Chernobyl aid group to renovate orphanage

A WATERFORD-BASED charity which has spent 10 years helping children in a part of Belarus affected by the Chernobyl accident is preparing to send a group of up to 70 professionals to help renovate an orphanage.

Chernobyl Aid Ireland, set up by Liam Grant in 1997, celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend and will send its second convoy of aid of 2007 to Grosovo Orphanage, 110km south of Minsk.

Heading east by road will be building materials and humanitarian aid for the building, which houses about 150 children, from seven to 17 years of age.

“We have a lot of heavily-skilled people going and they do great work, up to a very high standard,” Mr Grant said yesterday. “All of the materials are brought by road from Ireland.”

Twice a year for the past 10 years, for stints of up to three weeks at a time, Chernobyl Aid Ireland has been working on the orphanage which started life as a military barracks.

“When we went out first, there were four or five kids to each bed, there were no toilets or shower facilities and the food was bad. We came back and made a serious commitment to do something about it.”

Over the years, they’ve revamped the bedrooms, provided space for education, and even helped re-establish a working farm on the 300 acres of grounds around the orphanage.

During his April convoy, Mr Grant was presented with an award by the Belarussian government for his humanitarian work over the past 10 years and his dedication to Grosovo.

“Chernobyl Aid Ireland is about helping those less well off in Belarus,” he said. “It’s about giving something back and it’s about realising that these children need our help, and most of all that we can give it. Everyone can become a volunteer if they so wish and when you see the smiles on the kids’ faces when you arrive you’ll know it was worthwhile.”

Groups of volunteers including builders, tradesmen, dentists, cooks and those from other professions join forces in an attempt to help Mr Grant in his efforts.

“We’ve had amazing support from people from all walks of life over the past 10 years. There’s no qualification needed to work with Chernobyl Aid Ireland.

“If you’re hard working and want to help, you’re welcome.”

Each year, Mr Grant also arranges for some Belarussian children to visit Ireland and stay with Irish families. While here, the children receive medical and dental checkups and enjoy a normal life with these families.