BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/01/2007

Belarus Makes Example Of Uk Charities

By TJ Reporter

The Belarussian government has instructed all rehabilitation centres in the country to follow the example of a children's project pioneered by two UK charities by providing respite care facilities.

The move, which will ensure that carers are given breaks from looking after family members or other dependents, follows last year's opening of Novi Dom, the first respite care facility and educational resource in Minsk for children with learning disabilities aged over 11.

Norma Brier, Chief Executive of Norwood - which runs the centre along with World Jewish Relief and Belarus' Ministry of Education - said: "The respite service is already helping approximately 80 families to keep children with disabilities at home with them which is better for the child, and for the family.

It will hopefully lead to new concepts of child care that will lead to a reduction and the eventual closure of the orphanages."

World Jewish Relief Chief Executive Paul Anticoni added: "That the Belarussian Government has recognised and so actively approved of the methods we are supporting at the centre is a great step and will hopefully allow for so many others to have their lives improved in the future."

Source:

http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/world/?content_id=5364