Background

In 2001-2002 the Board of Trustees of Hristo Smirnenski Primary School took part in the program Parents participation in education of CRS/Catholic Relief Services Foundation and defended the projects The Computer World and Me and Sport for Health and Safety which sought to create favorable conditions for young people in the municipality to communicate and live a healthy life.

Practice

The idea for the projects was born by the fact that Hristo Smirnenski Primary School located in the residential district General Nikolaevo in Rakovski did not have any equipment and premises, where children could practice extracurricular activities and computer work, and that no computers were available in the school. For this reason an extracurricular form of education was created, through which the young people eager to get knowledge and information could have the possibility to communicate and obtain information.

The Board of Trustees chose one of the studying halls to be renovated and transformed into a modern computer hall. A technical plan was prepared with project account documentation to the total amount of about 20 000 levs.

After the successful defence of the project before the CRS, 13 000 levs were granted for its realization and the rest of the costs were covered by the municipality, sponsors and the volunteer assistance of parents and students. Seven computers, a printer and a copying machine were bought adequate equipment for the functioning of this center, indispensable for the children in Rakovski.

The Board of Trustees took the decision to set up a modern fitness center in the former canteen of the school, which was currently unusable and untended for many years. For that purpose a technical plan was prepared with project account documentation, amounting to 20 659 levs. The CRS Foundation granted 12 000 levs for the implementation of the project and the rest of the sum was ensured by the municipality and local businessman. As there are no sports halls in the municipality, that is a very timely acquisition for the whole community.

Results
By implementing the project the following results were achieved:
The equipment of the school was modernized by ensuring resources from international sponsors and in such way the slender school budget was supported;

Alternative opportunities were created for communication between the young people in the town of Rakovski and their peers all over the country and abroad by using Internet; Modern conditions for sport were ensured for the young people in the municipality;

Lasting habits would be build in young people for living a healthy life by the message No to alcohol, cigarettes and drugs and Yes to sport for health .