Watch "Your Face Sounds Familiar for Every Child and Every Parent" on February 22 at 20:00 on NOVA
Support children with developmental disabilities and their parents "Together from the beginning"
- Български
- English
On February 22, 2025, at 8 p.m. on NOVA, the most anticipated charity TV show, Your Face Sounds Familiar For Every Child, returns for its third consecutive edition! This year, eight talented children will take the stage hand in hand with some of Bulgaria's greatest artists to support a shared cause: Together from the Beginning!
Watch "Your Face Sounds Familiar for Every Child" on February 22 at 8 pm on NOVA
Duets
Vladimir Zombori, Galena, Dara Ekimova, Desi Dobreva, Darin Angelov, Orlin Pavlov, Polly Genova, Toma together with their little duet partners will impersonate iconic performers from the Bulgarian and world music scene. Expect an incredible show where we will join forces to help children with special needs and their families to overcome difficulties.
Vote for your favorite team by texting the key number and letter of your favorite to 1021 and start monthly donations of 5 BGN to UNICEF. Support UNICEF at dari.unicef.bg so that every child in Bulgaria can get the best start in life and the most valuable care.
*VAT and fees are not due for subscribers of all mobile operators. General terms and conditions of BLAGODETEL program at dari.unicef.bg
Jury
Yordanka Hristova, Ivet Lalova, Zahari Karabashliev and Maggi Halvadzhjian will take the role of jury in the charity edition of "Your Face Sounds Familiar for Every Child".
They will watch closely the unforgettable duets between eight beloved stars and eight talented children who will present iconic musical performances.
When a child is born, the parents are born too.
The birth of a child is the most wonderful moment in any family's life. However, for some families, the joy of birth is accompanied by unexpected challenges. This is especially true for families raising children with disabilities or developmental difficulties.
Parents of children with developmental difficulties often share that they have been advised by doctors to abandon their child. Many feel lost due to the lack of information about their child's condition and are unsure how to help. The absence of adequate services and support from institutions and society further increases the risk of children with disabilities being left behind.
To date, all institutional homes for children with disabilities in Bulgaria have been closed. With UNICEF's support, foster care services and a network of family-type accommodations for children with disabilities have been developed. However, the best environment for raising a child remains their own family and home. To prevent the abandonment of children with disabilities, we must support their parents. Raising a child with developmental difficulties involves many challenges, and families need assistance to navigate these obstacles.
Parents are everything to the child, and the child is everything to their parents.
The Situation and Challenges for Children in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, there are insufficient services to support parents of young children with developmental difficulties or disabilities. According to UNICEF, 38% of specialists lack experience with children under three years old, and 44% of teachers and nurses lack experience working with children with developmental difficulties.
Globally, it is estimated that between 10% and 15% of children under the age of three experience developmental difficulties or are at risk due to biological and social factors. While Bulgaria lacks comprehensive data, following global trends suggests that over 22,000 Bulgarian children under three face developmental challenges. Since young children’s development is not systematically monitored, these difficulties are often detected too late.
Only 12% of parents with young children report that their doctor completes developmental questionnaires during check-ups. According to data from the Social Assistance Agency, 26 402 children with permanent disabilities aged 0-18 received monthly benefits in 2023.
A study reveals that 10.5% of parents of children without disabilities perceive children with intellectual disabilities as "defective," while 54.1% view them as different from what is "normal." Parents of children with disabilities frequently encounter inappropriate comments and behaviors. The full study can be accessed here.
Parents of children with disabilities or developmental difficulties often report feelings of isolation. There are no programs designed to connect these families with other parents.
Existing services typically involve short sessions between the child and a therapist without parental participation. There is a lack of coordination between specialists and parents. Families often travel long distances and bear the expense of private services.
Families of children with developmental difficulties face significant obstacles when enrolling them in nurseries or kindergartens. The adaptation process is often challenging due to a lack of supportive practices for children, their parents, and educational staff alike.
UNICEF's Decision - "Together from the Beginning"
Children learn best in their natural environment—at home—when they play and interact with their loved ones. Parents, who spend the most time with their children, are their most effective teachers and can help them overcome developmental challenges.
To support parents in this crucial role, UNICEF has introduced the innovative "Together from the Beginning" early childhood intervention program in Bulgaria.
See Vasko's story
This program is designed for families with children who face developmental difficulties at an early age. Research shows that the earlier developmental challenges are identified, and families are guided, the better the outcomes for the child.
This program does not provide therapy but focuses on equipping parents with the tools, guidance, and confidence to help their children develop their abilities. Specialists visit families in their homes, offering specific advice and strategies tailored to the unique needs of each child. Once parents overcome the initial shock of their child's diagnosis, they can focus on helping their child grow and flourish.
The human brain has the greatest potential for development in early childhood. When developmental difficulties are detected early, the chances of overcoming them are significantly higher. The Together from the Beginning program focuses on families with the youngest children, empowering parents to integrate beneficial activities into their daily lives.
Specialists visit the family weekly, providing personalized guidance. However, the true transformation happens throughout the week as parents apply these strategies in their everyday interactions with their child. The program’s goal is to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence parents need to support their child’s development and engage them in meaningful activities.
The "Together from the Beginning" program helps reduce the impact of disabilities or developmental difficulties on children and often decreases the need for additional support in the future, making it both effective and cost-efficient.
Results we will achieve with the funds raised over the next 2 years
The program will be free of charge for parents of young children with developmental difficulties and will be conducted in the family's home. Currently, such services supported by UNICEF are available in Haskovo and Nova Zagora.
We will train and enhance the skills of 100 professionals (general practitioners, neonatologists, and nursery nurses) who will identify developmental difficulties in over 3,000 young children. Vision screening for infants will be conducted in 11 hospitals across 3 municipalities. We anticipate reaching over 50% of the child population, or approximately 6,500 children, within two years.
A professional will visit the family in their home, provide advice, and discuss the child's progress every week. Families will also be able to participate in group training sessions for skill development. 30 specialists will undergo intensive training in early childhood development, specific conditions, working with parents in a family environment, group work with parents, and coordinating with other services that families need. They will apply early intervention in over 300 families. When included in the ‘Early Intervention’ program, results are visible almost immediately, and often, the children's condition significantly improves within just a few months.
The early intervention specialist will work with the family and teachers to ensure a smooth adaptation of the child to the nursery or kindergarten.
If you want to change the story, start with the beginning.
Supporting Parents First to Help Children
See the stories of children who have gone through the Together from the Beginning program.
When a child is born, the parents are born too. Help children with special needs and their families' overcome difficulties.
Support UNICEF so that every child in Bulgaria can get the best start in life and the most valuable care with monthly donations at dari.unicef.bg
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