Contacts
Address

Sveti Nikola

P.O.Box 104, Varna 9010

Bulgaria

Telephone:

+359 52 302518

Mr. Ivan Stancioff establishes Karin Dom Foundation with the idea of creating a new model of services for children with special needs, in order for the practice of abandoning them in institutions to cease. He is successful in convincing his family to provide the hereditary house in the Sea Garden of Varna for the purposes of the Foundation. Stancioff gathers a small team of professionals from Varna and invites specialists from the UK, to train their Bulgarian colleagues in the most modern, world acknowledged therapeutic methods. Thanks to his charismatic personality and strong personal motivation to be of service of society, Mr. Stancioff attracts donors and comrades to support the cause.

  • 2020
  • Karin Dom Foundation Wins the EESC Civil Solidarity Prize for Bulgaria The Bulgarian foundation is among 23 laureates from the EU and the UK that have received the award for their outstanding contribution to fighting COVID-19 and its disastrous consequences
    Civil Solidarity Prize
  • 2019
  • On November 19th at Varna Municipal Hall, Karin Dom Foundation officially announced the launching of an international architecture competition for a schematic design of a new building for Karin Dom. We received 174 project submissions from 48 countries on 5 continents.
    About the competition
  • Winners in the architecture competition became UNAS Studio - Bilyana Asenova (Bulgaria) and Sasha Ciabatti (Italy) are a team based and working in Berlin, Germany, which also won the hearts of Karin Dom’s team with precision solutions, compact interior solutions and maximum green space.
    More about the winning project
  • 2018
  • On November 1st, 2018, Karin Dom launches an online store to support children’s therapies. We called our project – Family Shop “Ambassadors of Goodness” because we believe in the good and in all of you who support us and that together we can change the fate of many children and families.
    More about Karin Dom's Family Store
  • Mr. Ivan Stancioff was awarded “The Heart of Bulgaria” prize for his extraordinary charitable activity and the huge contribution for creating Karin Dom – therapy centre for children with special needs, situated in Stancioffs’ family house in Varna.
    The Heart of Bulgaria Award
  • 2017
  • Karin Dom was one of the tree NGOs to receive the Saviors of Childhood award. The award was given for the support and care provided to many children with disabilities who live in foster families.
    More about the award
  • At an official ceremony in Sofia Societe Generale Expressbank and Karin Dom, were awarded first place for best project for 2016 at the annual competition of Tulip Foundation, “Project of the Year”.
    Project of the Year 2016
  • 2016
  • Karin Dom is celebrating 20 years!
    For its 20 years Karin Dom supported 1876 children and their families, trained 4457 professionals and parents. Read more about our anniversary here.
  • The second edition of the family charity festival Smile "Karin Dom" again took place in Karin Dom's garden in Varna. What we have achieved together learn here.
  • The International conference on "Modeling New Services for Children with Disabilities in Bulgaria" organized by Karin Dom in Varna welcomed more than 500 professionals working with children with special needs.
  • Karin Dom's training team is invited to train and support kindergarten teachers in Bulgaria as part of UNICEF's initiative "Together form the Kindergarten".
  • The Bulgarian School with the Bulgarian Embassy in London is now named after a very dignified Bulgarian – the Ambassador Ivan Stancioff! Повече информация тук.
  • 2015
  • Karin Dom conducts introductory and advanced training sessions for the Centers in Early Intervention in Bulgaria, under the “Social Inclusion Project” with the Ministry of Labor and Social Politics. The Centers are built in 46 municipalities with the goal of supporting the development of children between 0 and 3 years who have a developmental delay, disabilities or are in risk of such.
  • Karin Dom participates again in the Balkan Sport Games for Children with Special Needs at Edirne. Bozhko brought home 2 Gold medals! Hurray! :)
  • Professionals from Karin Dom and their colleagues from all over Bulgaria passed a course on the Bobath Concept for children with cerebral palsy. Jillian Stern from the UK, President of the European Bobath Tutor Association, led the training with a series of lectures, demonstrations and practical sessions.
  • The joint project of Karin Dom and SG Expressabank, “Support a Family” was awarded the first prize in the category for best partnership between business and NGO at the 10th annual “Together” awards of the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation.
  • 2014
  • Communication groups for children with multiple disabilities have been created. Since September, the children with special needs have music therapy with a professional music therapist.
  • The second International Conference on Autism takes place.
  • 2013
  • Karin Dom and Varna Municipality partner to establish the first Center for Early Intervention in Bulgaria that functions as municipal delegated service for children with special needs.
  • Karin Dom held an International Conference on the problems of autism with the participation of foreign lecturers.
  • The Trampoline Therapy for children with various special needs is introduced.
  • 2012
  • The use of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy began. New Gymnastic groups are formed.
  • In partnership with Worldwide Foundation for Children at Risk, a new Toy Library has been opened. This year, 75 children and their families have used the service.
  • Parents' Club is built – a cozy place for meetings where parents can share and exchange ideas and advice.
  • Karin Dom receives Tulip Foundation's “Project of the Year” award for 2011 for the project “Early Intervention for Prevention of Abandonment of Children with Disabilities”.
  • 2011
  • The Montessori Club opens. It provides daycare for children between 2 and 5 years of age.
  • New Communication groups for children with speech problems.
  • 2010
  • The start of the Early Intervention program for support of families of children with disabilities or in a risk of such, with the goal of preventing the abandonment of children at institutions.
  • Early intervention allows the children with a developmental delay or a disability to remain full and active members of our society and also it often prevents their placement in an institution.
  • 2008
  • In 2008, a series of trainings was provided for the Karin Dom team with specialists from the Netherlands and the UK on the TEACCH and PECS systems.
  • A multi sensory room has been equipped for stimulation of all senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and vestibular experience.
  • Karin Dom's team led training of 127 professionals, support staff and parents from all over Bulgaria.
  • Music therapy is introduced, led by a professional musician who works with the children in a group and individually.
  • In 2008, Karin Dom was granted with a state financing for 20 of the 148 children who visit the center.
  • 2007
  • In 2007, 146 children with special needs have received consultation and therapy at Karin Dom. The number of the children, integrated at kindergartens and schools for 2007 is 11 and the overall number of integrated children is 148 now.
  • In November, Karin Dom marked 100 years of Montessori schools around the world. More than 60 guests and journalists visited the event.
  • 149 university and college students from Bulgaria and abroad visited Karin Dom to get acquainted with the activities of the Centre. The students prepared school projects and theses, passed internships and study practices.
  • Mariana Nikolova is Karin Dom Foundation’s new Executive Director.
  • 2005
  • Karin Dom purchased a van with a hydraulic platform lift, so that children with motor difficulties can be transported to and from Karin Dom.
  • The first playground for children with special needs in Bulgaria is built.
  • The number of children integrated into mainstream kindergartens and schools is 117.
  • New group activities begin for children with ADHD and autism spectrum disorders.

