Orphan Train Project - Historic Roundhouse

We will archive any features we publish on this site, so keep checking back to read all about the activities involving the Orphan Train Project.

MARSHFIELD SUNRISE PROVIDES SHOES

Orphan Train Intermediary Sylvia Marinova sent the following letter to Dr. Rick Mueller of the Rotary Club of Marshfield Sunrise. It is typical of the good work done by the volunteers who serve as intermediaries. (Editor’s Note: The receipts, in Bulgarian, are not included with this article, though they were received by the Orphan Train Project).

Herewith I would like to send to you the paperwork of your extremely generous donation to the orphans at Ivan Kjulev Orphanage in the town of Gotze Delchev, Bulgaria.

$250.00- your donation
bank rate: 1.67BGLevs/USD on 05/22/2003

417.50 BG levs Donation
438.00 BG levs Spent ( Invoice # 218/27.05.2003)
-------------------------------------------------------------
-20.50 Sports shoes shop donation

As per the request of the director of the orphanage the money were spent on purchasing sports shoes for 43 boys and girls. He sent an accurate list with information on size, gender and quantity. The children and the staff taking care of them were very happy to receive The Gift. Thank you enormously for your kind generosity on their behalf.
The kids in this orphanage are really special and they do deserve and appreciate such efforts.
The orphanage is located in the center of the town of Gotze Delchev and the children are not deprived of social contacts.
The staff, taking care of the children is incredible. These are very devoted people.
I had the opportunity to talk with them and with the children.
The number of teenagers graduating school this year is 5. On the last picture you'll see one of them (Krassi) with the accountant of the orphanage (Penka). The boy wants to apply in a University in Blagoevgrad and we talked about different options.

Attached to this e-mail you will find the Certificate for receiving the donation from the Orphanage; Invoice # 218/27.05.2003 and photos. I am sending the materials to you by post. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Peru was recently added to the list of countries with orphanages receiving support through efforts of the Orphan Train (OT) Project team members. This small group of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton strives to encourage service clubs, schools, businesses, and other groups of people to donate money and goods to help improve the lives of orphans.

Making the OT Project successful often requires personal visits to orphanages to document their needs, establish connections with local intermediaries, and verify that previous donations were used as intended. In April 2003, four OT Project volunteers, Jeannine Desautels, Vergie Schulte, Glenn Koepp and Jeanne Koepp, visited four orphanages in Peru.

The orphanages visited included San Juan Bosco and Inabif in Huanuco, Santa Teresita in Tingo Maria, and Hogar Juan Pablo II in Lurin. Each orphanage housed between 50 and 80 orphans between the ages of 3 and 17.

Visiting these orphanages in a limited amount of time required hiring a driver and translator, traveling more than 730 miles by van, and crossing the Andes Mountains at 16,000 feet elevation two times! The scenery was awesome but the mountainous roads were often a challenge. Vehicles had to drive within a few feet of vertical drops of several hundred feet, with no guardrails! Several sections of road, which had washed out during the fall rains, were still being repaired. Truck drivers even stopped to ask us if the road behind us was open!

Since starting the OT Project in 1997, team members have "matched" more than 40 orphanages in 9 countries with over 50 service clubs, schools and businesses. Hundreds of people have willingly donated their time and money to help improve the lives of these orphans. In the past 6 years the OT Project has raised nearly $300,000 which has been given directly to the orphanages. In addition, OT volunteers have contributed countless hours and more than $90,000 of their own money to travel to Bulgaria, Romania, Guatemala, and Peru to visit orphanages and promote the Orphan Train Project.

Pat Rogan of Rogan Shoes, Madison, Wisconsin, purchased and shipped 3000 pairs of shoes to Mi Casa, an orphanage in Guatemala City. This was previously reported in January on the Whistle Stops page. We are happy to report that the gift has arrived.

The Orphan Train Project and Mi Casa are grateful for the generosity of Pat Rogan and Rogan's Shoes, our "Special Conductor for Shoes." Thanks Pat!! 5/21/03

Last June, we reported that St. Maria Goretti School, of Madison, Wisconsin, donated $2794.71 to help their friends at the children's home in Mazatenango, Guatemala, known as Santa Maria de Jesus. The Orphan Train Project has received an accounting for the expenditures, along with pictures and a letter of thanks. The letter, addressed to St. Maria Goretti School, the Orphan Train Project and the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton read as follows:

Please accept the expressions of our gratitude and joy for your generosity in providing us with these resources: The chicken processing unit (to alleviate our work); the painting of our buildings (to enhance our environment); and the piano (to cheer our souls). We, the girls in the Hogar Santa Maria de Jesus are 37 now (April 2003).

