BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/07/2006

Rocky Mount families host Belarussian students

By Justin Boulmay

Rocky Mount Telegram

A visit to the United States has been an eye-opener for 7-year-old Hanna Raitsava of the Republic of Belarus.

"We took her to the YMCA," said Tara Ramey, her host mother. "When we walked in, she just gasped. She had never seen a swimming pool."

Hanna is one of 44 children from Belarus who are staying with American families in Rocky Mount. Their trip was made possible by the American Belarussian Relief Organization, an organization that pairs Belarussian children, ages 7-17, with American families for six weeks during the summer.

In 2006, the organization brought 750 children to the United States, Ramey said. Rocky Mount had the largest group.

Belarus, which shares a border with Russia, was devastated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. And though the accident occurred 20 years ago, it has left a lasting impact on Belarus in the form of cancer, birth defects and weakened immune systems.

The American Belarussian Relief Organization takes children out of that environment and, with the help of the community, provides them with free basic health care services, including dental and eye exams, and the chance to go shopping and have fun.

The children arrived on June 5 and will leave for Belarus on Monday.

Ramey, 26, is a social coordinator for the program. When she first saw Hanna almost six weeks ago, the first thing she noticed was her sandals.

"The sandals were too small for her feet, at least two sizes too small," Ramey said. "I almost cried when I saw her."

Before the children arrive, the host families in the community get together and vote on what activities they will participate in. The group in Rocky Mount voted to, among other things, bring the children to Vacation Bible School every Tuesday and Thursday at Englewood Baptist Church, located on 1401 S. Winstead Ave.

Each host family paid $1,330 to bring the children into the country, Ramey said.

There are four chaperones who also serve as translators with the group.

One of the translators, Marina Gatalsky, 20, said this is her 13th trip to the United States. She was 7 years old when she first visited.

"It was a wonderful atmosphere," she said. "Very friendly Christian family. Even though you don't know them, they take really good care of you and do whatever they can to make you feel better."

Several businesses and organizations in Rocky Mount have helped make the trip special for the children.

The Rocky Mount group went to Nash Urgent Care for doctor's appointments and got bloodwork done at Nash Health Care Systems, all of which was free. The Eye Care Center, located at the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Tiffany Square, provided free eye examinations. Each host family was responsible for scheduling individual dental appointments for their guests.

The medical treatments are a big deal for the children. During Vacation Bible School on Thursday, one of the Belarussian children could not sing because she just recently had her 12th tooth pulled out. And Hanna has visited the dentist five times during her trip, Ramey said.

Other businesses contributed by providing the children with a good time.

Dunkin' Donuts let the children tour its facility and then taught them how to make their own doughnuts. N.C. Wesleyan College let them participate in its summer soccer program. Food Lion, Chick-fil-A and Pepsi are among several businesses that made contributions.

Some of the older Belarussian girls went to the 1604 Day Spa and Salon and got their hair done.

The children and youths have gotten to travel as well. Some have been to the beach for the first time in their lives.

"We don't have any sea or ocean or lake there, just small ponds," said Gatalsky. "The beach is a big thing."

Kristina Yakimovich, 17, went to Walt Disney World Resort, where she found her new favorite amusement ride: Space Mountain.

Most of the families do not speak Russian, the language of the children, but they have still found ways to communicate with them.

Ramey said she communicated with Hanna by pointing to things. She has also learned simple Russian words like 'yes' and 'no.'

"It's amazing how you can communicate with someone who doesn't speak your language and understand each other," she said

Source:

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/featr/content/features/stories/2006/07/17/belarussian_kids.html