For a Russian translation click here
Hello! Let me introduce myself. My name is Rachel and I am a medical student, in the clinical stage of my training. I am studying at Cambridge University, although I have never been quite sure how I got in!
I first got involved in working with people from the regions of Belarus affected by the Chernobyl disaster when I was at secondary school. I helped to fund-raise for a local charity which brought children across for four weeks of respite from the radiation that they were exposed to in Belarus. My involvement continued when I learnt to speak Russian and was asked to help translate and herd the children when they were in England.
I learnt from some of the adults who accompanied the children that many of them would suffer from depression on returning to Belarus. After spending time in a place where they could have a bath, play games and eat good food, going home to a place where they do not have running water, have to work hard and have intermittent meals, it must have been a cruel contrast for them.
On the basis of this and the limited finances that I could raise, I decided that my efforts would be better concentrated in Belarus. The idea was to help the people to improve their lives within their own country and by spending the money within Belarus, it would also be boosting their economy.
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I really do not like having my picture taken, so always look mildly uncomfortable in all photos! This is a picture of myself (left) with my mother (far right) and the wonderful Belarussian family which we were adopted into during our visit in July 2005. Vika is in the centre with her father, Sasha (left) and her mother, Alla (second right). |
When I returned from my visit to Belarus in September 2004, I decided that there was a need that I could try to address. So I set about forming a charity. In January 2005, Bridges to Belarus held its founding meeting and in June 2005, we received our UK registered charity number.
I am the chair of Bridges to Belarus. I have managed to beg, bully and blackmail some very useful people to help me with the charity. Ian Steed is the treasurer. He has a lot of experience of working within chairtable organisations, including the British Red Cross. He is managing the finances with assistance from David Furley, a registered accountant. Mohan Ganesalingam is the secretary and general researcher. Anything that I need to know or want to find out about, he seems to manage to find for me! Mohan has also put all of my ideas, which have been rather vague at times, into a (hopefully!) sensible format for this website. I have had to sneak this bit on and hope he doesn't notice! Rosie Cowsley, again, has a great deal of experience of working within charities and being employed by them. She is on hand to offer advice. Margot Chadwick was an amazing find, for which I thank whichever lucky stars that were smiling on me the day that I asked her to get involved! She has worked within charitable frameworks, has a lot of experienced-based advice to offer us and much patience! She is currently storing donated items at her home until we send them on the convoys and does essential ferrying - including taking me and a car-full of donated items all the way from Cambridge to Selby!
I hope to add to my band of merry men and women, so if you think that you could be of use to the charity or know of anyone who might be, please contact us!
February 2008
Having completed my training in December 2006, I have now been working as a qualified doctor in the UK for over a year.
The support that I have had from my friends and colleagues at Addenbrooke's and Ipswich Hospital has been amazing. In practical ways, with advice and ideas but also by attending and supporting events that we have organised.
By calling on their specific skills, it means that we potentially have more that we can offer the children and their families in Belarus. I realise my limitations but if I don't know something, there is usually someone else that I can ask who does!
We have many ideas for using this support in the future but they will require plenty of planning and preparation. Watch this space!