The project was presented with a presentation by its leader - Mrs. Lora Emanouilova - Director of the Directorate "TTO and WMD" in the municipal administration - Kostinbrod.
Its main goal is to help children with oncohematological diseases and their families, to overcome the stress of long-term and severe treatment and to promote their successful social reintegration. This goal will be achieved through the implementation of the following activities:

• Study of the good practices applied in such centers in the donor countries and other EU member states;
  Development of a methodology for the provision of services in the center in accordance with the regulatory framework for the provision of social services.
• Development of new programs for work with different groups of service users based on the studied best practices and in accordance with the adopted methodology. Appropriate programs will be created for both psychological and social rehabilitation of children and their parents. Therapeutic activities will be aimed at enriching the child's personality, activating his creative potential and creating emotional comfort. Working with other children in the family will be aimed at overcoming often hidden emotions and feelings during a severe and prolonged illness or loss of a sibling.
• The work with parents and relatives of children with cancer will focus mainly on overcoming the over-concern for the child that appeared during the treatment and on restoring the normal rhythm in the life of the family. Assistance for parents who have lost their child in the fight against the disease will be provided through individual groups for counseling and support in an environment other than home.

Training of excellently trained and motivated professionals providing the service.

The services that will be provided in the Center are free for children and their families.

The center is the only one in Bulgaria, third in Europe, after Norway and Italy and one of the eight similar centers in the world.

The meeting was modeled by Mr. Alexander Nenov - Deputy Mayor of Kostinbrod. Among the speakers at the event were the Mayor of Kostinbrod - Mr. Traiko Mladenov, Ms. Tsvetana Gerdjikova - Director of External European Programs at the Ministry of Education and Head of Program Operator under the program "Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Improved Inclusion of vulnerable groups ”, Mrs. Margarita Borisova - President of the Association“ Children with Oncohematological Diseases ”- project executor.

Mr. Traiko Mladenov thanked all those involved in the project and its implementation, Ms. Tsvetana Gerdjikova and her team, municipal councilors, local and state institutions for their support. He noted: "The direction is one. To start realizing this important service for the community, for the society, for Bulgaria and the Balkans.” The mayor stated that to date the first layer of asphalt has been laid, financed by the state, the land of the village of Opitsvet.

Mrs. Tsvetana Gerdjikova answered the questions of journalists, emphasizing:

"The existence of this center is important not only for the municipality, it will be of national importance, which will once again raise the image of the municipality as modern and thinking much broader than local needs and requirements."

The project is funded by the program "Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Improved Involvement of Vulnerable Groups" financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021. Its total value is BGN 1,223,982.67 and will be implemented for a period of 24 months. The beneficiary is the Municipality of Kostinbrod.

After the press conference, the newly built Center for Children with Oncohematological Diseases was visited.