Center Maria is an NGO offering emotional support and integrated in-kind assistance to women and children witnesses or victims of violence from 7 neighbouring municipalities. From the start of its activity the Center relies on the support of the local government and state institutions to promote awareness that efforts should be united to turn the problem area of one NGO into a wide public concern.

The center offers free consultative help (psychological, medical and legal), psychotherapy, social mediation, hot telephone line, consulting by post, to women and children suffered from violence. So far Center Maria has had 1500 clients ( 76 % being women , 16 % - children and 8 % - men)

The Center s lobbying acitivity has been directed to the Gorna Oriahovitsa municipality and state institutions. In 1999 the Center was granted in kind 2 rooms in the municipal building, renovation of the office, and free announcement time on the municipal radio. In 2000 agreements were signed for cooperation with Labour Bureau, the District Police Department, headmasters, doctors and other NGOs.

On the initiative of the center a sum of 3000 lv was allocated in Budget 2001 to conduct a survey on home violence issues in 10 secondary schools. 67 pedagogical experts and pedagogical councilors in the 10 schools were trained , hours of the class leader, discussions and workshops were organised. A Youth Club was created to the Center.

1. Center Maria receives recognition and establishes itself as an organization with expert opinion on the prevention and fight against violence to women and children. The strategy created for interaction with local authorities and institutions is innovative for Bulgaria. The number of women and children directed to the Center (16 % of a total of 1520 clients ) by state institutions is growing . One fothe Center s members is member of the Committee for combating juvenile and underage delinquency and another one is a municipal councilor.

2. The Public Council for prevention and combating violence at home functions effectively. Discussions, trainings and media policy raise awareness to the problem and create empathy.

3. A model was created for prevention and combating violence at home based on interaction between local government, NGO and state institutions. A school curriculum on Prevention of Home violence was adopted in 3 schools.

4. Center Maria will use the Strategy formulated to develop a project for establishing a Day Center for children with disabilities, prevention programs for children aged 7-10 and 3-6, and specialized programmes for work with handicapped families.