April,
2006 – and yet another visit to Belarus but with Easter being later than last
year I was not expecting the coldness that hit me as on my arrival in 2005
(-25C).
Flights
on time and met by "my brother" Sergey, and Sasha and then a speedy 300kms to Mozyr. It
always pleases me to see the Pripyat Hotel towering over the river Pripyat and to know
that we have arrived.
This
visit’s plans were to meet again with various directors of schools, further a
few projects, donate digital cameras for academic promotion, deliver dance
costumes and collect art entries from our art competition
“Culture of Peace
– Chernobyl - 20 years on”.
Clickable
gallery of paintings.
Svetlana
informed me that the art competition had been well advertised and I promptly
forgot about it. The prizes, which will be awarded in July, consist of some
monetary awards, certificates, medals and other prizes presented by individuals.
This year’s competition was sponsored by Ulster Teachers’ Union , an
organisation that truly delights in supporting children and teachers overseas.
The digital cameras were financed by Pictorial Charts Educational Trust, London
and the dance costumes were given with the assistance of Roch Valley, Manchester.
The success of A Ray of Hope comes so much from the continuous support ofthe private sector.
The
School for Diagnostics and Development was as busy as ever as the demands placed
on the director and staff increase as more children are found requiring their
specialist expertise. Over 2000 children receive the care and attention
from the staff of this school.
During
my time in Mozyr, I was allowed to visit the Lyceum where my God daughter, aged
6, attends. Her teacher adores her profession and the caring and enthusiastic
approach envelops her pupils. Darya has a much longer day at school than
children of her age in the United Kingdom. Formal lessons in the morning
followed by food and sleep and then afternoon clubs and societies. Darya is
learning to play chess. Later in the week I sat and played chess with her and
was astonished how she had grasped the principles so well, making me think my
next move whilst she watched cartoons on the television. The education system in Belarus has
many fine qualities and my only hope is that the not so satisfactory trends that we have adopted
are not emulated there.
On
one evening Anna’s School for Art and Music celebrated the 30th
anniversary of the orchestra. I was asked to speak in the auditorium which was a
great delight for me. Speaking whilst Svetlana translates is no longer a
difficulty though Svetlana could probably give the speech on her own. Anna’s
school is highly praised throughout Belarus and the achievements, endeavours and
continual desire for the highest of standards are traits which would be welcomed
by any school of arts and culture.
The
visit culminated with a visit to School 7 to watch a performance of "Rumplestiltskin"
by the drama department.
When
organisations visit distant countries to make friends and assist where they can,
they can tend to ignore what is good and assume that all aspects of a country
are at the same level of development. How wrong this assumption is !!! Belarus
is a country that has an excellent literacy and numeracy record – all aspects
of culture are promoted and in doing so the standards are exceptionally high.
Many fine directors exhibit great leadership qualities, the teachers are
dedicated and diligent to achieve the highest of standards - and the
pupils are enthusiastic and eager to learn.
……….
And the zenith as always is to be for a short time in the warmth of the
friendship from wonderful people who deserve so much.
