...
	Christmas in the Mountains 24-26 December 2003 Three-day Christmas camp at a lodge in snowy Panichishte, high in the Rila Mountains...		Veliko Turnovo and Shipka 22 July 2003 Scenic and educational excursion to Veliko Turnovo and Shipka historical sights...

Geography

	More Maps - See more maps of Bulgaria and of the Dupnitza region...
	The Weather in Bulgaria:

Other OSI Program Site Pages: