Bridges to Belarus

Registered charity number: 1109946

Bridges to Belarus is a Cambridge charity, with bases around the country, founded in 2005 which works to support children and families affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. They work closely with a base in Rogachev (Belarus) to ensure that help is being received by those who need it most.

The affects of the Chernobyl disaster are still being felt over 22 years on from the disaster - and will continue to do so for generations to come as radiation can still be found in the water, air and food.

Their aim is...
...to identify families, living in the Gomel region of Belarus, who are in need of help for a variety of reasons - giving funding only to recognised organisations for a specific project. To also preserve and protect the health of people living in Gomel by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities; as well as working with local healthcare workers and education providers. All projects are carried out with local people who understand the situations and problems better than we ever could.

They are helping people within their country to give lasting effects, as well as to boost the economy for future generations.

Background
Based on ten years of work with the people of Belarus, Rachel Furley founded Bridges to Belarus in 2005 with the help of Trustees Ian Steed and Mohan Ganesalingam. Since then, Bridges to Belarus has evolved and expanded rapidly as the issues and conditions that the people live in, and with, have begun to be highlighted.

The first Bridges to Belarus project was to support an orphanage, which houses over 250 children each year, with clothes, shoes, vitamins, basic foods and school supplies for the children in its care.

They then progressed to creating a strong contact with the Sails of Childhood charity which supports many families in Rogachev. They have helped in developing a programme where the children and families are supported by both organisations so that the children aren’t taken in to care where possible. Items and essential equipment - such as prams, beds, cookers, washing machines, furniture and plaster for walls - have been supplied to some of these families. Fundraising has also begun to go towards life-saving surgery.

What Bridges to Belarus is currently doing
They plan to continue its work to supply vitamins, clothes, shoes, basic food supplies, prescription medication, vitamins and household necessities to the poorest families and orphanages as well as continuing to maintain equipment already bought. Efforts will also continue towards larger targeted projects to raise money for items such as washing machines and furniture.

The next large development will be in setting up training programmes for parents and healthcare professionals to help children with disabilities / terminal illnesses to reach their potential, and then exceed it! They are also working with schools to improve their facilities so that the children can use the raw resources that come from the teachers. For example, they have raised money for an audio system for the language department of a school which currently don’t have one, so they had no spoken word resources, other than the class teachers speaking. They provide basics such as books and pens but are looking to help with text books and copying equipment, computers and internet connections.

Dima’s story
Dima was born in 2003 as an apparently healthy baby - but at 14 months his parents noticed that his head had begun to swell. He was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and needed urgent surgical treatment for the resultant hydrocephalus. His first operation appeared to be a success until he came around unable to walk or talk. His Mother, Natasha now cares for him around the clock as he has mental age of just 18months, and is highly prone to infections, especially meningitis, and is doubly incontinent. The charity first met the family in May 2007 when volunteers were visiting Belarus. In December 2007 Dima’s conditions deteriorated rapidly, so Bridges to Belarus held an urgent fundraiser so that he could receive life-saving medications for meningitis. A total of £2000 was raised - part of which paid for his immediate treatment and a large proportion will pay for essential surgery to replace his shunt. The remaining has gone to support his recovery and development in purchasing his expensive prescription medicine, a washing machine, warm clothes, good food and relieving the financial burden from his parents of having a long term sick child.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu