A Letter from Bulgaria

What would you do under such circumstance?

Some of you will have visited and even stayed with me whilst I lived in Norwich, I can even see the boat ride on the Norfolk Broads as I type. For those who do not know me, I am Mick Cooper and have been a member of a great bunch of Pan Riders, the Northern Pan Riders for a number of years. I have enjoyed a number of rides with many of you. Some of you will even know that I have left the UK and moved to Bulgaria. Why you may ask? The primary reason was that my role as a Head of School had changed significantly from that of a nurturer, to that of an auditor. Those of you who know me know that this type of work is not for me. So during last summer, whilst participating in the international Pan Riders event in Austria, I contemplated my future. Fortunately at the same time, Christine and I started to see each other once again. As a result of my interests, the bike and touring, I decided to leave my work and set up a motorcycle tour operation in Bulgaria. In January Christine and I visited friends in Bulgaria to look at a number of houses with the intention of buying and setting up the motorcycle tour company. Prior to this I had never set foot in Bulgaria. Christine had been to Bulgaria on a number of occasions and had come back with glowing stories of the landscape, the people and the way of life. I remember the weather in January was cold, -19° and with three feet of snow! We found our house and decided to buy. It was whilst we were in Novo Selo that the life changing conversation took place. Over dinner, our host mentioned that there is an orphanage with up to 50 residents in the village. Having spent 21 years in education, I thought I would transfer my skills for the benefit of those who are less fortunate than those who receive full time education here in the UK, the residents of the orphanage. So what would you do under such circumstances? My ambitions decision is to set up a chef and restaurant school in the orphanage.

In March set off and took my ST1100 to Bulgaria. Having travelled through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Serbia I eventually entered Bulgaria after three days of riding. The journey was almost 1600 miles. It wasn’t until I drove down the roads in Bulgaria I realised how poor the country was. I drove through a small village called Gamzova towards Novo Selo. The road, if you can call it a road, was more like a farm track with shingle, stones and ruts. It was dusk and light was fading. The only way I knew I was going in the right direction was that I could see the Danube on my Zumo 550 Sat Nav. At the time, unsure of where I was, it was of great comfort.

I have set out how I hope to achieve my aims in the following paragraphs. I have set out the information in three sections; 1 setting up the school, 2 current status and 3 how you can help.

The setting up of a chef and restaurant school in Bulgaria.

There are 38 residents of the orphanage in the small village of Novo Selo, North West Bulgaria.  The residents range from 4 years to 18 years of age.  It would be true to say that the prospects for the orphans are not good.  Bulgaria is not a rich country and there is not, as yet, a great deal of support for the less fortunate.  It is my intention to train and develop residents of the orphanage (those who wish to take up this opportunity) to become chefs and restaurant staff.  The skills learnt will enable them to get jobs and a meaningful life, either in the UK or Bulgaria.  The residents of the orphanage have fewer chances than those who study in the UK.  Students in Bulgaria who wish to train to become chefs have to pay for their ingredients.  As a consequence, fewer are being trained and those that are, receive a limited range of skills.  I would like to give the residents of the orphanage a vision, hope and a future.

I plan to run the training programme in two phases.  In phase one, they will be taught the principles of kitchen and restaurant. They will follow a carefully structured programme which will develop their skills to enable them to work in good quality establishments, kitchen or restaurant.  At the same time they will learn customer care/service skills.  Whilst doing so, those residents who have not opted to be trained, will benefit from this programme by getting a varied diet by eating the food produced by the trainees.  At the moment they receive a very poor deal in terms of food and taste.  In the second phase the trainees will put into practice the skills they have learned in phase one, by working in an active restaurant in Vidin.  At the end of the programme, the trainees will be able to work in a busy kitchen/restaurant, cope with pressure and be able to follow good and clear directions.  The web page will show the developments of the trainees over the two years.  I have memory sticks for the trainees to record their development and work.  To create a self sustainable programme, when the trainees leave and are introduced to employers, a donation to the programme will be requested from the new employer.  This money will be used to train the next set of trainees.

Current status
There is a lot of enthusiasm and anticipation for what I am planning.  However, reality at the orphanage is not good.  The kitchen is very poor and the dining room shabby.  What equipment is in place is extremely old, much of which is not working or in a poor state of repair. Please refer to the attached pictures.  As the dining room is so bad, it cannot inspire the residents to strive to do better when they are sitting on broken and torn chairs.  As previously mentioned, the kitchen requires significant help.  With your help, we can make a difference.  There is great support for the programme.  The mayor of Novo Selo has given his approval.  The regional council of Vidin has given their approval too. Whilst I have offers of help, as yet I don't have firm commitment or identified kit.  At the moment, I am lacking equipment for the restaurant and kitchen.

I have an appeal set up through the Bulgarian Project, a registered charity in the UK.  The appeal has sufficient funds to pay for the transport of equipment to Bulgaria.  All money for the orphanage is being collated by a registered charity; The Bulgaria Project.  The charity is registered, their number is 1084802.  Any monies donated to the orphanage can be tracked.  The address for the Bulgaria Project is: 332 Grove Street, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0BD

I have boxes of assorted clothing and linen donated by Russum's of Rotherham. I have a container ready at Hull waiting for the arrival of donated equipment.  As previously mentioned, I have the funds to pay for transport. I have volunteers in Novo Selo ready to install the equipment.

The following have offered their help: Russum's of Rotherham (clothing and linen) City College Norwich (redundant computers and a printer), Cyrus Todiwala (a range of equipment including a Crypto Peerless machine, coffee machine and a range of small equipment), Lewisham College (service counter). Cyrus has kindly offered to contact other chefs about my work.

I have been overwhelmed with the kind thoughts and offers of help from organisations and individuals including Gill Alton of Grimsby Institute, the staff of City College Norwich, Mid Kent College, Northampton College, Jim Dywer of Nelson and Colne College and Alan Kefford of the Norwich Cathedral.  John Lewis, the Lind Trust and the Third Charity Settlement. Cyrus Todiwala at Cafe Spice Nameste has been wonderful. Cyrus has donated a number of pieces of equipment as well as promising to send on my letter to other chefs in the industry.

The container used to transport equipment and other goods is being organised by Chris Begg at Caravel in Hull. The container company is TEPS Trans European Port Services.  The container company address is Freightliner Road, Hull, HU3 4XL

For those who cannot donate equipment, I also need help with transporting equipment from donating venues to the container company in Hull.  Can you help?

The other need is funds to pay for repairs, replacement equipment, food and fuel costs.

I understand that at 18 years of age, orphans are asked to leave without a plan of action for them.  It is my intention to give them hope and direction; to train them to become chefs and restaurant staff in order that they become employable in Bulgaria or who knows here in the UK!. Together, we will be able to give some a chance and an opportunity to be successful.

My bike is now registered in Bulgaria. I have registered for the international gathering in Germany next year. Hopefully, my friends will one day visit and ride with me in Bulgaria. Whilst the roads in Bulgaria are not brilliant, the views are well worth the effort.

If any member of NPR wishes to contact me, please do so via mick@essentiallymickcooper.com
I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help.

Thank you for taking the time to read my intentions.
Mick Cooper
www.essentiallymickcooper.com

For further updates to this article click HERE