Bulgaria's abandoned children

Bros123

Has anyone else watched this horrific documentary on BBC2?
The conditions these children are living in in an EU country is a disgrace.
If anyone hasn't seen it they should keep an eye out for it on BBC4.
I for one have just emailed the Bulgarian embassy in Dublin to express my concern.
Any decent Irish person who sat through this documentary should at least do this.

BulgarianEmbassyDublin@eircom.net

quarryman

yep, watched it last night. very upsetting.

Cainer

I was just about to post the same thing. It was really heart breaking to see those poor children. I spent half of the programme in tears.

Thanks for the email address for the Bulgarian Embassy, I'm going to mail them right now.

Drummerboy2

I watched this programme and was in tears watching it. The children were all totally malnurished while almost all their so-called carers were obese. What a contrast. I can't get the image of that poor child, with broken limbs, bed soares and in obvious constant pain out of my head all morning. Romania had to clean up their act when they were applying for EU membership. Why has this not happened in the case of the Bulgarian institutes. The attitude of the Director of the orphenage just typified the uncaring nature of the country. Scandalous.

dame

I watched it and it was scandalous. The country must be so corrupt to allow for those institutions to be run and for the same people to be left in charge of them.

MikeHoncho

The governement in Bulgaria is more interested in selling investment propertys to mugs from Ireland and the UK. Didnt see the show but have read terrible things about the country in the past.

Raekwon

I watched it too and I was totally shocked at what I saw!

The care workers where completely incompetent and I thought that is was disgusting the way the children were treated by them. One of the most disturbing things about the programme was the revelation that the laundry man regularly beat the boys leaving them with bloody noses and completely terrified of him. Plus the male care worker who brought all the girls to the showers naked then washed them all with his own hands!!!! (This was made even worse when the director said that most of the girls were not virgins! sick!!!)

It is unbelievable how a country that is in the EU can be allowed to threat human beings like in this way, it was more like a Nazi concentration camp then a home for disabled children.

Bros123

Just wanted to keep this post going.To people who didn't see this program i urge them to do a search on it.
The BBC have gotten thousands of replies about the program.
Also people should urge MEP's to address this problem.
I have emailed Kathy Sinnott already.God knows if anyone will try to do anything it's her.

kathy.sinnott@europarl.europa.eu

Bros123

Have just found a link to the 90 minute program and its upsetting but people should watch it and send those emails.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9176914173325307126&q=bulgarias+abandonned+children&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

eirebhoy

Bros123 wrote: »

Have just found a link to the 90 minute program

Was it only on for 90 minutes? I thought it seemed like about 3 hours. I just can't help thinking that these kids know no better and it's no different from the animals in the same situation.

odyssey06

Hmm... Irish prisoners consider taking Irish government to European court because they say their human rights are being violated by 'slopping out'... and this goes on in Bulgaria? Can someone explain the point of European-level court systems because they appear so to be failing abysmally if they are supposed to precent actual human rights abuses.

gazzer

I followed the link that bros123 posted.. Jesus Christ those poor children. I am in tears watching it.. Not much upsets me but I dont think I can watch all of it, to think of the scumbags going around this country and then you see those poor innocent kids in Bulgaria.. We have to do something about this.

Big Ears

eirebhoy wrote: »

Was it only on for 90 minutes? I thought it seemed like about 3 hours. I just can't help thinking that these kids know no better and it's no different from the animals in the same situation.

Ya it was 90 minutes , and the children had become nothing more than animals . Without education I suppose that is only to be expected .

Truly horrific stuff for a European Union country .

Bros123

gazzer wrote: »

I followed the link that bros123 posted.. Jesus Christ those poor children. I am in tears watching it.. Not much upsets me but I dont think I can watch all of it, to think of the scumbags going around this country and then you see those poor innocent kids in Bulgaria.. We have to do something about this.

Well as i said keep emailing every politician you know.
Kathy Sinnot has replied to my email which i really didn't want just to post up here but she is already working hard on this issue.
I think its up to everyone here to get emailing other politicians.
Also is there another section of Boards where this info could be posted for people who aren't aware of what is going on in Bulgaria?

