Irish Volunteers find – Holiday Camps 09 Huge Success!
The “White Dove over Chernobyl” programme got a wonderful boost in September when the Trust organized two holiday camps for the seriously ill and profoundly disabled children and their families from the Gomel area. The families being supported in this amazing programme have chosen to care for their unfortunate children at home in the family unit rather than give them up to state care which is the norm with such children in Belarus. One of the camps is near Gomel and Children who were too seriously ill to travel went to this tranquil place accompanied by their mothers and a nurse employed by the Trust. The other children went to a camp near Minsk accompanied by family members, a nurse employed by the Trust and a team of volunteers from Ireland!. It was an innovative idea and worked extremely well both from the families’ point of view and also from the volunteer’s perspective. Three families attended the Gomel camp and the feed back from both camps was very positive. One of the parents called Ludmilla, mother of seriously ill six year old Nastia, spoke of her loneliness and isolation before the camp and the subsequent feeling of community she has experienced since she became involved with the other families and supporters of White Dove. It was very moving to hear how much her life has changed as a direct result of her involvement in this very worthy programme.
Two teams of six Irish volunteers worked in the Minsk camp over a two week period. Ten families attended the camp which boasts a very high standard of accommodation and facilities. 
The families made the most of every moment, availing of massage, water therapies, facials, cycling and shopping in the local market. Strong bonds were formed between the families and the Irish volunteers making the whole experience very worthwhile. It was great to see the families piling onto the busses on their return home looking refreshed and happy, thanks to the hard work of our 12 volunteers all of whom raised money for their expenses and gifts etc for the children. A special thanks to Tom and Oliver for sponsoring the Minsk camp. Appar- ently it was such a success with the families that many more have already put their names in for next year, the Gomel grapevine is working overtime!
We are happy to report that more than thirty children & young adults are now benefiting from this most important programme! Sadly, three of the children being cared for passed away during the year, may they rest in peace. Of course, this serves as a harsh reminder of just how fragile and how very seriously ill some of the children really are, but also reminds us of how vital this prograamme is and how very important that we continue it
To date, the ‘Trust’ has employed three local nurses to provide respite care, delivered a specially adapted wheelchair minivan to ensure that
staff have access to the children and also to transport children for hospital appointments etc. Humanitarian aid is delivered twice yearly in the form of food, clothing, medical supplies, nappies and special wheelchairs. The ‘Trust’ has organized holiday camps last year and again this year and sends out Irish volunteer medical professionals on a regular basis to support and monitor this program to ensure the needs of all involved are being met to a high standard. All of this costs money and it all comes from voluntary fundraisers. We wish to sincerly thank everyone who continues to support this vital project. And we ask you to please continue to do so in the new year! Without your help, we simply canot continue !
Sunday World
video
- DONATE Secure Donation Online Click Here
-
NEWS SHEET
