Bulgaria: The Perils of rural life

Having no connection to water, the women from Lilyak go to the pump.

The village of Lilyak is just a few kilometers from Turgovishte, a town in the middle of Bulgaria’s heartland. Yet, both are worlds apart.

The tiny sloping houses and muddy roads of Lilyak seem to be lost in time. Many Roma families have found refuge here from the town. They are unwelcome residents in many communities, but here they can build their lives with the little means they have.

Local municipalities pay little heed to their needs. The whole neighborhood has no connection to water. Women go a few kilometers to the pump – the only source of water. Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria works with a local social organization to improve the situation. The plan is to run pipes along the main street and provide connections to all the families. Stephan Nikolov and his wife Asia Marinova were the first ones to connect their house to water. Stephan shares his thoughts about rural life and its difficulties.

How did you come to live here in the village?
We came here 30 years ago when my mom and dad moved here from Turgovishte. I have been living in this house for 28 years. At first, this home had only one room. Gradually, I added two more. I got married and have three children. Two of them go to school, and I am very proud of them. I would also like to build a bathroom but I haven't saved enough money yet.

Asia Marinova, her husband Stephan Nikolov and their two sons.

Can you describe life in the village, what is it like to live here?
What can I say; it is very difficult to live in the village. Life here is more challenging. Unemployment is much higher than in the town. It is easier to find a job in the towns and big cities. Here, in the village, we can only live off our own farming. There are no other jobs, especially in winter. I try to find some work in construction. I am a mechanic by profession, but I can also mix cement. I learned this during my military service. I'm also a welder. These are all jobs I have done. Basically, I do any work that I can find.

Have you tried getting bank loans?
Yes, I tried these loans. However, I went through a lot of trouble to get them. They loaned me just 800 Leva (€400 or $550) for the house. However, this was not enough. I ran out of money very quickly and one of the rooms and the bathroom still need a lot of work. I also went through a lot of paperwork to get it, as well as high interest. These loans are expensive.

How did you find out about the no-profit loan for the water and what did you think about it?
I found out about it from a social worker who used to support us. I talked to her, and she explained that an NGO might be able to provide me with a loan because I have three children and no running water. We met and discussed things, and from then on it really worked very quickly. I got a loan and installed the water in the house.

How long did it take you to complete the work?
I took the money from the loan immediately, went to the water company and submitted an application. In a week’s time representatives from the company visited us and allowed me to put in the pipe. So, I started digging. I was working on my own. When I finished digging, I bought the pipes. After everything was in place, I called the company and they switched on the connection. We arranged to repay it in 10 months, and this is what I plan to do. I would also like later to complete work in the house. So, I am interested in repaying this loan as soon as possible.

Is having water here in the house better for the kids?
Yes, it's much better. And what is more important, now life is much easier for my wife Asia.

What is next?
Habitat wants people not only to read about poverty housing but do something to fight it. You can support Habitat’s work in Europe and Central Asia in a number of ways. Here are some examples:

• Visit our donations page to support projects in Bulgaria.
• Go to country profile pages to learn about other programs in this country.

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