For many of us born in North America, a healthy water supply and the availability of learning materials, including books, is taken for granted. We all know that this is not the case everywhere in the world. As previously reported on the Whistle Stops page of the website, the Burish Family Charity of Madison, Wisconsin has become a conductor on the Orphan Train for San Juan Bosco Orphanage in Peru. The $2500 given by the Andrew Burish Family will be used to improve the well and water facilities in the Village of San Juan Bosco, located near Huanuco. Funds not used to improve the supply and flow of healthy water will be used to start a library. Pictures of the current water situation, and other pictures from the orphanage, are shown below.
The Village of San Juan Bosco is home to 60 boys and girls. The director and founder of this orphanage village is Father Oswaldo Rodriquez Martinez. Our Orphan Train intermediary is Sister Mary Ann Leininger, a nun from California, who has been working in Peru for more than 32 years. She herself directs a government-sponsored orphanage in Huanuco.

During the decade of the eighties, drug trafficking and terrorism reached its peak in Huanuco, causing an increase of poverty, massive displacement of families, death and destruction. In a 2001 national census, Huanuco was determined to be the second poorest of the 24 departments of Peru. While the national average of children with nutritional problems is 25.4%, the number in Huanuco is an alarming 42.8%.

Father Oswaldo, starting as a parish priest, created a lunch program for children who were working in the streets. Later, he extended the program to include orphans and those in extreme need. Eventually, this program was serving 300 children per day.

When Father Oswaldo became the principal of one of the well-known schools in Huanuco, he created a space for street children to sleep at night at his school. This place became known as Nazareth House.

In 1993, the children's Village of San Juan Bosco was opened at its present location with donations from institutions and generous individuals. The village receives a very small monthly budget from the City of Huanuco, which pays for the basic necessities and some personnel.

Most of the children at the Village of San Juan Bosco are there because the Shining Path and/or the military either killed their parents during the political violence. Some have parents who are in jail serving very long sentences, while others come from environments of extreme poverty, child abuse, etc. Father Oswaldo started the village 12 years ago.

In the near future, an Orphan Train team hopes to visit the Village of San Juan Bosco. 2/26/03

From climbing the steps of the ancient city of Maccu Piccu high in the Andes to delighting in the spirit filled faces of orphaned children living in the depths of poverty, five members of Edgewood College Rotaract had their hearts touched and perspectives of the world challenged and expanded in Peru, January 2003.

The Rotaract, sponsored by the Madison West Towne-Middleton Rotary, is a service-based organization for students between the ages of 18 and 30. In its efforts to craft service projects aimed toward global neighbors, the members of Rotaract fundraised $1,600 for their travel expenses, and gathered clothing and toys to donate to a Lima orphanage through a local Madison Girl Scout Troop.

As an Oshkosh Rotary exchange student to Lima last year, I witnessed first-hand the immense poverty, but stark beauty, rich culture and sense of national spirit that hails the country. Amidst my experiences, I became inspired to come back to the Edgewood college community and induce others to act and invoke an equal sense of passion, commitment and drive to help the project.
I stumbled upon Rotaract, in my efforts to raise funds for the building of a new girls dorm for the La Sagrada Orphanage (The Sacred Family), in Lima, Peru. Seeing in it a natural extension and great conduit for the work that Rotary was doing with the orphanage. This past fall, Rotaract became officially chartered at Edgewood.

I was moved and inspired to action by the orphanage that is a community that embraces you like one of their own. It's a place of love, compassion and selflessness despite the fact that it is hidden among the slums of northern Lima, with streets filled with uncollected garbage and hills dotted by one-room shacks.

The man at the center of this unseemly haven, Miguel Rodriquez, has since 1988 been the father figure to the 635 orphans he has taken in from the streets of Lima; an action incurred after the death of his infant son.

During my visit last year, I was able to witness first hand the environment of children who were given a second chance at a new and better life, with a loving caregiver. I had never before interacted with such well adjusted, intelligent children who unabashedly give out kisses and hugs.

Rodriquez, I discovered was a man that could be equated to Mother Theresa, who gave up a life of affluence for a life of dedication and commitment to the poorest of the poor, the orphans that make up the streets.

