VolunteersgiveBelarus orphanageanewlook

NINETEEN volunteers with Children of Chernobyl Foundation Ireland, (CCFI), recently returned from a week-long trip to Belarus where they carried out improvements to the children’s environment in the Sinachova orphanage.

The volunteers, who are mostly from the Wexford Wicklow area, carried out works including rewiring a floor, installing a girls’ washroom, and setting up new playground equipment. They also took some time out to go with the children and staff on a day trip to visit local attractions.

This year saw many new volunteers travel with the charity for the first time, along with many returning volunteers. They were led by the charity’s chairperson Larry O’Neill.

‘ The fact that many volunteers make numerous return visits to work in the orphanage is testament to how rewarding it is to carry out the much needed work and spend time in the children’s company,’ said a spokesperson, add- ing that the volunteers always return with the stories of how the children stole their hearts.

The week’s work was made possible with the support of CCFI’s friends, families, the community, fundraising events, and the hard work of the volunteers who travelled. The results were evident in the photographs of the children smiling and playing on their new playground equipment which kindly donated by RSS, Gorey.