Report August 2007

Introduction

First, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Chris Cockeram and I became involved with Bridges to Belarus through two organisations: The Humanitarian Centre in Cambridge (www.humanitariancentre.org) and the Sherborne and Yeovil link of Chernobyl Children Lifeline (www.chernobylchildlifeline.org). I met Rachel and Ian during my final year studying Spanish and Russian at the University of Cambridge. I was delighted to be able to use my past experiences of charity work to help Bridges Tto Belarus continue and develop its work in a region that so desperately needs our support.

Project Outline

In April 2007, Rachel and Ian approached me with the concept of a 9-10 day exploratory visit to a number of respite camps and sanatoriums in Belarus. They suggested that because I could speak Russian I should visit them on behalf of Bridges to Belarus in order to look at the facilities and standard of care.

The aim of my trip would be to determine whether or how Bridges to Belarus could support children to attend these camps, and whether the camps could be supported in other ways.

Project Finances

The project was fully funded by myself, through two generous awards made by Girton College, Cambridge. In return for the awards I must write two brief reports on the trip - one in Russian and one in English.

The donations of stationary, clothes and toiletries from several shops in Sherborne and Yeovil were gratefully received by the families I visited in Rogachov.

The remaining £14.43 from my budget has been transferred to the Bridges To Belarus account.

The trip

On Wednesday 15th August I arrived at Minsk airport. Sergei and Angela very kindly met me there and drove me from Minsk all the way down to Rogachov. That evening, I met Galina (the director of Sails of Childhood) and Vika (the secretary of Sails of Childhood) for the first time. They were very welcoming and keen to introduce me to many people. I was very happy staying with Vika and her husband Lyonya, and their two lovely children Yegor and Liza. We often found ourselves laughing hysterically over something or other and by the end of the ten days I felt like part of the family.

During my stay Galina was extremely busy organising aid deliveries and dealing with customs officers, with her mobile phone ringing every two minutes (no exaggeration!) so I saw firsthand the amazing work that she does. She is so dedicated and hardworking, a real example to us all.

Because I am a newcomer to Bridges to Belarus, the aim of my visit, apart from looking into local respite camps and sanatoriums, was to learn more about the problems facing the people of the Gomel region. By visiting several families who are members of Galina's organisation, Sails of Childhood, I had the opportunity to talk to them about their lifestyle and their needs…

I visited Galina's daughter, Katya, and her son Daniil, who live in the countryside. In the past they received a pram from Bridges To Belarus, which came in very handy because where they live they are very cut off. Now that Katya's older sister Nastya is pregnant with her second child, due in September, she will be next to use the pram!

I also visited Galina Femonok at the Social Pedagogical Centre (children's shelter/orphanage) in Rogachov. The work of Galina and her team is really fantastic and I was keen to discuss ways in which we could work together. There were four very bubbly sisters staying there for a week; they have already been adopted by a local family.

Olya, whose son Artyom has had heart surgery, welcomed me into her home and showed me the incredible craftwork that she does. The only time she can fit in such work is in the evenings and at weekends because she is also a full-time teacher. At the time, Artyom was out fishing with his older brother, Viktor, and his father. I also visited Vika's parents' house, which is near Olya's. She too spends a lot of time on beautiful craftwork.

I visited the Pridniprovsky Sanatorium, which is a short bus ride away from Rogachov. After a positive response from the commercial director, it is possible that Bridges to Belarus might make plans to help children receive treatment there, to speed up recovery and improve general health and well being.

I met Galina's Sails of Childhood team and discussed with them the aims, strategies, funding, membership etc. of the organisation. We discussed at length the current priorities for their members and the possible ways that Bridges to Belarus could further support their work.

