This was a new receiver for us and chosen by the head of Social Protection in the Gomel region.   

The load was 12 tonnes consisting of a wide range from clothes and bedding to furniture, toys, school and sports equipment, most of it new and very well received in Elsk.

Leaving by the Hull ferry for Rotterdam on Jan 15^th Ian and Bryan made very good progress and made the crossing from Poland into Belarus just two days later and through the customs in a record five hours against recent crossings of 20 hours. Ian reports no specific reason for the this other than it all seemed calm in the customs rather than the usual chaos!

As they headed across Belarus the weather changed and became more seasonal with substantial snow fall however they reached their destination and in due time completed the process through the local customs and the unloading of the trailer.  Tania from the CCP.SCT office in Gomel acted as interpreter and contact with the agent and local customs ensuring accuracy of paperwork and permission to unload. Still more delays meant that the unloading did not start until the early evening and even with a large team of eager locals it was a late finish before Ian and Bryan could relax.  A comfortable flat had been provided as the local hotel was reported to be grim!

The following day a visit was made to a local kindergarten that had previously received aid through deliveries from another European charity. It was a pleasant visit with happy children and a well equipped building.

The weather by now was quite severe with road conditions very difficult and after a period of rest and relaxation the team headed west for the border. Quite different from the outward bound crossing they hit heavy traffic on the BY customs border making the usually easier exit when PUSTO (empty) much longer with a delay of 10 hours!!

Ian had arranged a back load for his vehicle from a source in Poland, some 80 kms north of the German border crossing at Frankfurt Order, to be delivered to an address in Peterlee in County Durham and they headed there and then on across Germany north of Berlin to catch the ferry to Newcastle.

They arrived back to our aid base in Yorkshire mid afternoon on Thursday 26^th January with another job well done.

In Elsk all things are progressing to get the aid finally cleared and distributed probably within six weeks.

Our sights are now set on a convoy in March when several vehicles will make the journey. One trailer is already loaded and we commence loading the trailer just back from BY on Sunday 5^th February.

Mike Allison  January 28^th 2012

The charity recently purchased a left hand drive minibus that was to be a replacement for one at the Gomel office and to be used to carry disabled children to schools, hospital and for outings.   The aid team was asked to make the delivery.

We collected the vehicle from John Gater’s premises where it had been checked, serviced and fitted with an electric ramp and facility to carry four persons in wheelchairs.

The original plan was to transport it within a trailer as part of an aid consignment however the short notice following on from the recent September convoy meant that no LGV drivers were available. Alan and Christine Judd responded to the request for drivers for the minibus and it was decided also to send the smaller truck -7.5 tonner – loaded with a recently acquired large volume of Tena products and residual building materials for the current projects in BY. Bryan Selkirk, just back from the September convoy, and Mike Allison made the team for the truck.

 Leaving on November 25^th and crossing Hull to Rotterdam Europort the journey was uneventful. Different from previous trips in that we used hotel stops as neither vehicle provided adequate sleeping facilities. On entering Poland we drove some 85 kms to join the motorway A2 and looked back to view the advanced progress of the motorway back to the German border – it looked almost complete and just four days later as we made the return journey home we travelled on the newly opened section to just 3 kms from the border!  At the other end it is likely that the motorway will extend to just south of Warsaw in the next few months.

The tax collection system ‘Vintoll’ is likely to be extended throughout the motorway system with the signs on the new extension already in place.  For the convoy teams this means that from leaving the port at Rotterdam it will be motorway driving through Holland, Germany and now Poland – I cannot think of anything more boring but it cuts the time down.

We drove to the Konin junction and took the top road to avoid the ‘Vintoll’ taxes and then took the decision to try a direct route through Warsaw.  It was a Sunday afternoon and the map clearly showed that by following the road 2 we should save some time. It was a bad decision and the traffic was heavy and the road signs almost invisible if they were there at all. After stumbling around for what seemed an eternity a parked taxi solved the problem as he towed us through the centre of town and on to the road for Minsk Maz.  We have put the maps for Warsaw on Ebay as I doubt that we will try that ‘short cut’  again in the future!

