Chernobyl group plans to build second Home of Hope

Chernobyl group plans to build second Home of Hope


Áine Ryan
aineryan@mayonews.ie

WESTPORT’S Chernobyl Children’s Group has already helped to transform the lives of eleven orphaned children with the recent official opening of its Home of Hope in the Belarusian city of Zhoblin. Now, at an information evening later this week, the proactive group is set to announce its ambitious plans to build another Home of Hope in Belarus.
For many years the Westport branch of the Chernobyl Internatiaonal Outreach Group has fundraised and welcomed victims of the horrific nuclear disaster. It will now celebrate the wonderful success of its Home of Hope at 8pm, on Friday next, July 6, in Scoil PhΡdraig.
The recently opened Home of Hope is a happy refuge for eleven orphaned children whose lives have now been transformed through the loving care of Zhanna and Radik Yumauzhina, and the generosity of the people of Westport and surrounding areas, who contributed to the project.
These children, who have endured a litany of privations and abuses, would probably otherwise have ended up living on the streets or in institutions. This unique home also keeps families together – four of the children are from one family and another two are sisters.
Earlier this year, four members of the Westport Chernobyl Children’s Committee – Una Canning, Breege Joyce, Margaret Moran and Carmel Mulchrone – visited the Westport Home of Hope for its official opening.
Meanwhile, eight children, including two from the Westport Home of Hope, Maksim (8) and Iryna (7), are enjoying some ‘rest and recuperation’ with host families in Westport and surrounding areas including Aughagower, Newport, Kilmeena, Islandeady, Louisburgh and Kiladoon. One young visitor comes from another Home of Hope, Yanush (11).
The remaining five children are from families where unemployment and alcoholism challenges exist.

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