Bulgaria's Abandoned Children
The Social Care Home - where 75 unwanted children are growing up - is the main employer in the small village of Mogilino. Few of the children can talk, not necessarily because they are unable but rather because no one has ever taught them how.
Kate meets the children in this tragic, silent world, such as Milan, the gentle giant who spends his days doing chores and watching over the others, and mildly autistic 18-year-old Didi, who is able to talk, and has plenty to say, but no one to speak to. The children that surround them suffer a variety of problems, many are blind or deaf and some are unable to leave their beds, many are literally wasting away.
Abandoned into the hands of the staff at Mogilino these children inhabit a bleak uncaring world, so devoid of normal everyday stimulus that many have taken to rocking slowly and constantly in their chairs just for something to do.
Bulgaria has more institutionalised mentally and physically disabled children than anywhere else in Europe. This film is a heart-rending and eye-opening look into the life of one such institution.
I've just come back from Bulgaria and to say the people are the rudest, most inconsiderate people I've had the misfortune to encounter, none of this surprises me. These poor children are most unlucky to have been born in this most distasteful country.
I wish I could just hug some of these poor kids and tell them I love them and they do matter which are 2 things they've prob never heard in their miserable lives, idk how these nurses can even call themselves caretakers, look at the way they feed them they dont even give them half a second to chew whats in their mouth, im suprised they dont asperate
This documentary is revealing in how these children, innocent human beings, are left by the wayside in a lackadaisical, "whatever," environment. The children's daily interactions and their physical and emotional reactions to their surroundings revealed the bare, tangible reality of what it means to be human, of what it means to be a human being.
There were various aspects of filming and the documentary's narrative perspective that seemed to lack proper care and appeared a bit crass or insensitive. At 32:22-32:30, when a child was violently rushed and pushed to the floor, the narrator states, "A younger boy is punched to the ground by one of the dominant teenagers, Todor," but it came off as treading a sensitive line in the overlap with the sound of the word "totalled" in context of the violent behavior.
Given the atmosphere at this type of institution and the potential for sexual abuse where male staff are the primary caretakers for female children including showering them and where children are frequently beaten by staff, the director would have made a wiser decision to wear attire that is more restrained than was exhibited in various parts of the documentary.
At 1:21:06-1:21:13, when Slavka is dancing and singing to some music, the song fades out but not before transitioning to an elderly woman who exhibits symptoms manifesting lack of muscular control. The videography presents the scene as if this elderly woman is dancing to the tunes as well. This is unfortunately not so, as the woman is in relative loneliness at an institution for the elderly which doesn't look to be all that pleasant but for the sun shining down amidst the background of trees to provide some respite for these folks.
Todar is very handsome what ever happen to him?
Hi how would u get in touch with Kate and ask how the children are doing now?is there an address where u can send a care package?
I watched this about four years ago. Since then, I cannot stop wondering what happened to Milan. I know there is an update video. I have seen it, but it was from many years ago. It's literally driving me crazy, and I don't know why. I'm dyingto know where he is. I want to send a donation to him. Or sponsor him. I'd even adopt him if it was an option. Probably not the best move if he is already in a more stable home, but I feel this very weird strong and ongoing nurture towards this young man. My heart breaks for him that he spent so much time there, and he is so smart. He understands so much. It just breaks my heart. If anyone knows of a way to find out where he is, email me. And for the fellow Joe who commented back in march of 2018 two comments down, I hope your legs grow together, buddy. What a miserable heap you are.
Makes me appreciate being in a normal country.
Undesirables, annoying narrator
I admit I couldn’t watch much * I can’t help but think pharmaceuticals (POISONS) taken by the mothers and given to there’s poor babies are the CAUSE n NEED TO END! SICK BASTARDS!
Can you still adopt children here
Oh my goodness. This literally made me sick to my stomach! Poor babies! And little Vasky tore at my heart strings. This is just so heartbreaking. I can't stand the thought of these innocent, sweet children suffering so much!!! Great, eye-opening documentary. I am looking in to how I can help, now!
WWJD??? Looks like he is doing nothing for these kids. Looks to me like he should step in and help!
All I have to say short and simple WWJD? stop talking aboout it and do something about it.