Reaching the Polish customs early the following day we made good progress and made the entry into the Belarus side in good time. I don’t intend to give a detailed account here of the delays in clearing through the customs as we have heard it many times apart from noting that our paperwork was spot on, our loads matched the paperwork, the agent Helen was a big help and the customs procedure pathetic. Thank goodness we just had two small vehicles otherwise we may be still there!

The team and minibus arriving in Gomel

The delay meant that we reached Gomel at 10am on Tuesday morning. The team with the aid of Tania from our Gomel office went directly to the customs there who needed to check the paperwork that had already been cleared by their border colleagues – it took almost four hours!! 

In the meantime, accompanied by Natasha the SCT Director and Ira who was to interpret for us we went for a series of meetings. Firstly with the chairman of Social Protection in Gomel region who gave an introductory ten minute lecture on the role of the USA in Arab and European matters!  Once he had settled down we discussed our previous aid deliveries and he was warm in his thanks for our efforts. I asked to use his computer to show a presentation of the work of the aid team in UK, how we operate and the type of aid we deliver.  It went down well with him and his team. I asked him if aid was sold to the end receiver and received a firm answer that this would be illegal.

The next visit was to the organisation ‘Kupalinka’ that received 19 tonnes of aid in September. Maria the head person of this charity showed us the aid in their warehouse all set out in quantities waiting for the various receivers to come and collect. It appears that due to the lack of fuel for their vehicles collection would be delayed until December’s funds/budget was available and hopefully distribution will start this week.  The aid was some of the very best we have delivered and we should all be very proud of that.

The last meeting was with Irina Bogdanets and Tania Chekas, director and supervisor respectively of the Education Department Gomel to whom we have delivered aid several times including a massive 19 tonnes in March this year. They showed many photos of the aid and several new kindergartens that they have been able to able to open in the villages due to this aid. We were also shown a DVD of a TV programme recently made showing the new kindergartens and the Tour and Lore centre that we have supported and visited several times.

I showed them the aid presentation and they asked to make a copy.  In reply to questions we were told that the Tour and Lore centre was unique in that it catered for young people from poor families. In this case they meant ‘bad ‘families with the  lack of parental control or support, alcohol problems or just missing parents  and that the centre provided 24 hour involvement with the young people. The young people receive training in all matters of their own personal wellbeing and that of their peers. I asked again for reassurance that the centre was unique and it was confirmed that it was a ‘first’ of its type in BY so I would be happy to continue to support the work of these people with future deliveries.

It was now late in the afternoon and we got the message that the team had cleared customs at last and were heading to the warehouse to unload both vehicles so we travelled to join them. Unloading was a real team effort with everyone involved including Natasha and her team and the job was soon completed. 

Finally being able to unload and a great team effort.

It was then time to return to go to the hotel, clean up, chill out, have a meal and get ready to leave for home the next morning. We had been in Gomel for less than 12 hours at that time.

On Wednesday morning at 9.30 Bryan and I set off for home while Alan and Christine now separated from the delivered minibus were to spend the day in Gomel visiting the sights and then on to Minsk the following day for two days visiting the library, the opera, museums and monuments. On arriving at the airport on Sunday they were informed that their flight was cancelled and after some trepidation on their part caught a Belavia flight to Gatwick some 7 hours later.  We organised bus tickets to Wakefield and some 22 hours after leaving their Minsk base they arrived home.

The minibus is now in Gomel along with some very valuable aid. As usual the team enjoyed the convoy and despite some of the delays and the hoops we are made to jump through by customs we were pleased with the outcome. The SCT team supported us well not just in the convoy period but also in the long period of preparation prior to leaving UK. Thanks also to the wider aid team who put in so much time back at our base in Yorkshire preparing the aid and loading the vehicles and also to our supporters and suppliers of the aid.

Job done.

Mike Allison  December 2011.

Three vehicles left on convoy Sunday 4th September from our base at Thorpe Willoughby near Selby Yorkshire taking almost 40 tonnes, over 5000 boxes/items, of aid across Europe to Belarus.  Each vehicle delivered to a separate receiving organisation known to us whose responsibility is to distribute the aid to needy families and the sick and disabled.

