Orphanage

This photo was taken by one of the boys. He had never used a camera before and trying to explain to him that you needed to hold it still to get a clear picture was a real test of both my Russian and 'child-management' skills! The evident enjoyment that it gave him to be allowed to use the camera at all made it all worthwhile.

The orphanage in Rogachov was a real inspiration to me. Despite the government not having sufficient funding to pay for fruit, vegetables and regular meals containing meat for the children (having a budget of 10p per day per child), the staff have decorated and provided the children with as much as they can from their own pockets, which although being limited themselves, they give selflessly. However, shoes, nappies and medication are still often impossible to source. Through Bridges to Belarus, we are hoping to be able to provide many of these items. With many of the children having been so badly abused physically and/or psychologically, some of the older children need enuresis (night-time bed wetting) protection, which cannot be found in the area. I am hoping that we will be able to get some suitable products through donations of incontinence pads and such like.

This is the ceiling at the orphanage that the staff and their families decorated. This is a spectacular example of the extent to which the> staff will use their own resources to improve the living conditions for the children in their care.

At the orphanage, there is currently have no safe outdoor play area for the children, especially for the disabled ones who are also in their care. I was shown plans for a sports and play area that the director of the orphanage described to me as her 'ultimate dream'. The cost of this venture, which she never hoped to be able to raise, is £5000. We are now fund-raising for this and hope very much to have this done for her in two years. We will also ensure that maintenance can be continued. More information about the playground can be found in 'Playground' under 'Current Projects'.

Galina with some of the children in her care at the orphanage in Rogachov. Some of these children have been very badly abused and need special medical and psychological care that is often beyond the capabilities and means of the staff, however, they do an amazing job and are obviously adored! These children had never had their photo taken before and were intrigued and delighted by the concept. They have all been sent copies of the photos to keep.

2005

I revisited the orphanage which the charity is supporting by sending out clothing, shoes and bedding for the children and we are also fund-raising for a play- and sports-area for them.

Unfortunately, my contact there, Galina, had gone on a business trip to Minsk and the children were away for the summer whilst repairs were taking place. However, we were able to meet with Galina’s deputy, Irina, and see the improvements that they have already made to the home. She told us that the boxes of clothes etc that we had sent had arrived safely and were much appreciated. I also was able to take her into the town and buy school supplies and vitamins for the children and some office supplies to help them when the children are placed within families.

Irina and myself with some of the supplies that we bought for the orphanage. These included pens, colouring pencils, exercise books, paper, plasticine, erasers, rulers, pencil sharpeners and vitamins for the children. Irina would not allow us to buy pencils for the orphanage, as they already had enough and was concerned about buying folders to contain the health records of the children because she thought that they were too expensive for us. This attitude convinced me that whatever we spent for the home, it would be used in the best possible way – and at £3 for 50 folders, I told her it was no problem!