Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Parents of premature babies also need moral support

Photo: library

About 6,000 children are born prematurely in Bulgaria every year, which is about 10% of the newly born in this country. The sight of a premature baby may be frightening for some people, but parents of such children view them as the most beautiful and tender human beings, whose life begins with a great struggle. Everyone is involved in this struggle for survival – the little heroes, the medical specialists from the neonatal intensive care units, as well as their families.

One year ago in February, an idea aimed at supporting parents of premature children was born in Bulgaria. The voluntary initiative allows all people who feel empathy with the problems of the premature babies to support their families. The Foundation “Our Premature Children” organizes the good cause campaign.

Моника Златанова /вляво/ и Маргарита Габровска от Фондация „Нашите недоносени деца“.

“The purpose of the campaign was to collect 750 martenitsas (a small piece of adornment made of red and white yarn) for each premature infant in the intensive care nurseries”, explained Monika Zlatanova from the Foundation “Our Premature Children” (on theft in the picture). “Fortunately, more than 1,300 martenitsas were collected during the initiative. We were quite enthusiastic and decided to repeat the initiative this year. Everyone took the noble cause personally.”


The idea was not born accidentally, because the traditional Bulgarian martenitsa is a symbol of health, warmth and a blessing. Apart from being part of the Bulgarian folklore, the twined red and white threads herald the new life and symbolize the hope for a brighter future. When martenitsas are made with plenty of love and good wishes, they can make everyone smile, warm people’s hearts and make them believe in good deeds:


“In fact, there are not that many requirements”, continued Monika Zlatanova. “We allowed the volunteers to give vent to their imagination. The whole thing requires dexterity and enough materials only. The main idea is to make larger Pizho (the male doll) and Penda (the female doll) dolls, rather than small red and white wrist bands. When we receive these martenitsas, we attach them to special hand-made cards. We write the name of the person who sent them on the back. Thus, the families of the premature babies know that someone is thinking of them and is supporting them.”


If the number of collected martenitsas exceeds the number of the premature babies in Bulgaria, the extra products will be available for charity sale in support of the foundation’s activities.


Compiled by: Darina Grigorova (after an interview of Vesselina Milanova from BNR-Horizont Channel)

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: Foundation “Our Premature Children”, BNR, library



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Antarctica is the engine of climate change

The Embassy of France and the French Cultural Institute brought together scientists to present their experience and the scientific challenges in Antarctica, as well as the fight against climate change. Partners of the event were the..

published on 11/4/24 12:35 PM

Scenes from a Bollywood movie to be shot at Buzludzha

The Buzludzha Monument will be the set of a Hindi film production. A team of 100 people have arrived in Kazanlak for the filming of "Good Bad Ugly", which stars famous actor Ajith Kumar in the lead role.  The film is being shot in..

published on 11/4/24 9:15 AM

Exhibition on Lovers’ Bridge in Sofia showcases Bulgaria’s successes at science Olympiads

Bulgaria’s successes at international science Olympiads in 2024 can be seen in an exposition entitled “Fantastic minds”. Inaugurated to mark Awakeners” (Enlighteners”) Day, 1 November on Lovers’ Bridge near the National Palace of Culture in Sofia,..

published on 11/2/24 9:10 AM