Sadly, however, a week after I left the orphanage, Rodriquez was sent into recluse due to various health problems and was absent for close to a year. While gone, the 250 children that were there during my first visit had dwindled to 95. Upon Rodriquez's return, he has once again re-established himself in the lives of the children, and has gone back into the streets and revamped the number back to close to 200.

Given the events of the turbulent year at the orphanage, my visit with Rotaract this year came with new appreciation and awe for the children and for Rodriquez. I found him in fine spirits, good health and he was the same loving, caring man that I first became inspired by.

I caught tears in my throat, when to my surprise I walked into a room full of children the day that Rotaract visited, and my ears were greeted by the gleeful sounds of my name. I had briefly forgotten what a roomful of children can do to the heart, of what the feeling of joy is like, as one is dragged by little hands that reach up to stop your retreat.

Looking over the sea of children, whose eyes were filled with love I was touched at the thought that most of these children had come from broken pasts. Yet, due to the actions of one man, these children were given the opportunity to trust, overcome huge obstacles and thrive. The children's unconditional love and genuine excitement over our presence and gifts made me re-evaluate where I derive meaning from.

In the core of my experience, I was reminded to take a greater appreciation for all that we are blessed to have on a daily basis. Of how a simple interaction that profoundly changed my life the year before could have such a lasting affect on the children.
While the orphanage experience proved to be the focal point and dramatic eye opener that brought about a sense of self-evaluation, Rotaract, in addition, visited several of the Lima EIGER (International School of General Studies) branches. It was here that we were thrust in front of classrooms in order to converse with students, answer questions about the U.S. and deliver school supplies.

Most of the EIGER students come from low-income backgrounds, and pay only $25 a semester. They attend classes with rudimentary equipment, such as benches and only the simplest black board in classrooms that are by American standards, loud, stuffy and crude. Thus, an interaction with native English speakers is needed and highly desired, so as to give them real world practice and hands on experience.

In addition to Rotaract's service mission, the opportunity to fully experience the country and its culture was not lost. The group went on the road, on a tour that took us from the high altitude of the The Colca Canyon, to Cusco to explore the ancient Inca ruins of Maccu Piccu and the Sacred Valley.

For Rotaract members, amidst adventures of new food, meeting travelers around the world, and soaking up the beauty of the landscape, came a new understanding and appreciation.
But the true summation that encapsulated the meaning of the trip was what Rodriquez said, "looking at the smiles of children, is like looking into the face of God."

(Editor's Note: The author, Jessica Benton Cooney, is a senior at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin and charter president of the Rotaract Club of Edgewood College. She led a group of fellow students on the described journey to Peru. The Rotaract Club of Edgewood College is a "conductor on the Orphan Train Project for La Sagrada Orphanage in Lima Peru). 1/23/03

Thank you for your Christmas greetings. I shared them with the Sisters and the girls.
They are always pleased to know that folks are thinking of them. We have been extremely busy with the chicken and rabbit project. We are off and running. The donations arrived with perfect timing for us. Because we had started the building foundation, from there it was easy. With some volunteers and a brick mason, we finished the house within a week. We bought three types of hens: to fatten, to lay eggs, and chicks to grow. In the photos you can see the small chicks running around,the first hens to be slaughtered and the installation. As we are now improving new photos will be on their way soon.

The rabbit hutches had a tragedy. While we were finishing the hutches the rabbits were being kept in a small pen and a dog got them. Thank goodness the girls had already sold all but three, and so the loss was minimal (all but the heart break). Our expert said it would be best to start with young rabbits to put in the cages; because ours had been running loose with out confinement and they might eat the young if we changed them to cages. Now, we are awaiting the new arrivals. I never thought the girls would like this project but they truly love this new work. They not only feel accomplished in everything they have learned but are fascinated by the financial reward for their labor.

The few chickens they killed were for the Christmas party. All the girls and the Sisters were so proud that for the First time they grew and prepared an entire meal for themselves. The vegetables were perfect, the roasted chicken delicious, and they even served deviled eggs! The rest of the meal was paid for by the moneys they collected through selling the rabbits, chickens, and eggs. It is truly amazing to know that given the opportunity these Girls are going to succeed!

Now, school has started here and the needs are many, since the 'Board' does not believe in educating these young ladies. But, I do believe if we get through these two months the 'farm project' will be able to sustain the monthly educational needs for every girl. So, we are all sending you a hug and a big thank you for your hard work and generosity. You are making dreams come true.
Much more later.

