Hope Packed for School

Every child deserves to start school ready to learn. Support children like Samuil with backpacks and supplies that open doors to the future.
Helen Taalo
19th August 2025

Samuil is only seven, but he has already faced loss and hardship.

Born to a teenage mother and abandoned by his father.

He was lovingly raised by his grandparents. When his grandfather Kemal, whom he called “father,” passed away suddenly, Samuil’s world changed forever.

His grandmother Nadka now works part-time to provide for him, but the cost of school supplies in Bulgaria makes it difficult. “Before the school year, I had to buy special study books and a uniform. All these expenses piled up,” she said.

That’s when Mission Without Borders stepped in. Ventsislav, a staff member, visited with a special gift: a brand new backpack filled with notebooks, pencils, and coloured pens.

“This is for me?” Samuil asked. Opening it, he whispered, “Thank you so much.”

Smiling, he told his grandmother, “Look at my backpack! I can’t wait to show it to my classmates!”

“The backpack is excellent,” Nadka said. “My grandson will no longer be embarrassed in front of his classmates because we are poor and can’t afford one.”

As Ventsislav explained, “The Back to School campaign is not just about resources, it’s about giving children a chance at education and a brighter future.”