Sdrawei!

As I am writing this, I am sitting at the airport in Zurich, on my way to New York after a fantastic time in Bulgaria. Arriving in January, I really had no idea what was awaiting me or how my time with Step for Bulgaria Foundation was going to be like. Looking back, it is a time that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I am sad to leave this country with such great people, stunning nature and food so tasty it does not prepare you well for the summer season! I have made a lot of great friends whom I will miss very much.

The hardest part was to leave 'my boys' at the Pencho Slaveykov orphanage in Sofia. Teaching them English 3 times a week during my stay, we have had a lot of fun together, and their English has become much better! I am very happy that my good friend Plamen is going to continue with English classes (together with Natalia), and give them the attention and care that they deserve. They are guys with big hearts, wonderful smiles and lots of energy, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that they will be able to succeed in life. I am already looking forward to visiting them this fall!

With regards to the overall work for the Foundation, we have made good progress. The team has crafted a strategy and a detailed implementation plan (soon to be posted on www.stepforbulgaria.org) which will start in just a few weeks. We will (re-)design a new and improved curriculum for the different age groups, and then develop and hold comprehensive training sessions for our Generalist and Specialist Trainers. Teaching of the new program is planned to kick off January 2011. I am really looking forward to seeing the results of our labor, and I have strong faith in the guys who will keep working for the Foundation in Bulgaria. I am hugely impressed with their dedication and efforts, and it's a great inspiration. I will try to help out as much as I can from Norway in the years to come, so as to contribute to the growth and success of this fantastic organization.

We also had a very successful fundraising campaign with Global Giving, where we raised enough money to be permanently listed on their website. Thank you to all who donated!! And if you didn't get a chance, it's not too late, just go to http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/5300/proj5271a.html :)

To all my Bulgarian friends, to the Step team and to my Bulgarian kids: A big blagodaria!

Until next time,

Knut