Bros123

I have attached a question that Kathy Sinnot has tabled for the European Parliament on this issue.

HarryD

unbelievable..
Fair play to Kathy Sinnot.
My friend does charity work with children like these in Belarus..
I live not far from Mogilino in Budapest.
Time to investigate taking some time off to help these poor creatures.

Bros123

HarryD wrote: »

unbelievable..
Fair play to Kathy Sinnot.
My friend does charity work with children like these in Belarus..
I live not far from Mogilino in Budapest.
Time to investigate taking some time off to help these poor creatures.

Fair play Harry.It's one of these things,what can the average joe soap do?

HarryD

my friend works in Belarusian orphanages
He says they take the kids out into the orpganage grounds,
massage the more physically disabled ones to help with the pain..
Provide them with decent meals..
It's the only time they get this treatment..
It's organised by a crowd in Co Clare.. forget the name..

How can we spend tons of money on holidays/luxuries with this going on down the road ?

Bros123

HarryD wrote: »

my friend works in Belarusian orphanages
He says they take the kids out into the orpganage grounds,
massage the more physically disabled ones to help with the pain..
Provide them with decent meals..
It's the only time they get this treatment..
It's organised by a crowd in Co Clare.. forget the name..

How can we spend tons of money on holidays/luxuries with this going on down the road ?

This is what pisses me off,and the more Irish people know whats going on the better.People are heading off on holidays to Bulgaria when these concentration camps,because in my eyes thats what they are,are only a drive away and i have emailed the Bulgarian embassy to tell them i will be letting as many people know as i can what is going on.I don't think any Irish person with a conscience could lie on a beach relaxing in a country where this is happening,and if they could shame on them.
I have no problem with Bulgaria improving it's economy and improving the welfare of it's citizens but a Government who allows this to happen running an EU country??SHAMEFUL.
And il say it again,its up to every person who has seen that film to email or contact someone in any sort of power in this country to push this issue.
If there are enough Irish voices about this our Government might do its bit.
If you have the time to browse Boards.ie you have 10 minutes to send a few emails.

dame

That program is still on my mind. I have woken up in the middle of the night the last couple of nights thinking about it.

Just to add to some of the details other's have given here already:
* 1 in 50 children in Bulgaria live in one of those homes.
* Those who survive to adulthood usually move on to adult homes/asylums.
* One nurse in the entire home (75 children), sedatives is about the only thing she ever gives any of them.
* One single staff member on duty in the entire home for 12 hours at night.
* The dormitories of the bed-ridden children are locked at night. Nobody checks on them.
* There is absolutely no schooling or treatment/therapies given to any of the children.
* Those who are not bed-ridden mainly sit rocking from one meal to the next.
* Many children who were able to walk get so weak from lack of food that they lose that ability and end up bed-ridden. Those who are bed-ridden stay that way.
* A little bed-ridden girl called Vasky (who is actually 18) screams in pain as she is stripped, lifted up, carried to bath, back again and dressed. Her leg is very visibly broken. The film crew insist she sees the nurse who looks at it and basically says "That's just her disease. As they get older the children degrade." The nurse puts cream on her two feet and sends her back to her bed. That child had been walking. At the end of filming her leg was in a home-made splint (applied months after the break had happened).
* A small bed-ridden boy had his thumb amputated because it had gone gangrenous because he sucked it so much. He was currently sucking his other thumb. Nothing was being done to protect it or to provide any other stimulation or activity for him to do.
* The children who arrive there when very small often never learn to speak. Nobody really speaks to them so they never learn.
* Small children spend hours a day sitting on potties.
* A small bowl of food is spooned into the weakest children so quickly they barely have time to swallow.
* Those in the dining hall fight for the food that is given and the strongest stay strong, the weakest get weaker.
* There are facilities such as a sensory development room which are never used (due to lack of trained staff).
* The children are severely malnourished. Approximately ten of them die a year and are buried in the village graveyard. This does not appear to bother anyone.
* When asked what the home needs the Director said she needed a computer, nothing else.

