News

22 April 2026

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva welcomed children and young people today from centers for children with disabilities—“Aleko Konstantinov” Center, “Hristo Botev,” “Ivan Vazov” center for children without disabilities, and participants in the children’s programme of “Hope and Homes for Children – Bulgaria,” who took part in the “Ombudsman for One Day” initiative.

The initiative was organised in support of the “Stand Up Too!” project, implemented under Lidl Bulgaria’s “You and Lidl” initiative, in partnership with the “Workshop for Civic Initiatives” Foundation and the Bulgarian Donors Forum.

During the meeting, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva introduced the participants to the role of the institution and explained how the Ombudsman protects the rights of citizens and children, how she listens to their requests and reports, and assists in resolving specific problems.

The young people from the organisation's children's programme shared how long they had been participating and how they helped these children, noting that they were no different from their brothers and sisters. Each of the young people from “Hope and Homes for Children – Bulgaria” also posed specific questions to the Ombudsman—one regarding the closure of the last medical-social care homes for children in Varna and Pleven, and another about seeking opportunities for positive change in these children’s lives.

The Ombudsman stressed that everyone had the right to be heard, that children’s voices mattered, and that people and young people with disabilities needed to become visible to society. Delcheva also made a specific commitment to support a future exhibition at the institution titled “See Me.”

In the special segment “Ombudsman for One Day,” children and young people had the opportunity to symbolically take the place of the public defender by sitting in the Ombudsman’s chair. At the end, everyone received certificates encouraging self-expression, self-confidence, and the belief among children and young people that their voices mattered.

“When we’re together—we can do more,” was the message with which the initiative concluded.