The America for Bulgaria Foundation developed the Leadership Education in America Program (LEAP) in partnership with Babson College, USA, to enable professionals across the civil, public, and private sectors to contribute to the advancement of Bulgarian society. Equipped with fresh knowledge, innovative ideas, and a global network of like-minded individuals, LEAP graduates are transforming Bulgaria by making a positive impact in their communities. Whether they are empowering families, reducing food waste, or teaching skills for the jobs of the future, these leaders share one common goal: to serve the greater good of society.

This is the story of Dilyana Maneva, a LEAP graduate and deputy executive director of the For Our Children Foundation.

In the Name of Children

In Dilyana Maneva’s vision for the future, no child is ever abandoned, and every family has the support they need to raise a healthy, happy, and thriving generation. In this ideal world, the work of For Our Children Foundation would no longer be needed. Sadly, reality paints a different picture: many children are left without parental care for a variety of reasons, and even the most devoted parents can face overwhelming challenges, particularly when raising a child with special needs, living in isolation, or coping with violence and poverty.

The mission of For Our Children Foundation is to provide support to these families and ensure that children receive care during the most critical stage of their development—ages 0 to 7. The foundation’s specialists are where they are needed most: in maternity wards, supporting vulnerable new mothers, and with foster families who open their homes and hearts to children without parental care. Additionally, they work in the foundation’s centers in Sofia and Plovdiv, as well as in outreach centers across four smaller municipalities. Here, psychologists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, and other specialists help children take their first steps, say their first words, overcome trauma, and grow alongside more confident, resilient families.

“The foundation supports children in their early years, whether they are in a biological family struggling with financial or other difficulties, being raised by grandparents, or growing up in a foster family. Our goal is to support the entire family because we know that the best care comes from within the family,” Dilyana explains.

The foundation is also there when family interventions and support fall short. The foundation’s Children’s House serves children for whom the family home is no longer a safe place.

“This is our small group home for children who have been abandoned or removed by police due to violence or neglect, or who have been found on the street. With us, they experience what a real home, real love, and support feel like—temporarily, until we find them permanent care, either through adoption, foster families, or when possible, reintegration with their biological families,” Dilyana adds.

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Dilyana first encountered For Our Children Foundation’s work in 2012 while browsing the internet for professional opportunities. With a degree in political science and public policy, she was drawn to the idea of community service. The foundation welcomed her as a volunteer, and this began her 12-year journey with one of the largest civil society organizations dedicated to early childhood development in Bulgaria.

Over the years, Dilyana has grown within the organization, taking on various roles. Today, she oversees strategic partnerships, international positioning, communications, and project activities. When she started volunteering in 2012, the foundation had two community support centers, a family-type accommodation center, and a foster care center. Today, For Our Children provides a wide range of social and integrated services in its Early Childhood Development Complexes in Sofia and Plovdiv, supports children and families in nine smaller municipalities, and its team has grown to over 110 members. The foundation also works closely with the municipal governments of Sofia and Plovdiv, offering support to over 4,000 children and their families each year.

A Healthy Society Equals Healthy Children

For Dilyana, a society’s approach to children and the care it provides them is a fundamental indicator of public health.

“If a child isn’t supported during their first seven years, when brain connections, social skills, and the capacity to learn are formed, whatever you do later—by fifth, sixth, or seventh grade—will have much less impact,” says Dilyana. “By supporting children in their early years, we lay the foundation for the sustainable development of society.”

Fortunately, many individuals and businesses share this understanding and have supported the foundation’s work. Half of the foundation’s funding comes from projects and donations from individuals and corporations, while the other half is provided by the government for delegated social services. For instance, the foundation’s early childhood development complexes in Sofia and Plovdiv were entirely renovated with the help of corporate and individual donors.

These complexes are housed in former social institution buildings, provided free of charge by the municipalities. “We believe these once-tragic buildings, which hold the darkest memories of the past and the most damaging forms of collective care, can be given a new mission and be transformed to benefit children,” Dilyana says.

