Bringing Hope in Difficult times

The Georgiev brothers are grateful to be running their own car cleaning business from home.

When Ivan was just 21, his world stopped. His mother, Kemile, the heart of their family, passed away suddenly after a night shift at work, leaving Ivan to care for his younger brothers, Georgi and Antonio, who were only 14 and 10 at the time.

“I went from being a child to being a parent overnight,” Ivan said. “But our mother taught us to be strong. We had to keep going to make her proud.”

The three brothers were heartbroken, living in a small, damaged home in Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria, with no bathroom and broken windows covered in nylon. Yet even in their grief, they refused to give up.

Thankfully, friends like you through Mission Without Borders were already walking beside them.

A local businessman first gave Ivan a job at a car wash. Then in 2024, Mission Without Borders offered a self-sufficiency project to help him turn his skills into a business.

“There’s always demand for car cleaning and polishing services,” Ventsislav explains. “With the right tools and training, Ivan could run his own business. Mission provided the equipment and supplies he needed, while Georgi and Antonio gain valuable experience assisting during summer holidays.”

Ivan shares how the business changed their lives: “Now that Georgi and Antonio are older, their expenses have grown – clothes, shoes, school supplies, and other necessities. Since starting this car-washing business, our budget has improved significantly. It was our dream to have our own business. Now, thanks to the Mission, our dream has come true.”

Ventsislav adds: “This self-sufficiency project suits the Georgiev family perfectly. It provides financial stability, security, and hope for the future while accommodating the boys’ school commitments.”

From a child forced into adulthood by tragedy to a young man creating opportunity for his family, Ivan and his brothers are proof that with support, resilience, and determination, dreams can come true.