Gabrovo Orphanage

Gabrovo Town Square

On first entering Gabrovo from Veliko Turnovo, one’s heart initially sinks as the industrial outskirts loom into view among schools and tower blocks in varying states of disrepair. Having stayed there for a day or two though, you quickly learn to appreciate the pretty centre, and the lack of tourists (in contrast to Veliko Túrnovo), which allow you to settle in as though you actually live there. The children in the orphanage, about a 10 minute walk from the centre, give you such a welcome that you wouldn’t mind if you spent all your time there anyway!

There are about 30 children between the ages of about 7 and 15, though all are small for their age. There might be up to 50 children depending on the time of year, and when they start going to school. They sleep in rooms of four, on two floors with a shower and ‘loos’ on each. As volunteers you will sleep in a similar room, though depending on how full the home is, you might have one room between two. With cable TV and a small music system, the children are pretty well entertained, though during the summer, most like to spend most of the time outdoors, playing football, climbing the trees etc. There is also paper and pens, though most of these sorts of things are in a store cupboard for the staff to access. You will be left pretty much to your own devices with the children, and you can spend as much or as little time as you like with them, and it does become tiring, though if ever you need anything, the Director of the home, Petar, is always willing to do his best to help out, even with things unrelated to the children.

You will not be expected to eat all your meals in Gabrovo, as there is barely enough food for the children, but for breakfast there is a café and shop at the end of the lane. For lunch and in the evenings there is a plethora of restaurants (a favourite is ‘Pizza Tempo’) and you can also find a supermarket in the town. All the food is very cheap, and taxis in the evening back to the orphanage will cost you about 30p.

It takes about an hour to get to Veliko Túrnovo if you want to do the ‘tourist bit’, but there are also some museums etc. in and around Gabrovo. Quirky, large but very interesting, is the ‘House of Humour’ (established, strangely, under communism, on 1st April 1972). The local secondary school is famous throughout Bulgaria for pioneering teaching techniques and there is a, rather dry, museum inside (around the back) which is interesting if you’re into that sort of thing. A short bus ride away is ‘Etar’, a reconstructed typical Bulgarian village, with lots of craft shops, a café and a very good restaurant serving traditional food, and all things traditional.

There is an internet café next to the shop near the orphanage and there is a nicer one in the centre (down the stairs next the ‘zoo’, near the swings etc.). The cinema is next door. You’ll most likely be pretty tired in the evenings, and you have to arrange with the member of staff when you’re going to get back, as the orphanage door will be locked, but there is a night life in Gabrovo. Your first stop should definitely be the ‘Tequila Bar’, on the opposite side of the centre, not far from ‘Pizza Tempo’ - this kept us entertained on at least two occasions, and you’re sure to meet a lovely Bulgarian in there who will show you where all the other ‘hot spots’ are…

Most of all though, as you can see from the trip reports, the children are lovely and very much in need of your attention, so as well as having a great time, you can give your time for a very worthwhile cause.

Trip Reports:

Summer 2003 Easter 2003 Summer 2002

Last updated: March 2nd, 2008