A photo exhibition showing the face of “childhood in foster care," can be seen in the building of the Municipal Council in Plovdiv until February 20th. The exhibition, organized by Mtel and the National Foster Care Association (NFCA) was opened today with the special assistance of the Plovdiv Artists’ Association. The opening was attended by the deputy mayor of Plovdiv, Georgi Tityukov, the Ombudsman of Plovdiv, Julia Yuredkova and the chairman of the municipal council in the city - Savina Petkova. 

Childhood in foster care "contains 20 photos of the photographer Radic Banev - material recreating the exciting moments of everyday life for foster families - both children and parents.

"I would like to congratulate NFCA and M-Tel for their excellent partnership. It is a great example of how much can be achieved when business and NGOs work together," said Georgi Tityukov. He stressed the commitment of the Municipality of Plovdiv toward foster care and assured that municipal authorities would continue their efforts in this direction.

For several years M-Tel has been working in partnership with NFCA in support of foster care in the country, which is an opportunity for children deprived of the care of their parents, to grow up in a family environment. "It is a big responsibility once again to support this very worthwhile cause," Iliana Zaharieva , director of " Corporate Communications " at M-Tel stated.

According to NFCA president, Miroslav Dolapchiev there are a total of 96 approved foster families in Plovdiv and the region. Currently, not all of them have children placed with them. The total number of children placed in foster care in Plovdiv and the region is 79. All of them are waiting to be adopted or returned to their biological families. Another 23 foster families are trained and ready to accept the children in need, added Dolapchiev.

Since the beginning of its partnership with NFCA the telecom Mtel has invested over 240 000 BGN in various forms of funding for foster care in the country. The company supports the holding of an annual national camp for foster children, providing school supplies for students from foster families, and the older among them receive youth career counseling. In 2015, the company donated 30,000 BGN, which will go toward the building of a Center for support of foster parents in Sofia.