Many of the donors supporting For Our Children have been with the foundation for over a decade, and the organization continues to attract new allies. “These are true partners who believe that lasting change is only possible when we unite—state, NGOs, businesses, and citizens alike,” says Dilyana.

The Challenges

This collective effort is vital because the need for change is urgent. According to Eurostat, one in three children in Bulgaria is at risk of poverty and social exclusion, and every day two children are abandoned due to poverty, social isolation, or lack of support. “Early childhood poverty means limited access to nutritious food, to sports, even to play, and the inability to attend school,” Dilyana explains.

“Poverty is one reason children in Bulgaria are unable to reach their full potential, and the other is the lack of access to social services that could help them overcome their difficulties,” she continues. According to the National Statistical Institute, 27,000 children in Bulgaria have permanent disabilities.

Often, parents are simply unaware that such support exists. “In Bulgaria, it’s hard for people to realize they can access social and therapeutic services for free,” Dilyana says. To address this, the organization works with nurseries and kindergartens to provide information about available services and also actively engages with parents through social media.

The Successes

With the right support, the results are evident and often transformative. “Children’s development not only improves but often accelerates, positively affecting the whole family,” Dilyana notes. This is especially true for families with children with disabilities. “One parent, usually the one who was constantly caring for their child, manages to find a job. This raises their self-esteem—they’re no longer just a caregiver but also have a social role in society,” she shares.

Over the past three decades, For Our Children has supported more than 28,000 children and families. Many of these families have gone on to become ambassadors of the foundation’s mission, continuing the cycle of support.

Another positive outcome is the declining percentage of parents seeking to abandon their children. “The foundation has played at least a small role in this positive trend thanks to our long-standing programs for preventing child abandonment and our close cooperation with hospitals. Today, many maternity wards have social workers who are there to support mothers in the critical first hours after childbirth,” Dilyana explains.

Another key achievement of For Our Children is its introduction of foster care in Bulgaria in 1998. “Foster care is the best alternative for children who have been separated from or abandoned by their parents and is the most effective prevention against institutional care,” Dilyana asserts.

A Better Tomorrow

While it’s unlikely that the work of For Our Children will cease to be necessary anytime soon, Dilyana believes that we can all contribute to creating a better future for all.

“I envision a society where people communicate openly and understand that differences exist. But these differences shouldn’t be barriers—they should be opportunities to find common ground,” she says.

Teenagers give her hope. “I see young people, even as early as 12 or 13, who feel strongly that they should help others—whether it’s children or the environment. These kids were the inspiration behind our Good Deeds Club. We launched it this year after seeing so many young people, aged 12, 13, and 15, who wanted to donate money they had collected from birthdays or Christmas, or who wanted to volunteer with us during their summer breaks,” Dilyana explains.

Expanding services to smaller municipalities is another key focus. “One of our priorities this year is to establish more outreach centers in the small towns surrounding Sofia and Plovdiv. Our big goal is to train local professionals—community social workers or kindergarten teachers—and empower them with the best resources and the most up-to-date knowledge on early childhood development. This way, they’ll be well prepared and consistently available to children and families in need,” Dilyana explains.

Leadership and Social Impact: A Program for Bulgaria’s Future

The America for Bulgaria Foundation’s leadership program was designed to support professionals like Dilyana in addressing social and business challenges. Through her participation in LEAP, Dilyana has begun to explore opportunities in social entrepreneurship. One of her ideas is a business initiative involving parents of children with disabilities.

“We have a real opportunity to change the lives of a group that has often been seen only as service users, not as active contributors. I believe that in the coming years, we can create jobs for parents of children with disabilities, not only helping them achieve financial independence but also allowing them to contribute to the development of the organization,” Dilyana explains.

“One of the most important things I learned from the program is that having an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial to the sustainability and growth of any organization, especially an NGO. Entrepreneurial thinking is all about constantly seeking solutions and identifying new opportunities. If one door closes, find another. And if that’s locked, open a window. This is something I saw firsthand in the States. I also learned that if you haven’t failed at least once, maybe even twice, you haven’t been ambitious or brave enough. Failure can be the greatest teacher, as long as you learn the important lessons it offers,” Dilyana reflects.