A backpack and school supplies for a seven-year-old living in poverty gives hope and confidence for a better future

Samuil’s heartache

Samuil is only seven but has already experienced heartbreak that most of us can't imagine.  He lives in a Roma community in Bulgaria, where he was born to a 15-year-old mother who realised she couldn't cope with a baby, and a father who showed no interest in him. Samuil was adopted by his grandparents, but his grandfather, Kemal, passed away suddenly.  

Nadka said that Samuil always viewed Kemal as his father. "They gave me a call at three o'clock in the morning to break the news to me. I sent Samuil to stay with relatives because I didn't know how to tell him. Samuil and Kemal were very close.  

"After a few weeks, I had to tell Samuil that his father wouldn't return. There's no easy way to tell a child that he's lost his father, but it must be done."  

Nadka and Kemal were sheep and cow herders, and Samuil grew up on a farm surrounded by animals. However, Nadka couldn't continue working as a cowherd alone without her husband, and her lack of qualifications made it difficult for her to find any other paid work except her current low-paid, part-time job.

Samuil and Nadka

Education expenses piling up

Nadka, who calls Samuil "my little ray of sunshine", works hard to provide and care for him. In Bulgaria, not all school resources are supplied by the state, so families need to provide them. For many, it's simply not possible, meaning children drop out of school, or don't go at all. The cycle of poverty then continues.   

She said, "Before the beginning of the school year, I had to buy special study books and aids for Samuil. The teacher then told me that each child needs a white shirt and black trousers for the first day of school, which was a significant expense for a widow like me. All these expenses piled up."

At Mission Without Borders, educational support is a big part of what we do in helping families break the cycle of poverty. We provide backpacks and school supplies to children whose families struggle with poverty. It's a crucial way of ensuring they have everything they need for a good start at school.  

A special gift

Ventsislav, who works for the Mission, popped round to visit Samuil, and said, "Come here! I have something special for you."

"This is for me?" asked Samuil, as he saw Ventsislav with a brand-new backpack.  "Absolutely! Open it!" Ventsislav encouraged.  

With trembling hands, Samuil unzipped the backpack. Inside, he found notebooks, pencils, a ruler, and even a brand-new set of coloured pens.

"Thank you so much," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.  

Nadka said, "The backpack is excellent. My grandson will no longer be embarrassed in front of his classmates because we are poor and can't afford one."  

Ventsislav said, "The Back-to-School campaign is not merely about distributing resources, it's our way of helping children access education, recognising how crucial a good education is for their future."  

Would you consider donating today to help more children like Samuil start school with confidence, dignity, and hope?