Greetings from distant Bulgaria!

The ALTERNATIVE-ALPHA&OMEGA foundation's team greets you in the name of

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We are a group of professionals(teachers, university proffesors,attorney,finansial specialists, one of the legal advisers for the ministry of education and volunteers)-all of us dedicated Christians.

Bulgaria is one of the post-communist countries situated on the Balkan peninsula in Eastern Europe. The Bulgarian people still suffer the evil consequences due to the brutal leadership of the ex-communist party especially in the area of education and religion. You may wonder but unlike of most of the African countries there are no other Christian Institutions in Bulgaria now except for churches and bible schools that suffer a kind of a very subtle and hideous persecution!!! Evangelical Christians are labeled(branded) SECTS!  No Christian public schools, no Christian orphanages, no Christian hospitals and wards, no Christian radio or TV programs(stations)!!!

Most of the present public schools, both state and private, are as good as "pubs"-cigarettes,alcochol,drugs and illicit sex! No discipline, no faith in God, no morals, careless parents and bribable teachers!

Christian parents are in despair knowing not where to send their children. Christian teachers find nothing else but ridicule, humiliation and poverty in secular schools, just because of their personal convictions. All of them have no alternative or...maybe they used to have no alternative!  The LORD has given Bulgaria an alternative! The ALTERNATIVE-ALPHA&OMEGA

FOUNDATION faced such an incredible interest and support from most of the Churches

In Sofia (the capital of Bulgaria). A great number of people (peachers,parents,pastors and even secular persons) did welcomed the idea for establishment of the first Christian Pimary (Elementary) School to the point that each one of them promised to help in whatever way they can.

Bulgarian believers from South Africa got so enthusiastic about the idea that they have right away shared it with various church and other organizations part of which have already promised to help.

What else will be special with our school is the alternative program for integration of orphans, disabled children and other social outcasts.

The school is planned to start with app. 200 pupils on sept.15, 2002.

If you are interested of a more detailed info please, do not hesitate to e-mail us! We are looking for any kind of help-spiritual, methodological or financial support!

May the Lord bless you!

                                                THE ALTERNATIVE-ALPHA&OMEGA FOUNDATION

                                                                                                            SOFIA, BULGARIA

THE АLTERNATIVE PROJECT

1. Background of the project.

The economic and political crisis in Bulgaria, which started in the beginning of the 1990’s, penetrated all areas of Bulgarian social life. Today the crisis is seen to be especially harmful to Bulgarian culture and spiritual values. The institutions responsible for raising and educating the young generation are experiencing a severe economic and, most important of all, spiritual deficit. Bulgarian schools are in a nation-wide crisis which can no longer be hidden. The modern Bulgarian school can be characterized in part by a low motivation to learn and low results, a high percentage of students who do not attend classes or leave school and who show an arrogant and defiant attitude to the authority of teachers, parents, the law and moral values, and a sudden increase in alcohol and drug abuse. Statistical data show that for the last five academic years, from 1996/7 to 2000/01, there has been a steady number of children dropping out of school. Each school year starts with about 20 thousand schoolchildren less than the previous year. Another 3%, which amounts to 30 thousand schoolchildren, do not graduate either because they refuse to continue their education or for family reasons. The number of abortions among minors during the year 2000 was 6102, which was 10% of the total number of abortions during that year, 3% of the abortions being among children under the age of 15. There are an increasing number of incidents involving violence and abuse in the schools. For the period 2000–2001 there were overall 20,627 instances of antisocial behavior by minors and 16,018 felonies committed by children between 8 and 18 years of age, the age of the juvenile offenders going down constantly. In 2001 43% of the instances of antisocial behavior by minors and 37 % of the felonies among minors were committed by young people from 8 to 13 years of age. Among the instances of antisocial behavior in 2001 most common were running away from home and substance abuse (drugs and alcohol).

            On the other hand, a large percentage of teachers also show poor motivation and little enthusiasm to work professionally and to take responsibility for finding a solution to the problem. The teaching profession is characterized by low salaries, lack of support from the educational system and school administration, inability to achieve desired results, and a total loss of hope for change and a way out. Teachers’ salaries remain lower than the average salary for the country. It is not unusual for wages to be paid after a lengthy delay.

