Documentary of ENTR: Link

“They took me, my brother, and my sisters in two cars. We were upset, and my brother was crying.”

On his 11th birthday, Veselin entered a social care service for children without parental care in the town of Elhovo, where he spent seven years of his life growing up in a world of rules and restrictions, in which security never came from closeness but from schedules and regulations.

Today, Veselin is 18 years old, and having left the social care service a few months ago, he faces life entirely on his own. He is forced to find a job, pay rent, and make decisions like any other young person, but without the possibility of returning to a family home or relying on financial support, which turns every step forward into a challenge. The only thing he has is the will to start over in Bulgaria, one of the poorest countries in the European Union, where the pressure on young people without support is especially heavy.

“There was a period in my life when I was depressed and very negative, but I managed to get out of that dark place by starting to find reasons to live and understand the meaning of my life. That’s how I found my why.”

Veselin moved to Plovdiv, the second-largest city in the country, driven not so much by dreams as by the need to survive and build a minimal level of stability, and his days are not spent exploring the city but searching for work, taking on responsibilities, and struggling to cover his most basic expenses.

“I prepared for six or seven months before leaving the home because I was afraid I wouldn’t manage, and even though I had a plan, I didn’t do anything until the last month, when I began searching for a job at all costs.”

State support for young people leaving residential care is minimal, placing thousands of youth like Veselin at risk of unemployment, social isolation, and poverty in the first years of their independent lives.

Despite these circumstances, he managed to take his first real steps toward independence, finding a job, renting a room, and earning just enough to cover the essentials, which may seem insignificant to many but for him is proof that he can cope.

Returning to Elhovo for the filming of the report was his first time back since leaving the care center and represented a reunion with the streets and places that shaped his childhood, as well as the memories that still carry pain and uncertainty. At school, Veselin was among the top students, graduating as valedictorian and earning scholarships that provided not only financial support but also the confidence that his efforts had meaning.

“I am proud of myself because these small steps prepared me for independent life and gave me hope that I could keep moving forward.”

In Bulgaria, over 8,000 children live in social care or alternative guardianship, many of them separated from their families not out of lack of love, but due to poverty, illness, or serious family conflicts. Two of Veselin’s sisters are still part of this system, which remains a constant source of worry for him. Amid the strict rules and limitations of institutional life, Veselin discovered a space for self-expression, first through writing and later finding solace and meaning in painting.

“I do not want to live without purpose, and I believe that if what I do matters, then my life will also have meaning.”

Within a few months, Veselin exhibited his paintings in Sofia alongside other young people as part of “Hidden Talents of Bulgaria,” thanks to the organization Operation: Teddy Bear, which creates opportunities, supports talents, and helps young people like him believe that their future does not end at 18, but only begins then.

“My greatest dream is to be in one place with my family and to bring together the people who have been scattered.”

He is not an exception, but part of a whole generation of young people who start life alone and who need someone to stand by them at the moment when support is most necessary. With your help, this story can continue in a way that gives more young people the chance not to face the first steps of life alone. Today, Veselin is fully independent, his brother—with guidance and support from our side—has become a soldier in the Bulgarian army, and their youngest sister, who is still in Elhovo, is receiving support to continue her education.

The documentary film is the property of ENTR, a unique channel created by young journalists from DW, France Médias Monde, and partners across Europe.