A backpack and school supplies for a seven-year-old living in poverty gives hope and confidence for a better future

Samuil is only seven, but he’s already experienced heartbreak most of us can’t imagine. He was born to a 15-year-old mother who was unable to cope. Because of this he was adopted by his grandparents, Kemal and Nadka until Kemal died suddenly following a heart attack

“Samuil and Kemal were very close and I sent Samuil to stay with relatives because I didn’t know how to tell him." Nadka told us. “After a few weeks, I had to tell Samuil that his father wouldn’t return. There’s no easy way to tell a child that he’s lost his father, but it must be done.”

Nadka and Kemal were sheep and cow herders and Samuil grew up on a farm, surrounded by animals. However, Nadka couldn’t continue working as a cowherd without her husband, and her lack of education has made it difficult for her to find any other paid work except low-paid, part-time work.

Education is critical for breaking generational poverty. Many children in Bulgaria like Samuil drop out of school because their families cannot afford the expense of school books, stationary and clothing.

As Nadka explained: “Before the beginning of the school year, I had to buy special study books and aids for Samuil. The teacher then told me that each child needs a white shirt and black trousers for the first day of school, which was a significant expense for a widow like me.”

At Mission Without Borders, educational support is an important part of what we do to help families break the cycle of poverty. We provide backpacks and school supplies to children whose families struggle with poverty. It’s a crucial way of ensuring they have everything they need for a good start at school.

Ventsislav, who works for the Mission, recently popped round to visit Samuil, and said, “Come here! I have something special for you.”

“This is for me?” asked Samuil, as he saw Ventsislav with a brand new backpack.

“Absolutely! Open it!” Ventsislav encouraged.

With trembling hands, Samuil unzipped the backpack. Inside, he found notebooks, pencils, a ruler, and even a brand-new set of coloured pens.

“Thank you so much,” he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Look at my backpack!” he said excitedly as he turned to Nadka. “I've never had a backpack like that before. I can't wait to show it to my classmates!”

Nadka said, “The backpack is excellent. My grandson will no longer be embarrassed in front of his classmates because we are poor and can't afford one.”

Ventsislav said, “The Back to School campaign is not merely about distributing resources, it’s our way of helping children access education, recognising how crucial a good education is for their future.”

Donate to our Back to School campaign today – and help a child like Samuil start school with joy and confidence.