            It is also important to underline the lack of effective governmental structures aimed at curbing the negative tendencies in the schools and dealing with the educational crisis. The Ministry of Education does little to establish new instructive methods and criteria for discipline which measure up to the new challenges presented by modern youngsters. The newly created structures entrusted with countering the negative tendencies in the schools such as school disciplinary committees, school counselors and psychologists, are often unable to fulfill their duties because of the lack of funding, successful methods, and mechanisms of work. This is a particularly alarming fact. It points out that it is highly improbable to expect a change for the better in the educational crisis in the near future. For the last five years the number of primary schools in Bulgaria has decreased by 407 schools as a result of closings or restructuring.

            The newly formed private schools, which attempted to fill the void and improve the current situation, have also failed rather than succeeded in offering a new solution. They often turn into a commercial enterprise instead of being a source of spiritual and cultural development. Owing to high fees, their doors are closed to ordinary Bulgarian parents who have maintained their desire to see their children receive good moral values and a worthy education. According to statistical data, on November 1, 2000 there were 54 private comprehensive schools functioning in the country where 0.5% of the total number of students attended, i.e. only 4548 schoolchildren. The average annual fee in a private school is about $2000.

            Yet another important factor which promoted the birth of Alternative – Alpha and Omega project is the deep concern shared by parents who see the inability of the school in modern Bulgaria to fulfill its major social function by providing an effective education and values. The results from a sociological study conducted among parents in the fall of 2001 show that parents find it imperative that a Christian school be established. The sample consisted of 200 informants, churchgoers from the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church and the Church of God in the capital city of Sofia. On a number of occasions parents shared their feelings of insecurity about the future of their children and lack of choice when looking for a school where there is security, high moral values and а good education as well as fees affordable to the average Bulgarian family.         

2. Originators of the project.

The project is overseen by Alternative – Alpha and Omega Foundation. The foundation consists of a team of specialists with professional experience in the fields of education, psychology, law, economics and theology. Alternative – Alpha and Omega Foundation is a non-governmental and non-profit organization whose priority is to enhance Bulgarian education and to realize the Alternative project.

      3. Partners in the process.

            At the present the plan of the Alternative – Alpha and Omega Foundation to create a private Christian comprehensive school has won the support from a number of non-governmental. The main financial partners of the foundation in the enterprise are church congregations and organizations in the Republic of South Africa.

            The foundation is also indebted to the Association of Christian Teachers for their practical and invaluable support for the project.

     4. Objectives of the project.

The major goal of the Alternative – Alpha and Omega project is to create the first private Christian school for general education in Bulgaria (PCSGE).

      The specific goals of the Alternative – Alpha and Omega project and, respectively, of the PCSGE, are to provide a high-quality education and discipline for its schoolchildren in primary school as well as to create a healthy spiritual and cultural environment where the children can grow to become people with high moral values. Another major objective of the Alternative project is to give a chance for an effective educational and social integration to disadvantaged children from risk groups by offering them the possibility to study in a Christian comprehensive school and to receive the personal and professional support they need.

      Here are some particular steps that have to be taken in the course of Alternative – Alpha and Omega project:

1.      Drafting the underlying philosophy of PCSGE.

2.      Forming a consultative team of experts.

3.      Forming working committees with specific tasks and responsibilities in the process of creating PCSGE.

5. Target groups.

The school will be open to enroll all children, regardless of their religion, ethnic or social status, who have an interest in studying at the school. The children and their parents must accept the philosophy of the school and agree to abide by its rules.

            6. Expected results.

            We expect high interest towards the school on the part of parents, specialists and foreigners. We expect the children who attend the school to receive a high level of education which can help them advance to further education, to develop good study habits, skills and motivation, corresponding to their age, as well as to develop responsible and moral Christian behavior. With regard to the teachers working in the school we expect them to receive high satisfaction with their work and encouragement to show their professional skills.

            7. Duration of the project

            In order for the aims and tasks of the project to be fulfilled, it should last at least five years. This is the time necessary for completing the first educational stage including preschool training. At the end of this period there will be a general assessment of the effectiveness and usefulness of the project and consideration of the need to finance it again for another period of five years. In practice this period will be divided into five separate periods of one calendar year each. This division makes it possible, on the one hand, to finance the project by stages and, on the other, to exercise timely control and assessment for effectively carrying out of the project.

            8. Project activities

            The project activities are divided into two main groups: activities connected with the establishing of the school and activities connected with the functioning of the school.

