Anton and Desislava live in a de-facto relationship. They are both unqualified but Anton has a job with a furnitue firm and earns about 250 leva p/m $AUD170. Desislava cares for the home and receives a Child Benefit of 70 leva $AUD48 p/m. After paying the bills the family of four lives on about 200 leva p/m $AUD136 for food and other expenses. They share a house with two other households. They have two rooms with old and shabby furniture and one which is uninhabitable. Basic utilities are available. The family needs basic furniture items like beds, chairs, wardrobe etc. They also lack proper winter clothing and shoes as well as warm bedding. Vanesa likes PE classes at school and playing with her friends in the street or watching television in her spare time. The family members are in good general health except Kristian who was born with hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and has moderate mental retardation. The parents wish for healing of their son’s disabling condition. They also want to have stable jobs so they can provide their children with decent living conditions. The atmosphere is tense and oppressive due to the misery and low living standards. Kristian’s condition has brought his partents to despair because they cannot afford any treatment or special care. MWB aims to reach the family with the Gospel, improve the living standards while demonstrating God’s love and care to the family, and to build a calmer and stable family climate.

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Community: Krupnik BULGARIA - The village of Krupnik is located in South West Bulgaria, 20 kms away from the regional centre Blagoevgrad. With its 2300 residents it is the biggest village in Simitly municipality and it’s population consists of Bulgarian, Bulgarian Mohammedans and Roma (Gypsies) people.Krupnik’s history could be traced back in Roman times (3-5th century)AD and in the XV century it was appointed the centre of an Orthodox Church eparchy which lasted until XVI century.In the past the region’s main industries were mining. timber, wood processing and textiles. During the transition in the country, many factories and plants were closed down. The region’s main agricultural production consists of tobacco, vegetables, fruits and grapes for the wine industry and the majority of villagers made their living from farming. However low level mechanization in agriculture as well as the lack of resources to provide the required condition for stock-breeding (cattle sheds, medicine and forage) means only a few farms are left and vast areas remain uncultivated.After closing of the major mines where most men were employed and following the current economic downturn, there was a dramatic rise of unemployment (now over 12%). Many young people left the village to work abroad and provide for their families, however the Global Crisis has reduced work opportunities and they returned home as jobless.

Water and electricity supply is good but due to unpaid bills there is a growing number of families who have these basic utilities cut off. 90% of houses are covered by the sewerage system. Heating is mostly on coal and firewood.

Living on the verge of existence many are desperate and hopeless. Trying to earn their daily bread, some search the abandoned mines for pieces of scrap iron they could return for recycling. Families struggle to provide food on their table and naturally less attention, if any, is paid to its quality or nutritious value. Hygiene is also at a really critical level. Due to the lack or irregular employment, many cannot pay for their health insurance which practically leaves them out of the healthcare system. One of the major difficulties facing local people is the lack of work opportunities and the shortage of resources to provide for their immediate necessities. Poverty is also the main reason for children dropping out of school.