site.btaBulgaria Puts Spotlight on Foster Care Success Stories with “The Changed Ones – Life After Foster Care” Exhibition

The Bulgarian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy launched a new exhibition titled “The Changed Ones – Life After Foster Care”, highlighting the life-changing impact of foster care on vulnerable children in the country, the Ministry said here on Wednesday. The exhibition was officially opened at Sofia’s historic Central Market Hall by Minister Borislav Gutsanov, who emphasized the urgent need for justice and equal opportunity for all children. 

“Justice is what our society lacks the most. And the most important justice is for our children — that they have an equal chance in life, just like every other child,” Minister Gutsanov said during his opening remarks. 

The exhibition, organized by the National Foster Care Association, presents striking photographic portraits of young people who spent part of their lives in foster care and have since pursued meaningful careers and personal goals. Each image is accompanied by a story — a testament to the resilience and success made possible through foster support.

Minister Gutsanov stressed that foster care provides critical support for children who grow up without parental care, enabling them to build stable, fulfilling futures.

“If you walk through the exhibition and read their stories, you’ll understand the incredible impact of foster care. Without the dedication of foster parents, the outcomes for many of these children would have been very different,” he added. 

The event also featured remarks by Deputy Minister Ivan Krastev and included short documentary videos of the young people featured in the exhibit. Many shared their dreams of working in social services, education, and psychology — driven by a desire to give back and support others as they were supported.

The exhibition will be on display at Central Market Hall in Sofia until September 3, 2026, offering both local and international visitors a moving insight into Bulgaria’s growing foster care system and its role in building a more just and inclusive society.

In his closing remarks, Minister Gutsanov urged greater awareness and involvement:

“I hope more people — not only in Bulgaria but around the world — see, feel, and understand that every child has the right to an equal chance. Every child dreams, aspires, and deserves to live their life to the fullest.” He also expressed gratitude to foster families, saying, “Thank you to those who open not just their homes, but their hearts.”