  • Our team participates in the Special Olympics in Albena resort, Bulgaria.
  • 2004
  • A classroom is equipped with Montessori materials and children with special needs learn preschool, school, social and everyday skills.
  • The Karin Dom Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary.
  • 2003
  • Karin Dom is awarded with and “Eco Flag” for active and significant participation in the “Eco School” program with the Foundation for Environmental Education.
  • 2002
  • The beginning of Karin Dom's training activities for sharing experience with specialist from different social institutions, day care centres, special education schools.
  • In 2002 Karin Dom's team consists of 17 employees - specialists and administration.
  • 2001
  • Karin Dom won the grand prize of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria "Made in Bulgaria with the support of Europe" for the best project in the "Social Affairs and Health."
  • The first Montessori training for Karin Dom's team. Lecturer is Feodora Stancioff.
  • Rumyana Hinova becomes Executive Director of Karin Dom Foundation.
  • 11 children are integrated into mainstream kindergartens, 9 - into mainstream schools.
  • 2000
  • The Conference Centre at Karin Dom's top floor was opened. The hall offers room for 50 people, toilets for people using wheelchairs, easy access from the stairwell and the elevator.
  • Karin Dom's whole team demonstrated their work with children with cerebral palsy to colleagues in the town of Velingrad.
  • Karin Dom offered professional services to 156 children with special needs and their families.
  • During the year, students from across the country held internships or prepared their thesis at Karin Dom.
  • Karin Dom organizes a conference on "Early Intervention. Partnership with the Parents." The conference gatheres together more than 130 participants - therapists, pedagogues, psychologists, medical professionals, social workers, parents.
  • 1999
  • Round table on the problems of hearing impaired children takes place in "Karin Dom".
  • The kids visit the Balchik Palace and walk on the board of an English military ship.
  • 1998
  • 81 children used Karin Dom's serivices - among them 61 children from Varna and 20 others from all over Bulgaria.
  • Project "Free Time for the Parents" launches. Through a stimulating afternoon programme including games, activities, music, painting, sightseeing, visiting pastry shops, the cinema, museums, the children with physical and mental disabilites are able to get know their home town Varna. They communicate freely with other children and adults and feel happy.
  • 1997
  • In the city of Nessebar, Karin Dom participates for the first time in the Special Olympcs. Dimcho brings home a gold medal from the "throwing a small ball" discipline.
  • 1996
  • Karin Dom's official opening ceremony with Bulgaria's Former President Zhelyu Zhelev. The renovated building has a special rooms for the psychologist, for the speech therapist, for physiotherapy, parents' consultations, art activities, play and group therapy.
  • The Bobath approach is introduced at Karin Dom under the supervision of Vivian Williams, specialist from the United Kingdom. A free interactive English course was organized for the team. 96 children with special needs have used Karin Dom's services throughout the year.
  • The cultivation of the area around Karin Dom begins. The first flowers and tress are planted.
  • 1994
  • Karin Dom Foundation is established - the first NGO in Bulgaria, which introduces modern methods of working with children with special needs, while respecting the dignity of every child and his/her rights as a person.
  • The term "children with special needs" is introduced in Bulgaria for the first time. Karin Dom's team started working against the classification of such children as "ineducable" and their abandonment in institutions, hidden from the eyes of society.
  • Ivan Penev is invited to become Executive Director of the Karin Dom Foundation.