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OSI - Bulgaria |
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Dupnitza Dupnitsa Tsenevi
Mahala - Gizdova
Mahala - Personnel
- Dupnitza
Community -
Geography Besides the educational emphasis, our Roma
sponsorship program provides for the children's happiness and well-being in numerous
other ways, from providing medical help, to celebrating birthdays and
holidays, to taking the children on excursions and day-trips. We
hope to secure a more promising future for these children, as well as to
make their present childhood a little easier. Tsenevi Mahala is on the southwestern outskirts of Dupnitza, separated from town by a small river. Click on the photos below to view larger images:
Gizdova Mahala is on the northwestern outskirts of Dupnitza at the very base of the Rila mountains beyond town. Click on the photos below to view larger images:
Events - Special events and excursions which OSI has arranged for our Dupnitza children (click on links):
Projects - Special projects established for our Dupnitza children:
Tsenevi and Gizdova are on the outskirts of Dupnitza, the region's largest town. Dupnitza is an old town of about 50,000, located 60 kilometers south of Bulgaria's capital, Sofia. The Macedonian border lies nearby to the west, and the Greek border is 100 kilometers to the south. Dupnitza sits at the base of the Rila mountain range, which rises impressively and immediately from the eastern edge of town. Traditionally, Dupnitza's economy was based on it's position in the heart of a tobacco-growing region, and it also contained numerous factories. With the fall of communism, many of the inefficient, state-run factories were closed. The tobacco industry has also suffered significantly, and as a result Dupnitza today is economically depressed, like many other small towns in Bulgaria. There is a modern pharmaceutical plant in Dupnitza which is probably the largest employer. Many other residents spend much of the year working abroad, mostly in Italy and Spain, where they can earn a much better income to support their families who remain in Dupnitza. Despite
its struggling economy, Dupnitza manages to maintain a unique
character. A bit shabby on the surface, it has color and flavor
underneath, and it's residents have mastered the art of making a hard life
as pleasant as possible. As with all of south-Europe, the chief pastime
is chatting with old friends while sipping espresso at any one of the many local cafe's.
Adding to Dupnitza's flavor are discrete remnants of
it's history, from the Turkish mosque and governor's home, to the old
clock tower that overlooks the center of town.
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The
town of Dupnitza contains a large Roma population, all living in
impoverished "mahali", shanty neighborhoods, on the outskirts of town.
Our goal is to help needy children in these communities by providing for their
health and hygiene, and most importantly to foster their means of
education. Many of these children are reluctant to attend school
because they lack school books and supplies and even adequate
clothing. In addition, these children are often discriminated
against by their
fellow students and even teachers because of their ethnicity. Via sponsorship, our aim
is to provide school books and supplies, and for the children to be
comfortably clothed for school. We wish for them to feel equal to
their peers by being properly equipped. We also counsel these
children to strengthen them for the realities they face from common
prejudice against them. As these children live with parents or
relatives, we also work closely with these guardians to assure these goals
are met.
