Ivo is 18 years old and will turn 19 at the end of October. He has spent five years in foster care at a family-style accommodation centre. When he was 13, Ivo was living with his father, but he was working instead of going to school, so social services took him away from his family. This summer, Ivo left care, and two weeks ago we helped him apply for an identity card so that he could have the chance to work under an employment contract. Since then, he has been stopped twice by the police and gendarmerie for document checks and has avoided a 25-euro fine thanks to a note stating that he had applied for a new identity card. During the checks, the police officers see that the fees have been paid by Detelina Vassileva and ask him who she is and why she’s paying his fees. He explains that she runs a foundation that helps young people like him. Our dream is for all police officers to know our name 🤩
On Sunday, Ivo came to Lozen to help out with work in two gardens and to give two boys a haircut.
Ivo mowed the lawn, poured repellent into a mole’s burrows, tidied up the stakes and tomato stalks, dismantled, cleaned and put away a swimming pool for the winter, and by the end of the day we were all absolutely delighted with him. Another job has already been arranged for this week, and we’ve given his number to two more households that have work for him. All the money he earns helps Ivo support himself and continue his secondary education.
Ivo has a job interview at a supermarket warehouse this week. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’ll impress the interviewers and can start straight away, because the job comes with accommodation near his secondary school, which will make studying much more manageable. And a steady income will bring him closer to his dream of getting his driving licence and buying a car.
If you’d like to offer Ivo a job, please email us at info@oddminds.org or leave a comment below the article. He has experience in construction – plastering, fitting plasterboard, painting, and all sorts of other jobs. He trained as a barber and is brilliant at it, but there are hardly any salaried jobs in that industry – barbers are usually given a percentage or they pay rent, and the income isn’t predictable enough to guarantee him financial stability. Ivo is highly motivated to prove he can make it. He’s keen to work and puts in a conscientious and independent effort. We highly recommend him 💯