(Editor's Note: The foregoing and following messages are from Dana Mannen, our Orphan Train intermediary in Quetzaltenango. The regular conductors for this home are Ridgeway Elementary and the Dodgeville Kiwanis, whose funds along with money from Andrew Burish, benefited this and other projects at Quetzaltenango).

About the donations:
So far a total of $664.86 has been spent on the chicken & rabbit coop.
$321.45 spent on encyclopedias, enter active cd-rom educational center. Sister Berta found the publisher and explained the homes situation and for the price of one edition they received 4 complete editions, up-dates for 20 years, not just an entire educational program but also arts and crafts, cooking, medical library, music lessons and many more books. Since the purchase; for Christmas the girls received a box full of short novels and stories from the publisher.
$122.00 on Christmas presents. Every girl received a backpack for school, purse, and small goodies such as beanie baby, hair stuff, candies, plus we had cake and fresh milk (a true luxury).
That leaves us with a balance of $124.29 still in the bank. We are to receive some chickens, rabbits and turkeys the first week of February for the coop. If these animals come we will need some of the money mentioned above for vaccinations. Otherwise, if you have any suggestions for the other $100.00 just let us know.
Every letter you write is shared with the home. They love to hear that someone out there cares.
We do have a lot going on down here these days but I will be in touch with more photos and stories from the Home.

On Friday, December 13, 2002, the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton, and the Orphan Train Project it sponsors, presented awards to three recipients. Andrew Burish received the "Friend of Children" award, while Beth Littrell and Scott Hartman received the "International Child Care Educator Service Award."

Andrew Burish, Senior Vice President-Investments of UBS PaineWebber was honored for his generosity to the Orphan Train Project. Burish, who heads a team, appropriately known as "the Burish Group" at UBS PaineWebber's Madison, Wisconsin office, donated $7500 to the Orphan Train Project over the last 13 months. Andy Burish, who rose from modest beginnings to managing millions of investor dollars, has championed the less fortunate in many of his charitable activities. The "Friend of Children Award" presented to Burish read as follows: "The Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton and the Orphan Train Project recognize the generosity of the recipient, whose contributions to the Orphan Train Project brought comfort and joy to children at orphanages in Bulgaria, Guatemala and Peru."

Beth Littrell, Director of Training at Mooseheart, and Scott Hartman, Director of Communities at Mooseheart, were honored for their educational efforts. The Mooseheart facility, sponsored by Moose International in Mooseheart, Illinois, is often referred to as the "Child City." Beth and Scott have been instrumental in arranging for and training foreign orphanage directors during two (2 ? week) sessions at Mooseheart over the past couple years. Recently, both traveled to Svishtov, Bulgaria, where they conducted a two-day Orphan Train Seminar for orphanage directors and child care specialists in Bulgaria. Organized and planned by Orphan Train Intermediary Mitko Nenkov and the Rotary Club of Svishtov, with the cooperation of the Mayor of Svishtov and other government officials, the seminar was attended by over 50 participants. While in Bulgaria, Beth and Scott visited several orphanages in different areas of the country. The "International Child Care Educator Service Award" presented to Beth and Scott read as follows: "The Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton and the Orphan Train Project herewith honor the recipient for his/her service to orphaned, abandoned and abused children, educating those charged with their care, both here and abroad. The recipient of this distinction has given of his/her time, talent and treasure, demonstrating service above self in the cause of effective skills training for caregivers, all in the Rotary tradition of creating peace and understanding amongst people of the world."

Club President Debra G. Dieter and Orphan Train Project Chairman Edward J. Fink signed the citations on behalf of the organization. All recipients had an opportunity to address the Club and were met with enthusiastic applause. Following the presentation, Scott and Beth gave a Power Point presentation on their Bulgarian experiences, offering praise for their Bulgarian hosts and guides.

Earlier this year we reported on a donation from the Rotary Club of Columbus and St. Jerome School of Columbus, to benefit their orphanage in Kosovo, Bulgaria. Upon receipt of the money, sent through Doverie, a Non Government Organization in Vidin, Bulgaria, Orphan Train folks began work on the purchases. Recently, Intermediary Mariela Valkova and Doverie official Lidia Kamenova filed the following reports and pictures.

