Belarus
: August, 2002
Another
visit to Mozyr, Belarus over………… enjoyable, interesting,
painful but as always enlightening.
The
purpose of this visit was to see how the refurbishment of the
kindergarten playground was advancing, finalise the details of an
art competition in March, 2003, and investigate if we could assist
a new school which was set up to assist children with learning
difficulties,
behavioural problems and children rehabilitating from injury or
illness where these had caused educational problems. For example,
a child with no palate in her mouth was learning how to speak
following an operation to correct her facial structure. Of course
part of the time was also dedicated to being with the people who I
am now honoured to have as friends especially by Goddaughter. Some
day I must relate the story of how
Don, with no Russian, managed to traverse the trials and
trauma of a Christening service in
Belarus.
The
new school has a very long title but in its shortened form is the
“School for Diagnostics and Development”. I had met
the director, Ludmila, before when she was in charge of an
orphanage which I was so impressed with, so I had not only wanted
to help but felt comfortable and confident that the director would
do everything in her power to make life both constructive and
enjoyable for the children whilst being realistic on how best we
could help. The school is due to open for the children in
September, following
the holidays, but still there was much to do with little or no
finances to complete many of the tasks. I believe that the fabric
of the school had once been used as
another educational establishment with different aims and
the new director wished to redesign many of the rooms into smaller
diagnostic units. On this visit we were able to assist with a
substantial amount of wallpaper, wallpaper paste, educational toys
and a new telephone. Just a very small amount of what will be
needed to fulfill the dreams of the director to provide an
educational environment that has surroundings akin to achieving
the full potential from the children. In the years to come we will
undoubtedly be able to assist further but one step at a time.
I
had also the opportunity to visit Lake Naroch, the largest lake in
Belarus and about 75% of the size of the United Kingdom’s
largest lake, Lough Neagh. The hotel was spotless, well serviced,
with spacious rooms. Of course it was lacking in many of the
“luxurious extras” which we might class as usual but there was
an aura to the lake and its seaboard. A milieu of warm
contentment. Around the lake there were a few hotels neatly
slotted into the forested landscape. The lake was crystal clear
and it like the forest had a very calming serene atmosphere. I
suppose walking, eating, sleeping, bathing and food shopping at
the local market filled the hours of most of the days and very
shortly my own desire
for more excitement alleviated to what was available. This area
was for people to rest and have a holiday and not demand large
aqua parks, fruit machines and traumatiser rides to enhance the
day. There was a pool room and a boat park where rowing boats and
paddle boats could be hired for about 60pence an hour. I found
that sitting on a paddle boat, on a calm lake, doing absolutely
nothing sheer and utter heaven.
On
the beach the children were playing contentedly in the sand and
bathing in the shallows……. Although for anyone who knows Lake
Naroch it is quite a long walk before an adult would be out of
their depth.
The
day before I returned home I was asked if I would like to visit
the Neptune festival on the beach. I suppose a cynic would
describe it as a simple schools sports day with a few adults in
costume but for me and the many on lookers it was simply a
community having good fun. The value of community spirit in
Belarus is paramount.
kiosks which stocked what appeared to be one of everything
imaginable. 
Not
every one would have been able to afford the hotel but to
compensate there were wooden chalets peppered throughout
the forest
