Maria Yordanova is a happily married woman and mother of two children – Sofia, 9 years old, and Samuel, 6 years old. Maria has a Master's degree in Special Education, Social Work, and Preschool and Primary School Pedagogy. Ironically, she first worked as a specialist in the field of disabilities. Then, her son Samuel was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a diagnosis that changed the direction of Maria's life towards a path full of challenges, despair, searching for specialists, and the need for psychological support.
In 2020, she came up with the idea to create the "For Children with Cerebral Palsy" foundation, whose mission is to provide support for parents of children with disabilities. Within a few months, she found people who supported her cause. However, Maria realized that she needed to increase her knowledge of working in the non-governmental sector. Looking for opportunities for development, she found the Initiative for Building the Next Generation of Civic Leaders - a project that aims to increase the capacity of people from NGOs, funded by the Active Citizens Fund of the EEA.
After almost a year in the program, Maria has set an even bigger goal for herself. She is currently working on creating a space for mothers of children with disabilities - "The Place of Mom."
An example of a strong woman, unshaken by life's challenges, shared with you through our interview with Mimi.
What prompted you to create a non-governmental organization, Maria?
After talking to a large number of mothers of children with Cerebral Palsy and other conditions that lead to motor difficulties, as well as from personal experience, I realized that we needed a structure to support parents and their families to keep them stable. Hearing the stories of mothers whose families were falling apart, who felt alone, misunderstood, and rejected because of their different children, I felt it was my duty to do something. I wanted to change "the things" so that in time, there would be different stories, happier mothers, and families confident in their ability to cope with their difficult fate. That's how the idea for the foundation was born.
What are the problems you face, and what do you want to change?
I understand that if I help the parents, I will also help the children, because for example, Mom is their morning, noon, and evening, their hope, the person who is always there for them and takes care of them. She feeds, clothes, moves, walks, and cares for them in every way - she is their eyes, ears, and legs. But at some point, Mom starts to forget about herself. She forgets that she is a person with dreams, desires, hopes, and aspirations. She often gets sick, separates from her partner, cannot work to help her child, and cannot see friends for the same reason. Her confidence disappears, everything seems gray, unfair, and cruel, and her life turns upside down.
I want to change the picture described above and make it sound more optimistic for more families. I felt that I had something to give to make a sustainable change in this regard, and I am ready to work hard and contribute to it.
The foundation has been a reality for 2 years now, and now you are engaged in building "Mom's Place." Can you tell us more about this idea?
Over the past two years, I have invested a lot of thought and effort, and have been learning in order to find a way to support the most fragile and at the same time the strongest creature on the planet - the mother of a child with a disability.
The idea for "Mom's Place" came as a very logical and necessary thought, taking into account my experience and feelings, and after reflecting on everything I had heard from my conversations with many mothers and their families. Quite naturally, the need for a space dedicated to mothers and families of children with disabilities emerged in my consciousness, where they will be the main focus. Because they are also part of this society and need to take care of themselves.
Parents, like their children, feel somewhat alienated, isolated, and misunderstood due to the situation they are in. In addition, the problem of "lack of time for themselves" is a big challenge for them. It is at the heart of adequate care and is a prerequisite for maintaining the integrity of families with children with different abilities.
What are your ambitions for this place?
"Mama's Place" will be a space for parents to spend time socializing over coffee, tea, art therapy, support groups, psychological support, sports - yoga, Pilates, Zumba, etc., seminars, training sessions, events - a place to celebrate birthdays, a hub for exchanging aid, a hub for exchanging information, consultations, exhibitions, bazaars, culinary afternoons. But also… a space where children can meet other children, play and create, hear a story or a narrative, watch a movie or a puppet show. In this way, they too will enrich their social skills and diversify from their everyday specialized therapy.
How did the Initiative's training find a place in your busy life?
As a logical continuation of my desire to become a leader in an organization, I decided to engage in training that would help me self-discover and learn how to be useful in my role. Just in time, from a post by Iliyana Nikolova - Executive Director of the WCIF, I learned that the second edition of the Initiative was starting. I decided that this was my place and applied. To my great joy, I was accepted. And so began my new life.
What is the most useful thing for you from the Initiative?
I can list many useful things, but as a whole, everything we learn, do, and seek is important to me. But perhaps the most important thing is that I became a completely new person. I rearranged my goals, changed my way of thinking, recognized and activated my leadership qualities, and saw the change in the entire organization in a very short period of time. I have another year ahead of me, during which I am sure I will learn even more.
What are your goals, what do you dream of?
My ideas and goals are becoming bigger and bigger. I already see "Mama's Place" not only as a support center but also as an educational center, a place for requalification, training, and seminars. I believe that "Mama's Place" will fill a significant gap in the list of social services and at the same time, provide a supportive shoulder for young mothers who are just facing the definition of "mother of a child with a disability".
Dreaming that one day the discovery of places like "Mom's Place" and the acceptance of a child with cerebral palsy in a mass kindergarten or school will be something normal, and not the news of the day.
Dreaming that all children have an equal start and a chance to realize themselves in society.
Dreaming of happy smiles on happy children in happy and united families.
The "For Children with Cerebral Palsy" Foundation accepts proposals for ideas, support, volunteering, and cooperation. For contacts, visit the Foundation's website.