Today, 4/12/02, in the city of Vidin, a contract was signed between Lidia Kamenova Kamenova, a representative of the Non-Profit Organization, Doverie, (address: 3 Alexander Battenberg St., Vidin; tax number: 1052097297) and Mincho Petrov, the Director of the primary school, Saint Kiril and Saint Metodi (address: Kosovo, Bregovo County; tax number: 1052057971) for the following:

Today, 4/12/02, in the city of Vidin, Mincho Petrov, the Director of the primary school, Saint Kiril and Saint Metodi (address: Kosovo, Bregovo County; tax number: 1052051971), received the donation of 7045.19 Bulgarian Leva ($3198) from Lidia Kamenova Kamenova, a representative of the Non-Profit Organization, Doverie (address: 3 Alexander Battenberg St., Vidin; tax number:1052097297). The donation will be used and the financial report will be submitted according to the contract signed between the two parties.
Signed on 4/12/02

When Orphan Train Intermediary, and honorary Madison West Towne-Middleton Rotarian, Mitko Nenkov made a trip to Mooseheart for Family Teacher training in the summer of 2001, he came away inspired. A plan to bring some of that training to orphanage directors in Bulgaria was talked about with Orphan Train friends in Madison. The idea was to make the Mooseheart approach to child care (an adaptation of the Boys Town/Girls Town Model) available to more orphanages, thus benefiting a larger number of children. Nenkov went back to his home in Svishtov and discussed the idea with the Rotary Club of Svishtov, the Mayor of Svishtov and others. They were on board! Svishtov, after all, is known as the "city of donators." It was a most appropriate place to hold such an event. A plan was arrived at and enthusiastically endorsed by the Orphan Train Project.

Beth Littrell and Scott Hartman of Mooseheart were invited to Svishtov to conduct a two-day seminar. The plan also included an opportunity for the team to visit orphanages and cultural sites around the country, while in Bulgaria. With the approval of their employers at Mooseheart (an activity of Moose International), and the promise by them to pay for the airline tickets, Beth and Scott began planning the curriculum. It included an introduction and philosophy of Mooseheart, and model of care; staff professionalism; youth rights; curriculum skills; crisis teaching; corrective teaching; effective praise; and self-government.

On Saturday, August 31st, Beth and Scott departed Chicago, arriving the next day in Sofia. Mitko was there to greet them. From there the team headed to Svishtov, ready to begin the wonderful experience, which was to be theirs. On Monday, morning the seminar began. It concluded on Tuesday. More than 50 participants from around Bulgaria participated. They included orphanage directors, Orphan Train intermediaries, government officials and others.

While in Bulgaria, Beth and Scott had the opportunity to meet with the children and staff of six orphanages, on their own turf, in various locations about the country. A special visit was made to Katia Vancheva, the orphanage matched to Mooseheart and the Rotary Club of Aurora, in the mountains of Shiroka Luka. They brought with them a donation from the children of Mooseheart for the children of Katia Vancheva. For many months, they had corresponded with their generous intermediaries Sanya Dyulgerova, Boyan Milev and Barry Feno, but this was their first opportunity to meet the children and staff.

Thanks to the extensive planning of their hosts, the team was able to visit many cultural sites including the National Art Gallery, Ivan Lazarov Museum, the National Sports Academy and an exhibition there of the holistic dance called "paneurithmy," the National Museum of Archeology, Vitosha Mountain, Boyana Church, Tryavna Medieval Architecture preserve, National Parliament, National Cathedral "Alexander Nevski," Arbanasi, the Bulgarian architecture preserve and other places of interest and significance.

Early responses received from participants were very encouraging.
From one Orphan Train Intermediary, we received the following note:

Dear Ed,

I want to say "Thank you" to Mitko, Beth and Scott for making that
seminar possible. It was a real pleasure for our team to see that
there are so many people who work for the good of the children. Both
directors Mrs. Lateva (Haskovo orphanage) and Mrs. Angelova (Leshnica
orphanage) are thankful for the experience that Beth and Scott shared
with us and are ready to implement the Mooseheart model in their
orphanages. The children at the Leshnica orphanage are from 2,5 to 7
years old and Mrs. Angelova believes that the Mooseheart model should
be to applied to children at different ages and implementing it to
orphanages with younger children will benefit the children and their
future teachers. I hope that the good work and cooperation that we
started in Svishtov will continue because only in that way our
children have a chance for better life.

