BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/06/2009

Belarus children arrive for town stay

By Sue Vickers

THE Chernobyl Children's Lifeline welcomed 10 children from Belarus to the town this week.

Chernobyl Children's Lifeline is a charity based in Malvern that was set up to help children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The group fund-raises throughout the year to pay for air fares to bring over a group of youngsters for one month each summer.

Staying with a local family, the youngsters spend the time building up their health and strength with good food and fresh air.

CCL spokesman James Knights said it was amazing to see the difference the holiday made.

"By the end of their stay the transformation is wonderful. They are happy, healthy and self confident youngsters.

"We've been told in previous years that the parents can barely recognise their children when they go home," said Mr Knights.

The children, six girls and four boys, all aged 11, are the sixth group to be welcomed to the town.

They are selected by the local education authority in Belarus and accompanied by a teacher.

"The scheme has been a tremendous success. The children always have an amazing time. They spend four days a week with their host family and three days each week going on day trips and outings," said Mr Knights.

This year trips to the Sealife Centre and West Midland Safari Park are planned as well as a boat trip on the river Severn.

Local organisations, including the United Reformed Church, Trefoil Guild, Lyttelton Well and Lions Club, support the visit by providing activities for the youngsters.

The explosion at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl in the Soviet Union in 1986 was the worst ever nuclear accident.

Many people living close to the site have suffered health problems and large areas of farmland were badly contaminated. Although the visiting youngsters were born many years afterwards, the disaster still has implications.

Source:

http://www.berrowsjournal.co.uk/news/4428055.Belarus_children_arrive_for_town_stay/

Google
 


Partners:
Face.by Social Network
Face.by