If you have not followed the link posted by Bros123 and watched the program yet, do so. It will open your eyes to what is still happening in Europe.

Fast_Mover

Bros123 wrote: »

If you have the time to browse Boards.ie you have 10 minutes to send a few emails.

So very true!! Will get at it on fri!

Watched the first 15min of the programme but stopped it, don't want to have red eyes going to work tomor!:(
Can't believe this is going on in an EU country!! My heart goes out to all those children..its so sad.

Bros123

Well said dame.
Im sure people wouldn't believe this is happening but its all there in film a few posts up.

Bros123

Fast_Mover wrote: »

So very true!! Will get at it on fri!

Watched the first 15min of the programme but stopped it, don't want to have red eyes going to work tomor!:(
Can't believe this is going on in an EU country!! My heart goes out to all those children..its so sad.

If you only saw 15 minutes just wait until you watch it all,and fair play get those emails out!!

eirebhoy

I just watched the first 10 minutes which I missed the other night. It's incredible how quickly Didi changed.

I also can't believe that this documentary was first shown in September. I heard nothing of it until I saw it on Sunday.

Bros123

eirebhoy wrote: »

I just watched the first 10 minutes which I missed the other night. It's incredible how quickly Didi changed.

I also can't believe that this documentary was first shown in September. I heard nothing of it until I saw it on Sunday.

Nor did i.RTE should be showing this as soon as possible straight after the 9 news ASAP.

Bros123

Ok heres the Official Bulgarian website in english for youth if you want to send a few emails in their direction.

Bulgarian State Agency for Youth:
http://www.youthsport.bg/cgi-bin/s.cgi

And has anyone heard from the Bulgarian embassy?
No reply here.

monkeyfudge

Bros123 wrote: »

BulgarianEmbassyDublin@eircom.net

They use an eircom email address?

Well there's no doubt in my mind that they're an impoverished nation now.

Bros123

Still no reply from the Bulgarian embassy.

SantaClaus

Bros123 wrote: »

I have attached a question that Kathy Sinnot has tabled for the European Parliament on this issue.

Hi,

It is positive that so many people have been affected by this programme to the point that they want to personally take some action to help these poor children.

I think that one of the most important ways we can help in Ireland is to petition the Irish Government to put pressure on the European Parliament to force the Bulgarian Authorities to take immediate action and improve the plight of those in these orphanages/institutions. I would like to start this petition, but am not sure how to go about it. Any suggestions? No doubt, most of you would like to sign up! I know there is a petition to the British Government up and running.

Bros123

SantaClaus wrote: »

Hi,

It is positive that so many people have been affected by this programme to the point that they want to personally take some action to help these poor children.

I think that one of the most important ways we can help in Ireland is to petition the Irish Government to put pressure on the European Parliament to force the Bulgarian Authorities to take immediate action and improve the plight of those in these orphanages/institutions. I would like to start this petition, but am not sure how to go about it. Any suggestions? No doubt, most of you would like to sign up! I know there is a petition to the British Government up and running.

Are you taking the piss?With a name like SantaClaus and 1 post??
And i cant believe the small amount of responses to this on Boards.

BigWilly

I'm only about an hour through this but it is absolutely horrific.

I mean, the guy who's stuck in the home yet he's only deaf? I honestly would never have thought that an EU state would still have these brutal regimes in charge of disabled children like this.

Agreed that RTE really need to show this.

SantaClaus

Bros123 wrote: »

Are you taking the piss?With a name like SantaClaus and 1 post??
And i cant believe the small amount of responses to this on Boards.

