Summer Camps are a big part of the season in Southeast Europe, and a tradition that we are keen to uphold!
Thanks to support from Sofia Municipality, in late July our Bulgarian team were able to take current and ex-House of Opportunity residents to the mountains of Vratsa for a long weekend of activities, fun and food. The camp is an annual highlight, and with such a diverse group of characters the 2024 edition was no exception!
There were a variety of activities. Workshops and discussions were held on various issues that at-risk young people face including; relationships with friends, family and employers; assessing risk – including recognition of the tactics used by criminals to lure young people into being trafficked; avoiding substance dependency; living independently. Visits were made to the Juvenile Prison to talk with the young men there and take them on at football and other games. In the evenings the group went into town or headed out to the mountains for a BBQ.
The camp allows our team to engage with the young people in a relaxed atmosphere, which brings opportunities to strengthen relationships and further build trust. The value of this can be seen when ex-residents like Todor, years after his graduation from the House of Opportunity programme, bring their own skills and experience to help run the camp and show current residents what can be achieved.
A big thank you to all those involved: the young people, team members and their families, friends of House of Opportunity, Vratsa Prison staff, Hristo Botev Regional Library, and City of Vratsa.
