CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S PROJECT, ENDON GROUP
DURING the summer Chernobyl Children’s Project (Endon Group) welcomed two groups of Belarusians.
In early summer we had a group of five mums and their young children and during the school holidays a group of seventeen teenagers were hosted by local families.
Our local CCP team has invited such groups for over 20 years and hundreds of children, all of whom have been in remission from cancer, have benefited from the uncontaminated environment and just having fun, giving a boost to their impaired immune systems.
The Group organises a wide range of activities and our guests return home with many good memories.
Unfortunately, the long-term effects of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl still lead to higher than normal incidences of cancer and related radiation disorders among the population of Belarus, which was the part of the former USSR most affected by the nuclear fall out.
One of the mums who was hosted by Endon families was Alena, with her son Kyril.
On their return, she wrote about a very memorable experience that made their trip extra special.
While here, she and her host family visited the Endon Welldressing car-boot sale. She marvelled at the many things that people were selling for a near-pittance.
Her eye was caught something unusual that she had never seen before – a boatswain pipe or bosun’s whistle.
Her host bought the pipe for Alena and she was delighted. Beautiful as the boatswain pipe was, on reflection she felt, it would be a pity to keep such an interesting object just for herself and her family.
Alena lives in landlocked Belarus, but her town has a naval museum. After the holidays she and her children visited the centre where they spoke to the teachers, who were all experienced sailors and who appreciated the uniqueness of the boatswain pipe.
The students, who gave them a tour of the museum and explained the exhibits on display, were all delighted to receive such a special addition to their museum collection, coming all the way from the UK.
If you would like to know more about Chernobyl Children’s Project please visit our website www.chernobyl-children.org.uk/local-groups/endon-stoke or speak to the coordinators John and Julie Gater on 07816 842 322, or visit the website: www.chernobyl-children.org.uk/local-groups/endon-stoke.