BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

20/08/2009

Recession cuts Belarus lifeline

By MARIA HERLIHY

THE economic downturn has meant a Kanturk woman and her team will not bring joy to hundreds of disabled Belarus children this year.

Ann Murphy of the Belarus Summer Projects Ltd told The Corkman that the possibility of fund-raising the target of ?23,000 was "just not a reality."

She has gone to Belarus 15 times over the past 13 years, and she said it is with great disappointment the annual charity event will not take place in 2009.

Disabled children in Belarus are very much "kept in their houses," according to Luda Tagay, who has a disabled child. She said there isn't any places in Belarus for parents to bring their children and there is little or no Government support. She said the line taken by the Government is for parents to keep disabled children "hidden in their homes."

She was in Kanturk last week and told The Corkman that the summer camp provided by Ann and her team was "one in a million."

"For many parents this camp was what everyone looked forward to all year. She also brought speech therapists and physiotherapists to the camp. It meant that parents could watch and learn from both professions and then help their children at home," she said.

Last year the camp was for 14 days and it catered for 26 children and their parents. However, Ms Murphy along with her dedicated team consisting of Rita O'Flynn, Mary O'Shea, Nora O'Riordan, Teresa O'Regan and Aileen O'Mahony are certainly open to hearing from the public on any fund-raising ideas.

- MARIA HERLIHY

Source:

http://www.corkman.ie/news/recession-cuts-belarus-lifeline-1866250.html

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