AmCham Thanksgiving 2008 Supported projects in cooperation with Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation BCAF

The projects The AmCham CSR Committee focused in 2008 its support on graduating orphans (children without parents or living without parents in institutions). Their main needs are place to accommodate after they leave the institutions and support for their education and employment. The supported projects are: 1. Transitional Living Centers 2. Scholarships for orphans 3. Step Bulgaria Foundation

1.Transitional Living Centers Transitional Living Center TOGETHER in Gurmazovo Village – BGN 6,490 Transitional Living Center INTEGRA of AGAPEDIA Foundation, Sofia – BGN 5,800 Transitional Living Center of SAMARITANS Foundation, Stara Zagora – BGN 2,710

Gurmazovo Transitional Living Center There are 10 young people currently living in this center. During their stay, they will receive education and training. The money was used for: -Driving courses -English language courses -Computer training

INTEGRA Transitional Living Center This center hosts young people coming from social institutions, aged 16 years or more, for a period between 6 months and 2 years. The center will use money for rent and outlay.

Samaritans Transitional Living Center This is a crisis centre for children aged and young women who are victims of violence or human traffic. The Centre provides shelter for up to 6 weeks for the clients in need. Their project is to be submitted soon to BCAF

2. Scholarships for orphans We supported 11 children Every student receives the sum of 80 BGN per month, which amounts to 800 BGN for the whole school year The children are all students in the 12 th grade

The supported children: NameSurnameCityGrade DessislavaDimitrovaGorna Oryahovitsa12 KrumSarlovHaskovo12 DjeilyanSeidIsperih12 EmneMehmedLyuliakovo village, Ruen12 MiglenaAlexandrovaRazgrad12 SylviaTsenovaSofia12 InaIvanovaSofia12 DimitarYanachkovStara Zagora12 StefanIvanovStara Zagora12 MariaPetkovaTrud village, Plovdiv12 MarielaIlievaVeliko Tarnovo12

STEP Bulgaria Foundation The idea: The aim of the program is to facilitate the integration of teenage orphans into society and the job market after they leave the orphanage at age 18. The project: to organize 4-week summer courses in English,computer and analytical skills for children, deprived of parental care. The participants: Last year 50 young orphans, ages 13 to 18, participated in the program (most of them were part of it the previous summer also). The children were from 5 orphanages across Bulgaria (“Assen Zlatarov” in Sofia, “Olga Skobeleva” in Plovdiv, “Liuba Teneva” in Berkovitsa, “Hristo Raykov” in Gabrovo, and “Konstantsa Liapcheva” in Dolna Bania).

5,200 BGN were raised for the project and it will be accomplished during summer months of The project is to be submitted soon to BCAF.

AmCham & BCAF extend special thanks to all companies and friends contributing to the Thanksgiving Charity 2008!