Vocational Training Transforms Lives in Bulgaria
Mission Possible is licensed to operate a vocational school in Bulgaria, which equips its students in several professions. It was established more than ten years ago, specifically to serve young adults from the Roma population who had difficulty acquiring employment due to a lack of professional qualifications and the cost of courses.
Local churches are involved and offer their campuses for classes. This greatly reduces costs. We also receive financial support from the Ministry of Labor.
Each class has 10 to 15 students. Classes are held both in-person and online. All the teachers are Christians and are professionally certified.
The vocational school is led by Emilia Hristova. You may recognize her. She and her husband Valentin serve as Dobromirka’s activity center hosts. They carry much responsibility and have big hearts for the people.
Vocational courses bring stability and livelihood to church families.
One individual who completed the barber’s course is Doncho from Nova Zagora.
“I started like every other Roma youth from the slums: no education, which meant no future. One advantage I had was that I came from a believing family and had a connection to the church. But life was tough. From the age of 12 I worked in the fields. I married at 16; my wife was only 13. That was Roma custom. Now I don’t approve of such early marriage.
“When our children were small I traveled around in the summer looking for jobs so that we could survive the winter. I began praying that the Lord would give me a job that would be good for me and my family, in alignment with His plans. Soon, Pastor Ivan asked me if I had thought of being a barber. I said no way because I was clumsy with my hands…
“But the pastor encouraged me, so I enrolled in Mission Possible’s barber course! With the Lord’s help I was then able to open my own shop!
“Our family’s life has completely changed. I am thankful to God that I can give my children a better childhood than I had. Now they have dreams for the future and desire a good education.”
Vocational courses are a solution to problems and an open door for the gospel.
In June twenty women from a village in the Sliven region of Bulgaria lost their jobs at a car factory. None of them had any other work experience or knowledge of information technology, which is required for many jobs. Our worker Ivan Ivanov heard about the situation and registered them for our computer course. All of them studied and earned their certificates of completion!
“This course helps these women find jobs and earn a living for their families. We are currently in discussions with a company that is interested in employing them.
“Establishing connections with the people in this way opens a door for the gospel, too. They are Turkish, Muslim descent, and there are no churches in their area. But now, through our classes, they are getting to know our Christian teachers and team members. We are, of course, professional and tactful, but we use these opportunities to share our faith."
“We will reach out to the schoolchildren in the village, too, by giving them gifts at Christmas and sharing a gospel presentation,” Ivan explains.