I. Activities connected with the establishing of the school.

1.      Ensuring the necessary equipment for the school.

2.      Raising funds and building up of a financial structure and financial control of the school.

3.      Creation of working groups for: 1. Implementing the school’s philosophy; 2. Working out the school’s regulations and program; 3.Criteria for selecting teacher specialists in the school; 4.Establishing connections with similar organizations and schools and exchanging experience.

4.      Organizing a competition to appoint a principal and pedagogical personnel.

5.      Developing the administrative and managerial structure of the school.

II. Activities describing the nature of the school

            The school will follow the compulsory general educational program of the Ministry of Education with the following peculiarities:

1. Early foreign language teaching, to begin in first grade with a chosen language (English, Spanish, French and German) and second language after fourth grade;

2. All day training, including regular morning classes, ensured possibility for lunch and afternoon classes for elementary education degree, according to the desires of the parents;

3. Early computer training;

4. Preschool training with possibility for afternoon classes;

5. Organizing of green, blue and winter schools and holiday camps at home and abroad to make it possible for the children to practice and improve their foreign language learning.

6. Religion as an elective. This part of the program might be expanded if desired by the parents and children.

7. Possibility for additional paid activities in addition to the curriculum in the sphere of sports and arts, according to the desires of the parents and children.

8. Qualified consultative psychological and pedagogical activities to help and consult the children, the parents and the teachers in the school.

9. Constant medical care for the children

10. Student council with mediator functions (after sixth grade).

11. Program for integration of children at risk: disabled, orphans, ethnical minorities. Socialization programs for children with deviant behavior.

12. Permanent professional training for teachers to raise the quality of the pedagogical communication and interaction between teachers and students, as well as between teachers themselves, and between teachers and parents. This includes periodical topic seminars for developing interpersonal interaction skills, disciplining, improving the teaching methods and increasing the motivation to study and the results of the students.

The educational concept of the school is built on the basis of clearly defined Christian morals, principles and values for personal behavior and discipline.

Maintaining close contact with parents through festivals, meetings, telephone conversations, testimonial follow sheets etc. and opportunities for the parents to participate in the life of the school (for example setting up a parents’ board, open lessons and others) is a priority of the overall pedagogical activity of the school.

9. Indicators for following up of the project’s success

            At the end of every school year there will be a survey of the parents’ opinion according to the following criteria:

1. Regarding the adequacy of the school and teaching personnel to meet the specific needs of the child:

·        Adequacy in regard to the educational needs of the child;

·        Adequacy concerning the personal needs of the child with a view to help his complete emotional and psychological development;

·        Adequacy in regard to the social and physical needs of the child with a view to remove any obstacles to the proper socialization of the child.

            2. Regarding the parents’ engagement and adequate participation in the school life of the child:

·        Participation in obligatory meetings, organized by the school.

·        Participation and initiative regarding the informal school activities (holidays, festivals, discussions and others).

·        Keeping generally informed and asking the school specialists about the overall state and behavior of the child (attitude toward subject matter, results, relations with the teachers and classmates etc.).

            10. Organizational structure

A.     Type of school – elementary with the view to add on a middle and secondary school.

B.     Board of directors – the board will appoint the principal of the school and will take the final decisions on every important question. Probably the board will include most of the founders of the school.

C. Principal – appointed by the board of directors and accountable to them.

D. Teachers – qualified specialists and devoted Christians.

E. Office manager (secretary)

F. Book-keeping

G. Financial control – carried out by a specially appointed person and the board. The purpose is to ensure proper use of the funds received and regular accounting to the sponsors (once every three months).

12. Operation plan

A. The foundation Alternative – Alfa and Omega has been created, which will follow the fulfillment of the plan and the distribution of the initial funds. The project will be introduced to the United Evangelical Churches (UEC) on behalf of the foundation to ensure the official approval and support of the church leaders and churches. We will seek to maintain contact between the foundation and the UEC.

The support of the churches is particularly necessary because of the difficult situation in Bulgaria.

            There will be meetings of the Christian teachers. The purpose is to publicize the project among interested professional Christian circles and collect competent opinions. At these meetings there will be working groups of teachers willing to co-operate toward the fulfillment of the project.

            There will be a meeting with parents who would like to send their children to this school.

            There will be also a meeting for possible Bulgarian sponsors – Christian organizations and churches, Christian businessmen, private individuals and others.

            At the moment the necessary documents for legalizing the school are being prepared.

            The teaching programs will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science

            There will be a competition for recruiting primary teachers, language teachers, psychologists and a managerial team.