Children from different ethnic groups attend the kindergartens in the municipality of Batak. A meeting between members of the Zdravest Disabled People s Association and the managements of the kindergartens produced the idea to implement a project that would provide the children opportunities to get together by practicing sports. The project was also to organize meetings with club members, in order to teach the children tolerance to disabled people and adults. It was considered that the contacts with the children would have a positive effect on lone adults with disabilities. Two mutually complementing projects were developed; both were approved for funding under FLGR s Social Environment Improvement Program, supported financially by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Project implementation went through several stages.

Stage І: Construction of children sports fields in the K. Vancheva and Treti Mart kindergartens. The opening of these facilities spurred great enthusiasm in the kids.

Stage ІІ: A fall and winter sports celebrations were organized for the children from all kindergartens in the municipality. The joy at the sports facilities of the Tsigov Chark resort was augmented by presents hidden behind shrubs that the children had to find. Various games and competitions placed the children in their natural environment of joy and freedom. The sports activities taught the kids cooperation skills depending on the time of the year. Their physical condition improved. Their impressions served as basis for The Talking Newspaper, which was presented to the parents in rhymes and drawings.

Stage ІІІ: Work with parents. Health lectures on the most frequent diseases among children were organized to improve parents health knowledge.

Stage ІV: Trips to cultural and historic monuments in the municipality. The trips involved children from all three kindergartens and improved their knowledge about the history of our country.

Stage V: Meetings of the Authentic Folklore Group of the Zdravets Disabled People s Club with the children at the kindergartens. Children and adults sang songs at these meetings and established lasting friendships.

The kindergarten facilities were enriched by the equipment purchased for the sports fields.

Parents increased their health knowledge.

The children from different ethnic groups got to know each other at an early age, through sports and various games. Their physical condition was improved and they visited interesting places in the municipality.

Children and adults with disabilities established friendships.