David, Emo, Kalin and Eva – these are the names of the four children that have recently become popular in Facebook thanks to a noble cause. Their fundraising initiative for one of the dog shelters near Sofia has gathered numerous fans and shares over a few days only and has been viewed by over 150,000 people so far!

The four friends met only three months ago and the idea to help was very spontaneous, just like everything good in this world:

“It all started one evening while we were visiting a friend – we were making drawings and candlesticks and at one point we decided to start selling them. We opted for charity, since we all loved dogs. We had helped animals in distress previously as well. I have fed stray dogs,” David, 12, says.

The shelter that the kids would like to help is situated in the village of Gorni Bogrov. It was established in 2012 with capacity of 840 dogs. Despite the efforts of the state, NGOs and volunteers the population of stray animals is still quite large in Bulgaria. Over 10,000 stray dogs are wandering around the country’s major cities, this number being some 4,000 in the capital. Money is not enough too.

“A person we know described the shelter’s current conditions as really poor,” Vanya, David’s mother says. “That was why we decided to help them, or at least to the dogs. We might not be able to improve the shelter itself. Our idea is to buy not only the food necessary, but also medicines and vaccines. We would also like to provide for vet assistance for those dogs that need it.”

The improvised charity bazaar is situated in front of block 769 in Sofia’s neighborhood of Lyulin. Toys, fairytale books, puzzles, jewelry and many other interesting and useful objects can be bought there at symbolic prices.

“People tend to buy a lot, mostly the objects we have made ourselves – pictures, candlesticks, play dough figures, elastic bracelets etc. They have even started to bring their own stuff – well-preserved toys, decoupage bottles, painted glass, candlesticks, jewelry etc. People do support, praise us and even want to meet with us. There were even these folks who passed by and stated they had come from London, in order to meet with us – they had learnt about the initiative in Facebook.”

Of course, David, Emo, Kalin and Eva get the greatest support from their parents:

“We were very surprised at first,” David’s mother says. “Then we got really happy due mostly to their will to help instead of being constantly anchored before their PCs and over their phones. It was all for a good cause which touched our hearts. We also helped with whatever we could. Every mom gifted something, we would buy materials for the painting of the pictures, for more elastic bracelets etc. We fully support them.”

“At first they only agreed that we should give it a try, but nobody expected such popularity,” David says with a broad smile on his face.

The initiative will last all summer long and everyone who is willing to uphold the idea and efforts of the four friends may buy one of their handmade objects, or donate well-preserved toys and other stuff. The children promise that upon their visit of the shelter they will take a lot of photos, in order to prove to any Doubting Thomas that every single dime will go for the cause and for the greater good of the dogs from the municipal shelter in Gorni Bogrov.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev