Gold Foundation is a non-profit organization for public benefit, created to change and maintain a good level of treatment and care for children with cancer in Bulgaria and their families. The organization has a special focus on long-term survivors and their follow-up care.
Our direct work is focused on providing psychosocial support to children with cancer, from the moment of their diagnosis, throughout the treatment process and beyond.
We are licensed by the Bulgarian Agency for Quality of Social Services as a social service provider. "Информиране и консултиране", "Общностна работа" и "Терапия и рехабилитация"
She is a Master of Art "Psychosocial Interventions for Children and Families." Since 2010 Simona has been dedicated to enhancing the treatment and recovery of children with cancer in Bulgaria. Her efforts extend to legislative advocacy regarding drug reimbursement, creating impactful change. Since 2013 she offer essential psychosocial support to parents and children with cancer from the moment of diagnosis through treatment and reintegration into society. Since 2017, Simona was managing a Daily Centre for Children with Cancer.
An author of various programs benefiting children and parents, including rehabilitation camps and other initiatives. Since 2015, I have been organizing recovery camps for children and adolescents who have finished their treatment, as a part of long-term psychosocial care. Co-author of a handbook on psychosocial support for families of children with cancer.
Patient Advocate, Parent of survivor
Hospital teacher, social worker, and patient advocate
Survivor and psychology student
Vanessa Karaivanova has been an active member of the survivor community since 2016, both nationally and across Europe. She passionately volunteers at survivor summer camps and provides valuable support to children in a hospital environment at the Clinic for Children's Clinical Oncology and Hematology in Sofia. Vanessa serves as Bulgaria's Ambassador in the European project "Youth Cancer Survivors" (EU CAYAS NET) and successfully completed the patient advocate course, WECAN SmartStart, at the WECAN Academy.
She is a paediatric psyhologiest.
Theodora has a BA in Primary School Pedagogy and MA in Health Management. She has more then 20 years of experience and is an expert in the field of children's cancer care. Since 2014, she actively support children with cancer and families as well as a hospital teacher. Her contributions include methodology for psychosocial support during active cancer treatment, supportive therapy, and beyond. Her impact extends to international projects in pediatric cancer and advocating for legislative changes in Bulgaria's healthcare system to enhance children's access to treatment. Theodora is a certified Patient Advocate through the WECAN MasterClass at WECAN Academy. She is a member of "Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care" CCI-E's Pillar, the SIOPE's European Palliative Care Group. An co-author in the European standard for the care of children with cancer (ESCALIER) and handbooks: "How to help a child with learning disabilities at home and at school", "Guidelines for Overcoming Learning Difficulties for Children with Language and Mathematical Disabilities" Children with Chronic Illnesses and ICT, School with Class Foundation Śniadeckich 19, 00-654, Warsaw, Poland Handbook of psychosocial support for children with cancer.
The Gold Foundation has a Public Council of parents of children with cancer, survivors, doctors, nurses and people who actively contribute to the activities of the Foundation.
The Public Council provides expert assistance in implementing its overall activities, promotes the mission, goals and activities of the Foundation, makes proposals to the Management Board for various activities and initiatives. The members of the Public Council receive information about the activities of the Foundation and its program policy. Every 4 months they receive a written report on implemented activities and future initiatives. They are familiarized with the annual activity reports during an annual meeting of the Public Council. The Public Council makes proposals to the governing bodies of the Foundation regarding future directions and priorities, its work, addressing urgent needs, dealing with current problems, as well as proposals for solving them.
If you want to become a member of the Public Council, download and fill out an Application Заявление and send it to fzlato22@gmail.com.
We provide direct support to children and their families in the hospital during their treatment and until the improvement of treatment and care conditions!