I watched this documentary a year or so ago, and it still taunts me now when I think about it. It broke my heart, but it also gave me the most phenomenal inspiration and aspiration to do more, to do something to help. It also helped me to gain a perspective I have never reached before. I actually emailed the producer of the documentary, Kate Blewett, just to thank her for creating such an eye-opening documentary and to praise her on her good-nature and work. She replied a short while after and was so humble and lovely. Amazing lady. Absolutely horrific conditions, the documentary honestly made my heart ache.
I have spent 4 days in Bulgaria recently and witnessed homeless Roma women being physically and verbally assaulted twice while nearby police and families watched and did nothing. This documentary does not surprise me, sadly.
I read elsewhere that very often the government took away 'less than perfect' babies from the parents because the parents had to put in 8 hours a day for the government
Also many of the children were Roma whose parents were too poor to feed them.As Bulgaria is shamed into reform, some children are being returned to their parents. For some it will be too late --too long in deprivation to thrive..I am sending money--put you routrage into action and do the same
WHAT THE HELL IS THEIR GOVERNMENT OR COUNTRY DOING TO PREVENT THIS?
Bulgaria has NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF!!
This is barbaric and absolutely horrible. What the heck are these people thinking or doing? How selfish, cruel and malicious they are. They are practically torturing these helpless children who have no control over their situation. It's inhumane and I'm extremely outraged by this whole situation. How can a country allow this to happen? How can they not care for those who are defenceless? SHAME ON YOUR BULGARIA - Yes, I say BULGARIA because it's BULGARIA who has ALLOWED this to happen. Government, PARENTS ... COMMUNITIES .. Guilty in my eyes.
What the???? 8000 children in 32 buildings??? With 172 staff who do STUFF ALL and get paid for it. This is an UTTER DISGRACE!!! Fire the damn lot of them and bring in a whole new crew of people who ACTUALLY CARE and VALUE HUMAN LIFE to help rectify this situation and provide a safe environment for these children . I'm sure there are a ton of people WORLDWIDE who would VOLUNTEER to take care of this situation.
This is insane! I just can't believe that this has been allowed to continue and nothing has been done to help and assist. I applaud the 20 or so people who are doing the Granny programme but .. just 20 people? for 8000 children? C'mon! There is a lot more that can be done!
How DARE they! I'm horrified and disgusted. My God! WTH is wrong with the parents, the caregivers and Bulgaria? These are concentration camps for children!
This documentary made my heart bleed. Please tell me what I can do. I am rather ancient, do not speak Bulgarian - I would LOVE to be a granny to some of these children. Can't stop thinking about the little blind boy crawling on he floor feeling his way to a door - and no one picked him up!
Too much blame is being leveled at the staff. These women have far too many small, sick, helpless, children to take care of. They cannot possibly spend time with each one, as the needs are so very great with each child. I believe they do the best they can. It doesn't seem that the staff members are harming the children, other than the man who beat them in the laundry, but there is no way these women can hold and nurture each of these extreme cases. I also think the Nazis had the right idea, that those who are incapable of being integrated into society should be exterminated. All the infants in this film should be put to quick death, not left to starve. There is a very absurd statement at the end of the film saying that the babies have their whole lives in front of them. They certainly do not. They are forever incapable of learning, growing, loving, integrating. They are as good as dead in their present state. They all need to be killed.
80% of these children were gipsies; it's because they are a minority in
Bulgaria which absolutely refuses to integrate in the society; Instead
what they do is as many children as they can so that they can hopefully
live off from child benefits. Within their minority incest happens all
the time - very likely the reason why these children have disabilities
and are abandoned.
Bulgaria struggles economically, it's the
poorest EU country and still there is this minority who doesn't want to
follow the social rules - it's not hard to see why this children
wouldn't get the best care.
watched it a few years ago, cried the whole way through it! worth the watch though!
Such a cold and emotional story. These children need love, attention, education, nourishment, and interaction. Why are they not receiving it? My heart aches for them.
Workers ask them how they can help the child, but do not stop to listen for an answer. Because its is not in common language does not mean they are not reacting.
This home was closed down a couple of years ago, this is a very old story
I wish I hadn't watched that. It's heartbreaking.