I was keen to meet Lena Riydma, who has five children (aged 1-16), and who is currently most in need of help. She lives in a flat that has been awarded to her by the state because she has five children. The flat is merely a concrete shell with a shoddy front door which does not lock and which has a handle that keeps falling off. There is nothing covering the walls or floor: it is bare concrete and therefore very cold and dusty. There are windows but she will need curtains before the cold winter weather starts. She showed me the washing machine that Bridges to Belarus donated to her in the past, and she said it was a great help. She has a gas cooker and one bed (between all six of them), but very little else, not even a sink in the kitchen. It is a matter of urgency that her flat be insulated before the winter.

I visited Natasha and Dima Doydilov, and discussed Dima's health and development, and their future needs. Dima is a wonderful, cheerful little four-year-old who has made fantastic progress considering he could do absolutely nothing for the first six months after his operation. He will need another operation in about two years, which will be far beyond the means of his family. Natasha and her husband do everything they can for Dima, and he has become a very warm, chatty and loving child.

I also visited Natalya Kuzkova, whose husband was in hospital for yet another operation and whose mother was there to help her with her four children. It was a very tense and upsetting time for the whole family, so it was only a brief visit. Natalya showed me the washing machine (which was actually in use at the time) and we discussed what further help was needed. One particular problem is getting school supplies and school uniforms for the two oldest children. Natalya used to work as a shop assistant until she had children. Her husband earns around 30,000 Belarussian Roubles (£7.50) per month by sewing oven gloves on a sewing machine at home. Apart from this, their only income is from her husband's disability benefit and the state allowance for each child.

Another difficult visit was to Galina Semchina – Viktor, her elder adopted son was in hospital with meningitis at the time, and we are all very worried about him. I met his younger brother, Senya, who is a shy little boy who loves his Mum very much. We discussed the boys' physical, emotional and academic development, and the needs of the family. They are currently doing some repairs on the house and are in need of a gas cooker.

I spent a couple of days with Galina Isaenko, who runs a support group for families who have adopted or fostered children. I met seven of her eight children, four of whom are adopted. The whole family is so closely-knit and loving that as an outsider it is easy to forget the hardships that they have gone through.

With Galina Isaenko I visited Tonya Yerohova who has five adopted children and is in urgent need of help. The sofa bed that she received from Bridges to Belarus was a great help and now all the children have their own place to sleep. We discussed her difficulties and most pressing needs as well as longer term problems. She would benefit from some support at home, because looking after five young children who have serious behavioural, emotional and academic problems is proving to be a real strain. She also struggles to supply the five children with clothes and shoes, especially school uniforms, because they get soiled and wear out very quickly, especially as the children are incontinent.

Through Galina Isaenko I also met Maria and her adopted daughter Nastya, and visited Tonya and Kolya's family. Tonya and Kolya have four children: Ilya, Alvin, Maxim (who is adopted) and Liza. We discussed their situation and their experiences of adoption. They are hoping to move into a larger house where they can have a flushing toilet and more space for the children. At the moment, a bunk bed would help them a lot.

I visited Oksana and her son Seryozha, who is five and a half. We discussed Seryozha's heart problems, Oksana's current problems and her plans for the future. She receives £50 per month, which is Seryozha's disability allowance, and apart from that relies on infrequent aid deliveries. She is hoping to train to become a hairdresser and rent a flat for herself and Seryozha, because her husband is a heavy drinker and often gets violent. Together, we visited her neighbour Irina whose daughter Nastya has also undergone heart surgery.

On the penultimate day of my visit I was lucky enough to join in the celebrations for the Sails of Childhood pervoklassniki (children beginning primary school) at the Dom Pionirov Cultural Centre.

Afterwards, Vika and I prepared lots of food and held a farewell dinner at home. On the final day, I reluctantly left Rogachov and Sergei drove me back up to Minsk airport. I would like to thank everyone for welcoming me into their homes so warmly, especially Vika and Lyonya, Galina Bordyukova, Sergei and Angela, and Galina Isaenko. I have returned to the UK with many ideas and suggestions, and look forward to staying involved with Bridges to Belarus for many years to come. Thank you to Rachel and Ian for welcoming me into their organisation!