The fall out from the Chernobyl accident, most of which fell on Belarus, has caused many problems for the health of generations there and many families now struggle with sickness, disability and severe poverty. Schools and institutions are poorly equipped and the ongoing financial crisis in the country means that many operate without the basic equipment including furniture, educational and sports items.

To give an example. On our convoy in March this year the £sterling was valued at 4800 Belarusian Rubles. Today the exchange rate is over 8000 BLR due to a devaluation of the currency some weeks ago. Prices have risen as a result but not salaries so the pressure is on the people even more and the aid we deliver becomes even more important to them. Requests for deliveries far exceed what we are able to do.

Ian Lacey led the convoy with his vehicle, loaded with a record weight of just short of 20 tonnes, delivering to a charitable organisation called Kupalinka in the city of Gomel.  Bryan Selkirk and Ann Jones delivering a vehicle load from the charity Lifeline 4 Chernobyl operated by John and Paulene Rotman in Kings Lynn Norfolk. Ann has a LGV licence and is a Trustee of the southern charity which  financed the cost of their vehicle. Their delivery was to a Gomel Charity  with the long name of Gomel City Public Organisation ” Centre for realisation of humanitarian programme for disabled people” who will share their aid with another such charity “White Dove over Chernobyl”.

The third vehicle was driven by Alan Wade and Bob Beech.  Alan, from Stockton on Tees, owns the vehicle and is funding the cost having already spent many hours in the sourcing, preparation and loading. Once inside Belarus Alan and Bob split from the other two vehicles and made for the town of Pinsk where the social service centre was the receiver. Alan and Bob have hosted children from that area as host families with the charity Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline and visited several of their ‘extended’ family out there.

The departure of the convoy was the end of a process of hard work over many weeks by so many people.

As always we are very grateful to the suppliers of aid from the larger companies such as Ikea and Procter and Gamble to the smaller organisations, local groups and individuals and those who donate or raise the funds to make the deliveries possible.

Far too many to mention by name the members of the aid team are remarkable in the commitment they show with many travelling long distances to get ‘dirty and sweaty’ on a loading day not once but many times over the years.

As always though I have to mention some whose contribution is so important and key to the operation: Paul Campey for his support to me and for looking after the maintenance of our vehicles and trailers and of course David Campey for supplying us with our warehouse space without which we just could not operate. Ian Lacey, always there and a convoy leader each year. Aidan Siney who has contributed so much over the years.  Alan and Chris Judd put so much time and effort into our warehouse operation sorting and packing ensuring only quality items are loaded.  Finally among the local team are John Withers and Alan Miles who make themselves available any day and time to make a collection, unload a delivery etc.

Well done Ian, Bryan, Ann, Alan and Bob for another convoy success. It all begins again now!

Mike Allison. 21st  September 2011

After several months of preparation including the collection of over 40 tonnes of items that would constitute a really useful delivery to the institutions and organisations that support the sick, disabled and very needy people in Belarus we were almost ready for the April convoy.  The loading days had been well attended by never less than 15 volunteers and the sterling work of Alan and Chris Judd in preparing the warehouse meant that this massive task of stuffing the two large trailers went with the usual speed and efficiency.      

Loading in progress

  Similarly Alan Wade and Bob Beech in Stockton organised the loading of their large truck again with a great mix of items. Our office in Gomel had communicated with receivers, organised the interpreters, translated the manifests and answered the many emails containing our details and questions. It all looked good and all very normal.      

Departure date was finally agreed as April 1^st and the original team was to be Paul Campey, Tony Parkin, Bob Beech, Bryan Selkirk, Aidan Siney and Mike Allison.  A late decision to take the small 7.5 tonner provided the opportunity for an addition to the team and Alan Judd joined the team only to have to stand down just one week before departure due to an eye problem, thankfully now resolved, but a disappointment for Alan and the team nonetheless.      

That afternoon I was talking with Chris McHale a local Architect who was responsible for the design and build of the village cricket building now nearing completion. Advising him that I would be away on convoy shortly and informing him about Alan’s withdrawal he indicating his interest in making the team. We got the visa application away on the Saturday morning and received the visa on the Wednesday so all things were go however I did not know much about Chris and he certainly did not know much about us, the job we do or the work of the charity so it was always going to be a daunting challenge for him.      

