Rila

          This kind of project is a very good and necessary idea. It is amazing what it takes to make a child smiling, what you get back from them.
I really liked most to see the children laughing and having fun with us. And I liked to show them games, and teach them some social rules and see how it works out with them. I also liked to spend my time with the people from all over the world.
          I really liked our group. We had a nice time together and I could get interesting impressions from the different cultures. The work was fun. I enjoyed it.
          I have made a great experience. I learned a lot about children, what they need when they live in such conditions and also learned a lot about different cultures and their bahaviour in many ways. And of course I learned a lot about Bulgaria.
          It was a great experience and I will never forget this. Although you might think you help the children to be happy, you can gain a lot from them.

Anna Bandt, 22 years /Germany/

It’s a good project. The children need a lot of love and attention, more fun and social interaction. I think projects like this can contribute to these needs.
The kids were all eager to communicate with us.
I was impressed by the kids. How they are, even growing up in such conditions like in this orphanage, so nice and giving.

Gabriel Rojas-Kopeinig, 28 years /Austria/

          I liked spending time with the children, giving them the love and attention they desperately need and deserve. Trips to the river, organised games were fun as were the discos. The local people were very friendly toward us.
          I’ve proved to myself I can do almost anything now. This was a good challenge and I feel I tackled it well. My communication skills have developed and my confidence has grown.
          This is a very rewarding and worthwhile thing to do. I was only here for two weeks but I hope I have given these children some happy memories, they’ve certainly given me lots.

Sally-Anne Newling Ward, 29 years /UK/

I’ve spent a real good time. I’ve opened my eyes on the conditions of living of those children.
I think it’s a good compromise to help children and to spend good holidays meeting new people from all over the world.

Fouad Ait Aattou, 22 years /France/

          Very good fun and beneficial to me. The project has made me think about how poor these children are and yet how normal most of them also are, in the respect that they want love, affection and attention just like any other child.
          I liked seeing the children grow in confidence towards me and to relax in my company, watching them constantly smile and appreciate what they have.
          My relationship with the children was good especially with children in my group. The local people were friendly and interested in us. Good relations within the group, we all seemed to enjoy each others company.

Melanie Akeroyd, 24 years /UK/

          It is so beneficial to think about the children who are underprivileged. I really think that this project is good for both children and us.
          I like to play with children most because I was looking forward to do that in Japan and children really attached to me. I gained a lot of valuable experience, I can’t get it in Japan.
          I joined the workcamp for the first time and I think it was really good experience for me. It was a good chance to speak English and to know different culture. I made a lot of friends in this camp. I want to join another camp if I have a chance.

Miho Arita, 21 years /Japan/

          Very worthwhile. The project helped to improve the quality of life of the children in the orphanage. They seemed very happy to welcome us all to Rila. The project also allowed me to meet new people from all walks of life and to form lasting friendships.
          I enjoyed taking the children swimming, organising the parties and playing team games such as basketball in the evenings. We were always made to feel welcome by the children. Occasionally we were recognised by the locals and invited to join them! Everybody got on well, was friendly and worked well together.
          We did a varies of things with our spare time – eating and drinking out, trips to Blagoevgrad and a weekend away near Rila Monastery.
          When people describe conditions in orphanages I can now appreciate and in a small way empathise with what they are saying. The experience has made me determined to participate in future workcamps.
          I am grateful for allowing me to see a country through the eyes of those who live there, in this case the least fortunate of all, the children of an orphanage. This worthwhile camp brought smiles to children’s faces and allowed the volunteers to make lasting friendships.

Andrew Naylor, 19 years /UK/

I enjoyed very much for these two weeks. All the children and volunteers were very warm-hearted.
Every day I was playing with children. I was glad to introduce Japanese games and language and food.

Yoshihisa Nakano, 23 years /Japan/

It was so great! Even when I was in trouble, everyone supported me. Now I really appreciate all children, teachers and companions. This workcamp must be unforgettable memory…
I liked most the smiles of the children. They were so friendly.

Atsuko Miyazaki, 20 years /Japan/

          I am very happy to spend these two weeks in Bulgaria, and enjoyed playing with the children.
I liked playing with the children and trying to speak some Bulgarian or teach them some English so that we could communicate.
          The group was nice. I especially liked that there were people from many different cultural backgrounds.
          I really liked the work with the children. I learned more how to work with children, and how to put my own ideas into action. I was also impressed by the poverty in the orphanage and therefore I will be more thankful with what I have at home.

Selina Heierle, 24 years /Switzerland/

Rila orphanage is not easy to deal with but if you don’t really mind about children with physical or psychological problems, you will have fun.

Vito Longo, 23 years /Italy/

It was very nice. I enjoyed very much and I believe that it was nice for the children in the orphanage too.

Ayako Jinushi, 21 years /Japan/