Day 4 - Final thoughts...

In the nature of my job I have had the fortune to meet some amazing students from a wide variety of schools and countries - the Cedar Group this week have completely blown my mind with their whole approach to the challenges set before them.  Their dedication to see through the completion of the projects they have been fund-raising for has been stunning.  Perhaps even more impressive is the way that each student has interacted and worked with the residents over the past few days.  The girls demonstrated an incredible level of maturity, understanding and genuine affection towards a group of often mis-understood and ostracised members of our society.  The development of the animal enclosure and a multi-sensory room will offer the residents of the group homes in Kyustendil further opportunities and experiences that are a million miles away from where they were three years ago in the now closed instituition in Gorna Koznitsa.  The end results are spectacular and testimony to the relationship between ISZL & the Cedar Foundation - but essentially it was driven by this group of amazing students.  It truly is an honour to be able to be a part of it.

Stuart Byfield

...Rafting

After an intense few days of hard work the Cedar group travelled South to the Struma river for an afternoon on a ropes course and rafting in the sun...here are a few snapshots of the experience...

Day 4 - Finishing Touches...

When we woke up this morning, we think all of us were looking forward to completing the projects we've been working on, and seeing the how the end products would turn out. We weren't, however, looking forward to the goodbyes that would have to come. We think we can speak for everyone when we say we didn't want to leave this soon. We feel very thankful and humbled to be able to share in the experience of setting up these amazing new facilities for the children. It was great to see the end results. We are extremely thankful for all of the staff at the group homes' hard work. It has been great spending time with all of the amazing, inspirational children at the small group homes and we really hope we can come back next year to continue improving their lives. We are looking forward to seeing what can be done in the future!

Eleanor and Emily

This morning, I can probably talk on behalf of everyone that it was really emotional going back to the homes, and finishing our projects that we had been working very hard on, and seeing the final products. It's wonderful to see how we've positively impacted the lives of the residents in so many different ways, knowing that we have achieved what we wanted to do in the first place. Today our farewells to the the kids was very emotional, just for the past couple of days, we have managed to share many connections and emotions with them, that it made us sad to say goodbye, I guess that the best part was knowing we've done something and taken the time to impact their lives. I remember that Gerri, one of the residents, came up to all of us hugging us really tight, and giving us big kisses, it was such a nice time spent with all these kids, I can guarantee that we've had some unforgetable experiences here in Bulgaria.

Rachel C.

Wow! This has been an amazing experience. I am so happy that I joined the Cedar Foundation, because I have got to see how children live and change under the different circumstances. Today was quite emotional and sad. Many gave us kisses and big hugs and were confused as to why we were leaving. I feel that the hours of work and time I have spent, are be able to change their perspectives, with the new equipment and sensory education. Mainly their kindness and lovingness really inspired me. I hope I can be able to help again next year and meet with these wonderful people.

Helena

Geez. I am just left speechless. I have met so many wonderful people during this short trip, including the staff at Cedar and most importantly the residents who have been showing us sweetness from the minute we arrived. It was such a sad sight to have to say goodbye. So many hugs and kisses were given to show how much we cared and how much they appreciated our help. I am so proud that we as a group have been able to work well together and complete the long list of tasks that were set out for us. The time we spent with the kids are truly amazing and unforgettable. I hope that they will enjoy the animal house and will be able to learn from the sensory bus. With all the time and effort we put into all the projects I feel that they will definitely be able to have an amazing time. Hopefully we can continue to help and support the children at Cedar in the foreseeable future.

Caitlin

Day 3 - Media Interviews, painting metal walls & dancing classes...

 
 A hard working day, painting a wall at the group homes, followed by joyful dancing at a local Kyustendil school. After hard work in the sun, painting the wall white, we learned a local Bulgarian folk dance. The teacher was patient as he took us through the steps with Niki as our translator. The room turned from a concentrated atmosphere to a room full of laughter, as we watched each other attempt the dance. Before we knew it we were accompanied by the excited residents. The building was filled with the sound of clapping, stomping and loud noises as the spectators watched us perform. We could tell by their actions that they were definitely eager to get up and dance, so we switched places and sat down to watch them. We watched the joy in their faces as they held hands and spun around in circles. The happiness in their eyes and emotion in the room, brought out a smile in everyones face. Dani was a girl that stood out in particular, as she took a great interest in the dance instructor, and she did not want to leave his side. Gerri took Morgane by the hand, and tried to encourage her to dance, and so we all joined in. The atmosphere in the room was cheerful and a wonderful moment. Time flew by soon we had to leave. It was a great and memorable day.

-Hannah P & Rachel M

Learning the Bulgarian folk dance was a truly inspirational yet joyous experience. After spending 40 minutes attempting the dance ourselves, with Mr Byfield taking videos to embarrass us even further, the residents of the Small Group Homes in Kyustendil arrived. We took our seats, willing and grateful for their arrival, as we could finally sit down. As soon as music filled the room, the smiles on the residents faces brought smiles to ours. They jumped around, clapped their hands, and eventually coaxed us into joining them, no one could wipe a grin off their face. Stanni even managed to get Mr Byfield on his feet, and none of us could stop laughing, him included. Seeing the residents completely elated, after previously visiting their old institution, was inspirational, and all of us were influenced deeply by this fun-filled, heartfelt, session.

Ellie S.

Woke up in the morning feeling like P-Diddy, 

then we got up and we hit the city. 

We trekked up the hill to see the kids, 

don't worry guys, we'll show you the vids. 

We spent lots of time painting the hut, 

but found at the end that the door wouldn't shut. 

After that disaster we went inside, 

all we wanted to do was cry and hide. 

But what we saw as we were going to sob, 

was Mr. Byfield, again not doing his job. 

