Kermen Children's Home

Gradually Improving...

Kermen is around 20 kilometers from Sliven, and help first began there back in 1993. Over 50 children live at Kermen, and all suffer from some degree of disability.

Recent help included the provision of a specialised wheelchair for Sevgin (above) who cannot walk.

Our visiting teams are always welcome. Gradually conditions and practices have improved at Kermen, despite the limited staff and resources available, and the children have continued to progress. The great news is that Major EU funding is now taking the building at Kermen on to a new level.

Mission Teams visiting Kermen have undertaken many different projects, and typically combine painting & decorating with interactive times with the children.

One major concern for children like those at Kermen has always been, what next? The adult residential institutions are slowly improving but are still harsh by comparison. The new safe houses at Nova Zagora, another small town near to Sliven, was opened by the authorities at the end of 2007 taking 10 young people, including the 7 oldest from Kermen. This is a real step towards independent living, and something which we could never have imagined happening just a few years ago! 2009 saw another such home in Sliven begin too with 10 more young adults from Kermen. We are committed to adding our support to this exciting new Government initiative.