In Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria, numerous Roma families are
entrenched in poverty, grappling with limited education and scarce employment
prospects. Despite their resilience and dedication, many struggle to secure a
stable livelihood.
Gergana, aged 30, resides in a village near Gotse Delchev,
Bulgaria. She is a single mother to her sons, Georgi, aged 12, and Victor, aged
two. Lacking formal qualifications, Gergana faced considerable challenges in
finding adequate employment to support her children. Their home, still under
construction and in need of repairs, compounded her ongoing difficulties in
meeting basic necessities.
“Gergana is a loving mother and she’d always dreamed of
offering her family a secure future, where they had everything they needed.
Unfortunately, circumstances didn’t work out. Making ends meet was become
increasingly difficult.”
Ventsislav is employed with Mission Without Borders (MWB),
aiding families facing poverty. When Gergana's family joined the family
sponsorship program, they started receiving essential supplies like food,
hygiene items, and additional support. Georgi was overjoyed to attend a summer
camp where he could enjoy activities with peers his age.
In the meantime, Ventsislav couldn’t help but notice how
skilled Gergana was at growing crops. She comes from an agricultural family
that has worked the land for many generations. MWB provided the family with
Seeds of Hope: packets of seeds that give families the opportunity to grow
healthy produce to supplement their diet with fresh vegetables.
Ventsislav said, “Gergana’s family has a large courtyard
where they grow lettuce, tomatoes, and other crops. I was impressed because the
courtyard was never uncultivated, and every single metre of soil was planted
with different seeds.”
He also noted the limitations of the set-up, adding, “They
couldn’t produce vegetables all year round, and they had no vision to sell
their produce in the market.”
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