In July 2007 we sent a 20 foot container to the Kardjali region in Bulgaria.  The region is mountainous with poor infrastructure.

The container comprised hospital beds, 54 refurbished computers, reading and writing materials and thousands of pounds worth of medical aid and equipment.

Leicestershire companies L in C Medical Systems and Pal International are among the donors of surplus medical aid.

Pal's marketing manager, Vanessa Hewman, said: "The company is delighted to help. This is an extremely worthy cause."

All the goods have been distributed to hosiptals and clinics (offering free medical treatment), schools and colleges and directly to people in need.

The computers were distributed to disabled and orphaned children for use in their own homes; children like Behchet Ali (shown above). Behchet lives in village Povet in the municipality of Kardjali. He is 12 and suffers from cerebral palsy. The computer is a valuable communication tool between Behchet and the world around him.