The maturity and prosperity of a given society are measured by its attitude towards disadvantaged people who face the challenges in their lives with dignity and hope for tomorrow. In most European countries, almost 60% of persons with disabilities are employed. According to statistics, only 10% to 15% of persons with disabilities in Bulgaria are employed.

“People with disabilities are no different from others. In many cases their physical condition allows them to be successful entrepreneurs”, Mincho Koralski, Executive Director of the Agency for People with Disabilities said and added:

“Entrepreneurs are the engine of society when it comes to economy. From this standpoint, the state’s commitments are extremely important in terms of creating favorable conditions for development. I do not think that people with disabilities, especially in the field of entrepreneurship, are a special group that needs specific treatment. Nothing can stop a person with an entrepreneurial spirit to realize their ideas, using our targeted programmes. When persons with disability start writing their business project themselves, without hiring intermediaries, then they will better understand the business reality. For instance, if you open a hairdressing saloon, you will calculate the costs for rent, taxes, cost of electricity and other expenditures in your project. In other words, you need to decide yourself whether you will be able to cover these costs with your revenues. Business does not promise an easy life. It goes hand in hand with many worries and commitments and you must be prepared for this from the very beginning.”

Social enterprises support the employment of people with special needs, meanwhile balancing between social and economic goals. The Sheltered Employment Center in Bozhuristhe Municipality is an example of a successful project of an NGO, which has been helping many young people with special needs through occupational therapy. The center emerged via a project by Milena Boeva. It has been developing with the support of the Agency for People with Disabilities. The founder of the center emphasized the huge role of Bozhurishte Municipality which provided the necessary land, material assistance and development plan.”

“These young people must be prepared to take care of themselves, because their parents will not be with them all the time. They have to develop habits, to be able to work, in order to deal with life in the future. For the purpose, we have built two greenhouses. One of them has raised garden beds. It is suitable for people with locomotor disabilities. We are planning to expand the capacity of the greenhouses by another 200 square meters. We grow all types of vegetables there, together with these children and adolescents. They work 4 hours a day and receive half of the country’s minimum monthly salary. It is extremely important for these young people to come into a close contact with the land and feel useful. Every day they come to work with a smile on their face and learn new things. This gives meaning to my work and the work of the volunteers who visit us. I became an engine of the project, because my child has special needs as well. I worked at the health administration for 22 years, but because of this project my life made a 180 degree turn and I never regret it”, Milena Boeva said in conclusion.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: BGNES, forkids2017.org