The Prosveta Foundation has joined the noble cause “Getting to Know the ‘Different’ Children of Bulgaria.” Together with the National Association of Resource Teachers (NARU), the Foundation supports the project focused on children with special needs, aiming to reach schools across the country and, through them, Bulgarian children. “We are glad to support this meaningful initiative, and it is no coincidence that we chose to announce it today-Children’s Day-because it most strongly symbolizes the idea that all children deserve attention, care, love, support, and understanding,” shared representatives from Prosveta.

The union of resource teachers also firmly supports the initiative, as understanding and accepting children with diverse needs is the greatest challenge resource teachers face daily.

“Getting to Know the ‘Different’ Children of Bulgaria” is a free photo book that introduces us to 35 sunny and smiling children (some now grown up) diagnosed with various serious illnesses. The brief descriptions accompanying the photos and the personal stories touch the reader’s heart. For example, the story of Victoria, whose name means “Victory,” who, like other children, wants to play, learn, dream, and achieve her dreams. Or the first-person narrative of 10-year-old Nikoleta, who cannot walk due to muscular dystrophy but very much wants to play sports and make new friends. From the pages, we also meet Mitko, only five years old and considered by his mother the bravest boy in the world. He suffers from an extremely rare disease, but his favorite phrase is “I can do it myself.” The other stories in the book are equally touching.

The creators of this book-Anna Yoncheva (author of the project “The ‘Different’ Children of Bulgaria”) and Vanya Todorova (Foundation “We Can Together”)-aim to show all other children that their peers with special needs are no different from them. They also love to play, laugh, draw, go to school, and have friends.

Anna and Vanya’s idea is to introduce students at an early age to the “different” children so they learn to accept, respect, and understand them. Prosveta Foundation, together with NARU, will assist in distributing the book to all schools, students, and resource centers across the country. Their appeal is for the book to be presented to children during class time or other suitable educational formats, so they become better informed, empathetic, and accepting of others.

The authors and supporting organizations also address parents, urging them to take some time to introduce their children to the heroes featured in the photo book.

The photo book can be downloaded here.