No I am genuinely interested in helping the plight of the children in the orphanages in Bulgaria. In retrospect I chose a silly login name but my concern is genuine

Bros123

SantaClaus wrote: »

No I am genuinely interested in helping the plight of the children in the orphanages in Bulgaria. In retrospect I chose a silly login name but my concern is genuine

Ok i apologize and welcome to Boards.
Yes Boards is very quiet about this issue.If even a quarter of boards members were to send a few emails or make a few calls it could make an awful lot of difference in this country of spreading the word of what is going on.

paul666

Bros123 wrote: »

Ok i apologize and welcome to Boards.
Yes Boards is very quiet about this issue.If even a quarter of boards members were to send a few emails or make a few calls it could make an awful lot of difference in this country of spreading the word of what is going on.

I too saw this documentary and found it the most disturbing documentary i have ever watched even worse than the boy whose skin fell off
i think if someone was to compose an email to send that way everyone could send off the same email
most people wouldnt no what to say

WindSock

Bros123 wrote: »

And i cant believe the small amount of responses to this on Boards.

Thats because Armchair Activism doesn't really do a hell of a lot. Writing a few emails with the best of intentions may help you sleep a little better, but you are better off physically doing something yourselves. Why not try to arrange a meeting with some embassy officials, or go over to Bulgaria and recruit some volunteers?

SantaClaus

paul666 wrote: »

I too saw this documentary and found it the most disturbing documentary i have ever watched even worse than the boy whose skin fell off
i think if someone was to compose an email to send that way everyone could send off the same email
most people wouldnt no what to say

Hi Paul,

I think if you put in your own words how awful the situation is for the children and send an email to anyone who might have a voice it is doing something worthwhile. To get a full list of MEPs and their email addresses refer to http://www.europarl.ie/irish.html

I know this has been supplied before, but to contact the Bulgarian Embassy in Dublin email : [EMAIL="'BulgarianEmbassyDublin@eircom.net'"]'BulgarianEmbassyDublin@eircom.net'[/EMAIL]

SantaClaus

Bros123 wrote: »

Ok i apologize and welcome to Boards.
Yes Boards is very quiet about this issue.If even a quarter of boards members were to send a few emails or make a few calls it could make an awful lot of difference in this country of spreading the word of what is going on.

I've written to all the Irish MEPs and one response was:
"neither MEP nor anyone in our offices had heard about the conditions in orphanages such as Mogilino until someone wrote in to tell us about the BBC documentary. We are still waiting to get a response to this increased political pressure of recent days and we will get back to you about this as soon as possible"

For anyone who doubts the value in writing to MEPs or those in power, Above reply is proof of value. Again I urge everyone to contact MEPs or anyone with power.

See website for email addresse of MEPs: http://www.europarl.ie/irish.html

http://www.youthsport.bg/cgi-bin/s.cgi (to contact young Bulgarians - action from within Bulgaria itself would be most effective)

[EMAIL="'BulgarianEmbassyDublin@eircom.net'"]'BulgarianEmbassyDublin@eircom.net'[/EMAIL] (Bulgarian Embassy)

dame

I emailed RTE last week (with a link to the documentary) to ask them to show the documentary on Irish television during a prime evening-time slot or even to do their own documentary on the situation. I received the following reply:

Thank you for your e.mail and your interest in our programmes. Your suggestion has been logged and passed on to the Head of Scheduling, RTÉ television.

With every good wish.

Máire Nic Fhinn,
RTÉ Information

More emails from other people might result in this issue being highlighted on Irish television, more awareness and more pressure on Bulgaria and Europe to improve the lives of these children.

SantaClaus

dame wrote: »

I emailed RTE last week (with a link to the documentary) to ask them to show the documentary on Irish television during a prime evening-time slot or even to do their own documentary on the situation. I received the following reply:



More emails from other people might result in this issue being highlighted on Irish television, more awareness and more pressure on Bulgaria and Europe to improve the lives of these children.

Hi,

Have you got contact email address for RTE?

dame

Hi SantaClaus,

I used info@rte.ie from this page: http://www.rte.ie/about/contact.html

SantaClaus

dame wrote: »

Hi SantaClaus,

I used info@rte.ie from this page: http://www.rte.ie/about/contact.html

Another Useful email address,

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, which is responsible for Mogilino home and all homes across Bulgaria.

