"Animus Association" Foundation

The project aims at supporting the Crisis Center “St. Petka” by providing humanitarian aid related to delivery and supply of:

· food products for the women and children accommodated in the crisis center;

· medication;

· medical examinations;

· sanitary products and office supplies;

· repairs;

· transport costs.

The “St. Petka”Crisis Center  is the only place in Sofia for accommodating women and children, victims of domestic violence. The service is used by victims of domestic violence not only in Sofia and Sofia region, but also by victims throughout the country. The capacity of the center is eight beds and the duration of the stay is up to three months.

The Crisis center includes a range of activities that help victims of domestic violence to stop the circle of violence, to emerge from the situation of abuse and to recover from the experience. The process of leaving the situation of violence and the restoration of the consequences is long and different for each sufferer. The time required depends on the duration of the violence and the capacity of the client to deal with difficulties.

The support that creates the basic conditions for dealing with the situation of violence are different programs and services such as emergency accommodation, timely psychological counseling and social advocacy. The 24-hour regime of operation of the Crisis Center allows timely support, which in some cases is lifesaving. Many of the women who turn to the Crisis center for help are in a state of complete inability to cope with the situation provoked by beatings and other acts of violence against them or their children, or more generally of an event in their lives, which they feel they can not deal with. This is usually associated with a sense for urgent change, and at the same time with confusion, exhaustion, fear and helplessness.

Maintaining the services provided by the Crisis Center is a major challenge and is accompanied by much effort. The Crisis Center is a 24 – hour program that generates a large amount of costs associated with meeting the daily needs of the clients. The optimal functioning of the Crisis Center and the providing of a quality social service create the need of a higher cost standard.

The project provided funding for the provision of food and other humanitarian needs such as medicines, medical services, hygiene products and more.

Thanks to these funds the project provided comfort of residence for the client of the center. It was a good form of investment crucial not only for their physical survival, but also to regain their sense of self-worth and aid in their social reintegration and functioning.