We stormed outside to find him asleep, 

and that's when we really started to weep. 

We turned to leave to finish painting the wall, 

but Anna tripped on a twig, 'twas an all mighty fall. 

She rose up from the ground and she started to scream, 

Lindsay had no choice but to take her for ice cream. 

The gang reassembled to get in the car, 

however Mark's driving was not up to par. 

We got out of the vehicle after avoiding the cliff, 

the smell was horrific, it was the Porritt's pitwhiff. 

And with that off we went, back to the room, 

hopefully we will be back again soon.   

- Da Crew ( Katja, Tania, Anna, Ffion)

Day 2 - Group Homes in Kyustendil

We woke up this morning with many thoughts in our heads especially after what we had seen the previous day at Gorna Kozinitsa.  My first impression when we saw the group homes were that it was a massive improvement from the conditions they had previously been living in. We had a tour of the group homes and met a lot of the children. There were only 16 people in the group homes and 2 children to a bedroom. They had their own clothes and bathroom, normal sized beds with mattresses and they also had the opportunity to be individuals and just be children. After the tour we wer divided up into groups do different jobs which were: Painting the animal hut, painting the inside of the multi sensory bus, designing the outside of the bus and making textile things to go in the bus. Some of the residents came to help us with the painting.  After lunch we started another work session before some ‘Girly Time’ with the residents, painting their nails and doing their hair. We also did face painting and putting make up on them which they loved. With the boys we played football and blew bubbles and played with chalk. One of the little boys would hold out his arms as if he were expecting a hug, but he wanted to be spun around and found it really fun and was always smiling.

Frances Eskdale

Wow. The homes that the residents are now living in are so homey and have that extra feeling of a place where people can live and enjoy life. When we first arrived we got a tour of the home and got a welcome by a lovely girl called Stanislava, she gave us a tour of her room, very proudly. Even though at the end she admitted she was quite nervous as we were a big group. Throughout the day I could always see a smile on her face, which made my day. All the residents were lovely and welcoming.  Holding our hands, giving hugs and trying to communicate with us. During this busy day we accomplished a whole lot. We worked on the inside of the caravan/sensory bus, the outside of the caravan and several sensory objects. We are glad we could accomplish so much in a day, as all we have to do now is use our stencils to spray paint the outside of the sensory bus. Hopefully the finished product will look very good and most of all be helpful for the kids. We're sure that tomorrow will also be productive. We're looking forward to seeing the kids tomorrow and spending some more down time with them.

Caitlin Hemminga and Nadine Saris

We were shocked to see the massive improvement from the old homes to the new homes. The children have more space to be free, expressive and independent. It was completely inspirational to see how they could be so happy after being in such a confined and in-human environment. When we walked through the door we were greeted with big smiles and hugs. We then got to see their rooms and the rest of the grounds. A small group of us including Ellie Seed, Karen Denti and myself went out to buy some items to put into the sensory bus. We went out with two members of the home and they were so excited to be going out. The two girls we went with were very sweet and treated us like we were best friends which was strange but very touching. One of the girls gave me and Ellie a tight hug and a big kiss on the cheek, it was an odd feeling of both the instinct to retreat and having someone be so close. All the children are spectacular and I cannot say anything bad about their amazing spirit and warm hearts. I can safely say for all of us that we are looking forward to seeing them again tomorrow. 

Rachel Lennon

Day 1 - Travelling & Gorna Koznitsa

Started at 7.30 in the morning when we all met at the airport, late arrivals due to traffic but was great fun. We were all looking forward to our day together as a group in Bulgaria. Once we landed in Sofia we went off to lunch and prepared ourselves to visit the institution, which was shut down in 2010.

It took us about an hour and a half to get there and as soon as we entered the homes we were shocked.  The way that it smelled even after two years of no-one living in it.  It was horrible.  Knowing the fact that these children were living in these dreadful collections was shocking for many of us.  The faeces of the children, on the walls, on the floors and especially on the furniture.  They only had one working toilet for about 58 children together.  One of the rooms that Mark showed us was where all 58 children together and were locked in the room.  However, even though seeing these horrible conditions, we are really looking forward to spending the day with the children that have improved greatly.

Karen & Morgane 

As I headed through the doors of the institution I saw that the place was a wreck. It would never have been in a decent state for 58 children to live in. Their life was kept in between the gates, and never had they been outside. This made me realize that we take things for granted and don't realize that we are so privileged to be allowed to live in a well-built home, that we can go to a good school and on top of all have a place we can call "home".




While we were walking around the institution so many emotions were coming to me at once. I felt shocked that people would allow such a place. Shouldn't we all be treated equally? It is hard to explain the way I felt about the institution as I had not realised that this was the way people lived.

Caitlin

This is how we got here

The fundraising for Cedar started early last year, after we had decided on raising money for to buy a bus to turn it into multi sensory bus. To raise enough money for the bus we decided that we wanted to run hot chocolate stands before Christmas and before ski week. We wanted to run the stand for 4 days each time we sold hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was a huge success raising a large amount of money.  Another event the Cedar group organised was creating a coin picture in the shape of the school logo. Last year this was a great success raising a huge sum of money, this year, are aim was to repeat that success. First we started of by creating posters which would be hung up around the school. Unlike the hot chocolate sale the whole school would be contributing to the picture.  After all the posters had gone up, in groups of 2 or 3 we went around the school promoting it and encouraging the students to bring in as many Swiss Francs and Euros as possible.  The day of the coin image came and we were not disappointed with the results, almost all the classes had brought in coins to support us. In the end the coin image turned out really well.  Thanks to all the fundraising we have managed to buy the bus and we are now looking forward to turning it into the multi sensory bus with the Cedar team in Bulgaria.