Sincere greetings on behalf of all students of Social and professional
Home Ovcha Mogila personally to you and to all our friends of Rotary
Club Oregon. (Editor's note: The Rotary Club of Oregon is the Orphan Train
Conductor for the orphanage at Ovcha Mogila).

I want to share with you what I am most fascinated at the moment - the
two days seminar "Teaching social skills to Youth" which was held in
Svishtov at the beginning of September. I want to send my gratitude and
admire to our lecturers Beth Littrel and Scott Hartman who impressed our colleagues
with their high spirit and professionalism, their wish to do things
better and great love they are working on the problems of orphan kids
and for their sharing with us their experience.

The two days came out were not enough time for what we wish - to get
fully acquainted with Mooseheart philosophy and model for working with
kids. I personally was deeply moved and impressed by their speeches and
demonstrations. Since that moment I am ceaselessly thinking how to apply
and implement Mosseheart model which is very good model and on the
proper professional level and high applicability to our training
schedules. This is an imperative for us because kids which enter our home coming
from other orphanages to continue their education are without or of
very low level of social skills capability, they have difficulties of
communication with their teachers and classmates. It is very difficult
for us to "repair" their capability in our three years period of
training them being engaged mostly with their training professionally.
The professional skills are what they have to obtain and we have to
correct old habits and to build new ones. These kids deprived of
parents care and environment need time (at least a year) to be worked
under Mooseheart program, to be trained by Family teachers, to get
proper social skills, to be taught to keep in proper way in society and
after then they have to be trained on their professional skills. In our
orphanage we are capable to create the proper conditions to start a new
strategy training program elaborated mainly on the basis of Mooseheart
achievements and adapted to our specific conditions. Such program
should be experimentally tested initially with 10-15 kids. I have a
vision of one good perspective which is appeared before us and I am
concerned how much work that means to be done, but I personally have
enough optimism and energy and I will my best to create and apply our
specific model on the basis of Mooseheart to be adapted for our
orphanage and professional school.

We are to start the new school year on Sept. 15 2002 and we have done
preparations during the summer - repair of the dormitory, dining-room,
and school. We are running our farm also successfully, according our
expectations we will send detailed information on this point.

The Svishtov seminar received publicity in Bulgaria, and the following article by Genoveva Tanchovska appeared September 4, 2002 in the District daily newspaper Yantra Dness:

Two days seminar gathered together in Svishtov directors of orphanages
from Veliko Tarnovo District, among them intermediaries of the Rotary
Orphan Train Project. The seminar was attended also by other specialists
and officials of social sphere from all over the country.

Organizers of the training are Municipality of Svishtov, Rotary Club
Svishtov, Rotary Orphan Train Project and Social Care Municipality
Service Svishtov. Invited lecturers from USA are: Scott Hartman,
Director of the Family Teachers Training Center Mooseheart Illinois,
USA and Beth Littrel, Chief Training coordinator at the same Center.
Their task is to share with participants of the seminar their
experience on working with orphan kids and the results of their
research on the Teaching social skills to youth.

At the opening of the seminar an appeal by Edward Fink,
Chairman of the Rotary Orphan Train Project was read. During the first
working day the following topics were presented:
Mooseheart philosophy and model of working with kids.
Professionalism of the staff, Rights of youth and Curriculum skills were the next topics which were stressed by the lecturers this day.

The second day the participants in the seminar were trained to
overcome crisis situations, to use praise as an effective method of an
effective positive estimation of behavior and personal self control.

During the time the team was in Bulgaria, Mitko Nenkov kept in touch with the Orphan Train, reporting regularly on daily activities. He accompanied his reports with photographs, which are seen at the end of this article. We thought those reports were valuable and shared some of them with Dana Mannen, our Orphan Train intermediary in Guatemala. Dana, in turn, discussed her insights with Sister Berta, who runs a home for girls in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala known as Hogar Para Senoritas La Divina Providencia . Like Mitko, Sister Berta also received Mooseheart training in Illinois, and other experiences in Madison. Berta has successfully implemented the Mooseheart model, but is open to more aspects of the program. Dana Mannen was inspired by Mitko's letters and wrote the following message:

Ed,
Thank you so much for sharing with me the Bulgarian teams seminar. I am looking forward to discussing with the Sisters about the separation of the entire house into age groups. To quote Mitko: "separating the inner space to sections giving them names of homes - three such spaces brand new painted equipped with their own living rooms etc in the same building". Sister Berta did separate the sleeping quarters and study rooms; but I love the idea of making three homes out of one.
Again, congratulations to you ALL! You have touched and changed so many lives in a positive and creative manner.

