Zaslowya/Belarus Charity Project
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
Zaslowya is a town, near Minsk, in the Republic of Belarus. It is estimated that 70% of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion was deposited on Belarus. This has had a crippling effect on the economy of the country and the health of the people who live there.
The project aims to provide hope, and develop self-esteem, in young people and families who live in and around the town of Zaslowya.
HOW DO WE AIM TO HELP?
By bringing young people to England for recuperative holidays.
By sponsoring children and families in the town.
By providing medical and educational aid for Zaslowya.
We work closely with a group of community leaders in Zaslowya to ensure that help goes to those in the most need.
HOW CAN I HELP?
By hosting children.
By raising funds for the project.
By helping to provide days out for children whilst in England.
By sponsoring a family in Zaslowya.
There are many other ways that you may wish to be involved, so please get in touch with us to discuss your ideas.
Thank you for your interest.
Recuperative Visits
We bring groups of children from Zaslowya to our community twice a year so that their health can be improved, and friendships can be built. These young people will usually be between 10 and 16 years old.
The children will visit us for a period of between two and four weeks, usually with an adult accompanying the group.
For this we need host families who are willing to take the children into their families for a part or the whole of their stay.
Some day trips are arranged for the children during their stay, and the aid of hosts in transporting the children for these trips is welcomed. For most of the time the visiting children will be happy to fit in with normal family activities.
The cost of bringing each child to England is approximately £250.00, but it is not necessary for each host family to raise this sum.
Sponsorship
It is very important that the visits made by the children are part of a relationship-building exercise.
For the most needy families, financial help may be provided. This is administrated by a trusted friend of our charity in Zaslowya, so as to ensure that the most benefit is achieved. Typical uses of such help involve the purchase of materials for schools, clothing, and help with the cost of attending Summer Camp.
The provision of £15 per month makes a great deal of difference to the lives of these families.
We encourage host families to maintain contact with their visitors by post, fax or e-mail. We have access to fax and e-mail facilities in Zaslowya. There is an English-Russian translation service in Swindon for longer letters, but short letters can be translated in Zaslowya by one of the young people who have visited us.
Fund Raising and Accountability
Belarusian people are proud of their country and culture, and it is important for us to identify with this in order to make our assistance acceptable.
From time to time, The Zaslowya Project will raise funds for humanitarian, educational or medical aid.
We work with a committee in Zaslowya consisting of civic leaders, doctors, church ministers and youth leaders who are accountable to our trustees for seeing that our aims are met. The aim of this group is to direct us to the most needy families and suggest ways in which our help can be best used in the community.
One of the members of the committee works closely with the sponsored families and children, overseeing their needs and helping them to improve their circumstances.
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For more information contact
Mark Gillingham (01793) 790404
(01793) 790829
or
Fiona Gruneberg (01672) 540197
(Aldbourne & Marlborough)
or
Margaret Smith (01793) 710800
(fund raising)
Website : www.zaslowya-project.org.uk
Reg. Charity No. 1083477
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