Emilia Manolova
Founder and director of Star of Hope, who died on 28 February 2017. Friends of Bulgaria worked alongside her for seventeen years.
The treasurer of Star of Hope, Martin Evgeniev informs Friends of Bulgaria of the sudden loss of their director Emilia Manolova, who died on 28 February 2017. She had been struggling with health problems for a great many years and suffered a fatal relapse mercifully only a week ago.
A committed Christian with an Evangelical vocation to others, Emilia set up Star of Hope in Sofia during the turbulent years following the collapse of Communist rule with the mission of charitable aid to those in need in remote institutionalised orphanages and special needs homes and also in prisons. Friends of Bulgaria’s first collaboration with Star of Hope concerned distributing Christmas gifts donated by churches in Northamptonshire at a Christmas party for prisoners and their families in Sofia.
Since Friends of Bulgaria’s introduction to Star of Hope c. 2000, a fruitful co-operation has developed between the two charities sharing a common agenda of aims and objectives focussing on children and adolescents without parental care. In the early years, Friends of Bulgaria facilitated Emilia’s initiatives for organising annual summer camps for children in homes and then endorsed her enterprise setting up a site of sheltered accommodation for girls in Sofia in 2005
Friends of Bulgaria’s long-standing support of Star of Hope’s work is largely indebted to Emilia’s unique personality. She was an unusually selfless person and to us, her softly spoken, impeccable English and self-effacing manner masked an unwavering focus on securing a better future for the people in her care, underpinned by her faith for knowing exactly how to do that effectively through resourceful management. Emilia displayed an exceptional gift for listening and her empathic approach inspired the trust of those in her care, the confidence of colleagues and the inspiration of donors and others to aspire to her dedicated commitment and endeavour, despite repeated personal setbacks because of serious health problems. During these last two decades of considerable achievement, Emilia leaves an impressive legacy of care which has transformed the lives of many, whether by treating physical disability, overcoming emotional distress or educating with social and practical life-skills together with educational and professional qualifications to lead independent adult lives.
Friends of Bulgaria deeply regret the loss of a reliable colleague whose friendship was a special privilege and pleasure of the partnership.
Stand with Bulgaria’s children.
A gift funds therapy, a summer-camp place, or a young person’s first steps into adult life — and Gift Aid adds 25% at no cost.