Sofia, Bulgaria

We of the North Columbus Rotary Club, thank you for your generous participation with us in an international project. This is another good chapter in the long cooperation between our two clubs in local and international projects.

The North Columbus Rotary Club has been pursuing a project in Sofia, Bulgaria for the last three years. We are assisting with landmark work in the former Soviet Bloc to aid children in Bulgaria afflicted with various types of learning disabilities including dyslexia, autism, motor and sensory deprivation and speech pathologies. We currently have two US trained experts Greg and Susan Johnston and their family on the ground.

Greg Johnston was formerly employed by the Muscogee County School system directing areas of special education and has extensive training and experience working with various types of physical and learning disabilities in children. Along with his wife Susan, also a trained Physical and Occupational Therapist, Greg is undertaking the task of this important work in a region of the world where such knowledge and skills are generations behind. They are also in the local university and medical centers training national educational and health care professionals.

Our club member William (Bill) Douglas has visited the Sofia Club and has personally seen the desperate need for our help in the former communist country. The world does not always look with favor on America anymore and some of our involvement is not always welcome, but people are always glad to have help working with their children. Providing this resource in a country that is emerging from communist domination could lead to enormous change and open many, many other doors.

We will to acquire and ship the materials and books so that there will be adequate tools in place for the work. This equipment will remain in Sofia for use by, not only the Johnstons but also those national workers who become trained. We have already purchased the first of the materials and have plans to personally deliver these to the site on November 4, 2011. Other material will be secured and delivered in the very near future as funds are available.