Thank you for informing me about the influence in Guatemala and other
ideas. It seems there is a sense to share this model internationally
and the future will help us to.

We are obliged to Mooseheart not only to start initial implementing the
model of Teaching Social Skills to Youth, but also for their financial
support to our guest lecturers, which made the seminar possible. I have
got that Bobby Gilliam, the General Governor of the Child city
Mooseheart was the brave decision maker to make the seminar happen, and I
want to express my gratitude on behalf of all Bulgarian intermediaries
of the Rotary Orphan Train Project and attendants of the seminar.
Thanks to Beth and Scott for their work being accepted as future
consultants on the field for many of our orphanages and bringing us
hope and trust in the future of our needed kids.

Once more on behalf of Svishtov Mayor, Daniella, Nikoa Yordanov and me
personally to thank you and Beth for being so kind to visit us as our
successful and well appreciated guest lecturers.

Hope you are in your shoes now together with your people a week of your
return. Some pictures of your travel were sent to illustrate my report
to Ed and simultaneously cc-ed to you both….
.
We are looking for better opportunities and discussing with Daniella and
Nikola Yordanov how to make a project "continued" and will appreciate
your sharing comments and keeping us in touch.

Beth Littrell and Scott Hartman are back home and are busy telling the story of their time in Bulgaria. Since returning to Mooseheart, Beth and Scott gave a presentation at the Rotary Club of Aurora, Illinois, with another planned for the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton, Wisconsin. Before the presentation to the Rotary Club of Aurora, Scott said:

Just finished putting a small display of Bulgarian trip together for the Aurora Rotary. We go there tomorrow to present and "drum up support." Was great re-visiting the trip via photos. We have presented to some of the Mooseheart youth with pics showing where their donations will be put to use. They are amazed and energized which will hopefully translate into more contributions and a better understanding of their world. Rev. Tom has asked me to present at Sunday services where over 200 participate. Will keep you posted.

The Orphan Train Project is grateful to Mitko Nenkov, Beth Littrell, Scott Hartman, Mooseheart, the Rotary Club of Svishtov, the Mayor of Svishtov, Orphan Train Intermediary Nina Minkova and all those who helped make this seminar a successful undertaking in the spirit of Rotary's motto of "service above self." We are also appreciative of all those who participated in the seminar. Our understanding is that further interaction is expected, including assistance to the Bulgarians in grant writing. This was a wonderful demonstration of efforts at international understanding and good will!

Placards that Greeted Participants	Seminar Participants at Work	Beth Littrell and Scott Hartman Tell the Mooseheart Approach	Far right, Mitko Nenkov with Beth, Scott and other Participants
Mrs Bankova, the Penyo and Maria Velkovi Orphanage Veliko Tarnovo Director, talkinig with Scott and Beth. Two English Students Volunteers on left	Scott and Beth with Nina Minkova and Children of of Liliac Orphange, Leshnitsa Village	Beth and Scott with drawing instructor at Ovcha Mogila	Beth and Scott at Nikopolis
Old Rome Amphytheatre in Plovdiv	Sewing Room at Ovcha Mogila	Peter, Nina Minkova, Beth and Scott on Top of Mountain	Visiting the Children of Little Lilac Orphanage
Beth and Scott with Children of Ovcha Mogila	S.O.S. Village Building	Learning about S.O.S. Village	Mooseheart Team is Welcomed
Children at N.Vaptsarov school	Peti Donevski, Museum Curator from Svishtov, Explains Roman Ruins to Beth and Scott

One of the newest orphanages to join the Orphan Train family is Juan Pablo II in Peru. Because of a large unrestricted gift from Andrew Burish and another gift of $100 from the Altrusa Club of Marshfield, Wisconsin, we were able to start a little library with a $300 donation. We used a small part of the Burish donation in combination with the Altrusa gift. The emphasis of this purchase was resource books and storybooks. We wanted to buy materials other than textbooks. Pictures of the children with their new books are shown below. For Altrusa, a women's organization with many chapters, literacy is an area of emphasis. So, this contribution to the literacy of the Peruvian children is most appropriate.

As was mentioned elsewhere on these pages, the $5000 gift of Andy Burish was used at many orphanages. Here are pictures of children from some of them in the Blagoevgrad Area of Bulgaria.