Contact details of person in charge in the Ministry
Mrs. Lili Bojilova
Tel: + 359 2 81 19 533




bojilova@mlsp.government.bg

dame

Thanks.

alleepally

Hadn't heard anything about this either. Read the thread late last night and just got to watch the video this evening. Utterly and completely devastating to watch. As many have pointed out, it is simply NOT acceptable that this should be allowed happen in an EU member state. It was mentioned at the very end of the documentary that one of the conditions for Romania's entry to the EU was the improvement of it's social services. Such a condition was not placed on Bulgaria.

Someone posted that "armchair activism" doesn't work. I disagree. It's too easy to watch a programme like this and do nothing. If enough people were to write to their public representatives on certain issues it will "hit the radar" and notice will be taken. People power does work. Our own government has done policy u-turns because of radio phone ins and the public outcry that follows.

RTE definitely DO need to show this programme to raise awareness. That, combined with enough people raising the issue with their public representatives has a good chance of getting improved conditions in this facilities.

But, but, but... The tragedy is that most people really don't care enough to do anything tangible (even if it is a bit of "armchair activism".)... Even more tragic is that in the UK (per the uk government petition page at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/list/open ) more people care about whether or not the Red Arrows will fly at the London Olympics than care about the Bulgarian children (240,000+ signatories for red arrows petition V 13,000 for the Bulgarian petition).

dame

Excellent post alleepally.

For all you people here with 30 seconds to spare, here's a very simple bit of text that you can copy and paste in an email to RTE:

RTE,

I would like to suggest that the "Bulgaria's Forgotten Children" documentary (liked below) is shown on RTE television soon during a prime time. The issue would also make a good investigation for an Irish documentary team. Mogilino is only one of these institutions. RTE could do a follow-up investigation or a separate investigation on a different Bulgarian childrens' social care home. A contrast between the current state of Romanian orphanages (improvements were a condition of entry to EU) and the conditions in Bulgarian orphanages (no conditions imposed by EU), would also make a very interesting, but harrowing, documentary.

Here is the link to the BBC documentary: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9176914173325307126&q=bulgarias+abandonned+children&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0


Regards,
YOUR NAME

That is the text of the email I sent to RTE. You can change the text if you like, add or subtract whatever you like from it, or you can siply cut and paste it and send it as your own to info@rte.ie

Pester power can and does give results.

The more people see this documentary, the more ashamed Bulgaria and Europe will get. If nobody knows what's going on and nobody says it's wrong, then nothing will be done to improve the situation.

quarryman

mail sent

dame

quarryman wrote: »

mail sent

Good man!

dwaned

Just read through this thread and glad there is at least some interest in this situation. I'm living in Bulgaria and have been following some of whats going on here. I think myself any action is positive and the more people that take some action the better chance these kids have.
Bulgaria has a very long way to go before they will be up to western Europe standards, this won't wait.
Email Sent.

dame

dwaned,

Wow, that was a long (but informative) thread you linked. It's good to know there are people out there working to make a difference.

dwaned

dame wrote: »

dwaned,

Wow, that was a long (but informative) thread you linked. It's good to know there are people out there working to make a difference.

It is long but worth a read. Also think it's a good thing to keep this thread running as long as possible, the more publicity the better. If I come accross anything else related I'll post it here.

dwaned

Some good news, looks like something has started to move things along.
http://www.unicef.bg/page.php?key=pr_release&id=22&lang_id=2

dame

dwaned wrote: »

Some good news, looks like something has started to move things along.
http://www.unicef.bg/page.php?key=pr_release&id=22&lang_id=2

That's great news. Hopefully that will be start of the phasing out of all similar institutions across Bulgaria.

It's disgraceful that it takes a foreign television documentary to bring the issue to the attention of the Bulgarian public and a celebrity musical voting contest, again on tv, to raise funds to start implementing a plan drawn up by the experts. I really hope that in a month or two, after the glow from this celebrity tv conests fades, that the children will not be forgotten about. I am also really glad that UNICEF will be handling the funds generated and not some local mayor or institution director.