On 29 September, 2013 the Ruse complex hosted its fourth annual meeting “Friend of adoption and foster care.”

This year the meeting was attended by many adopted children, adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents. However, this was the first time we’ve linked the adoption group with foster parents and children. Friends and other family members also joined in the celebration. All were in fancy dress – Bugs Bunny, a selection of princesses and fairies, Red Riding Hood , the Pink Panther and many others were among the characters who made an appearance in our gymnasium.

The meeting was officially opened by Svetla Mezhri – Director of the Center for Social Support, who welcomed the guests and wished them a lot of fun and unforgettable moments together.

Yana Deleva – who leads the group in the complex – reminded adult participants of the purpose of the meeting, namely, to create a community that can share experiences and provide mutual support. Those with experience can advise the novices.

The celebrations included a home-baking competition under the guidance of Darinka Milanova, a social worker in the complex. Inevitably, the children added their opinions to those of the panel of judges.

The culmination of the celebration was the awarding of certificates to the would-be adoptive parents trained in the complex during September and a giant cake of course!

The annual meeting came from an idea provided four years ago by a group of prospective adoptive parents who were clients of the complex. The idea was to provide an opportunity for networking, and sharing of experience which, this year, was shared by our foster care group.