The morning of April 1^st came and we were to depart at 3pm from the school.  In the morning Chris was at home when two of his pals called round to his house laughing and saying “April Fool”  “Did you really buy into this Russian trip” Chris reports that he was totally taken in and had to sit down for half an hour he was that shocked and when I called him to check he was ok he asked “Is this for real? Are we really going?!!  It certainly was a great April fool attempt, maybe a bit cruel, but provided plenty of laughter for the team later.      

Chris was great company and in achieving his convoy target of driving the 7.5 tonner in all the countries we crossed, assisting in the unloading and learning about our work and that of the charity he wants to continue to be involved.        

 We drove the four trucks to the Monk Fryston Primary School    

The send off from Monk Fryston School

where 180 pupils were there to give us a super send off. Following a presentation late last year to the school the pupils had been taught about the Chernobyl explosion so they were well informed and the noise they created with their cheers had to be heard to be believed. It was a great send off and they presented us with a symbolic present of 180 pencils and a message for a similar school in Belarus.  We made the presentation to the school at Grabovka Primary School which coincidently has 180 pupils and in the same age group as Monk Fryston School.      

 The journey across Europe was uneventful until we reached the Polish Customs. The queue of trucks waiting to cross out of Poland was impressive and reminded us of how it was years ago. We lost count at just under 500 trucks parked and was told in the customs that the queue was over 25kms in length.       

We are able to jump the queue and the process of clearing Polish customs was long but nothing compared to the chaos in the Belarusian side.  It appears that as the documentation on the border between Belarus and Russia in the East had been reduced the paperwork on our border for those trucks heading for Moscow had increased.  Not only did it take an age to clear our vehicles the customs made mistakes serious enough to delay one of our vehicles  for three hours when we were leaving the country a week later.      

So we cleared customs into Belarus on the Monday at 4pm, some 19 hours after entering the process, and the convoy split with Bob and Aidan taking their vehicle to the Zhlobyn customs a drive of several hours where final clearance is needed before discharging the load at the Rogachev Association that assists the families of disabled children. Bryan and Tony Parkin travelled on to Kalinkovichi again to local customs with their aid for the Kalinkovichi social services.  Paul, Chris and Mike continued on to Gomel arriving at 1am Tuesday and as the local customs were closed we parked in the hotel compound.      

Traffic Stopper in Rogachev

Tuesday was the start of the unloading process that continued until Friday pm. Bryan and Tony completed their unloading in Kalinkovichi and went on to Gomel our base for the period. Paul, Chris and Mike took the two vehicles into the customs compound and then went by car to Rogachev to assist with the unloading of Bob and Aidan’s truck. The delay in the local customs afforded time to make visits to Rodni Kut, our charity’s home for four very disabled young people and on to the Rogachev Assn.    

The first of many.

Unloading took well into the evening and we then enjoyed the traditional hospitality of the Rogachev committee arriving back in Gomel after midnight.        

On Wednesday Paul and Aidan went to customs to clear the aid for the kindergarten in the village of Telyashi whilst the remainder of the team visited our office in Gomel and the Mayflower centre where we had a very pleasant welcome from the Director Natasha.  

Chris makes a friend at the Mayflower Respite Centre

 Over 20 disabled and handicapped youngsters were enjoying a day at Mayflower with lots of activities. Their stay there provides their hard pressed parents with some respite and rest – which is one of the major aims of the centre. Then it was on to the school at Grabovka where the gym was to be used as a customs registered store for not only the Telyashi part load on the small truck but also the 15 tonne load on the final truck for the Education department. We visited the school and the classrooms and presented the pencils from our Monk Fryston Primary School – Job done!   

The class receives the pencils from Monk Fryston School

The effort in unloading the small truck that afternoon was small as we could get the vehicle across a field over 100mtrs to the gym. The problem came the following day, Thursday, after a night of rain when there was no chance of taking the large trailer off the road and all that aid had to be manhandled – it took six hours to complete and again we were very late back into Gomel.  

The big truck

We visited the Tour and Lore centre, opened last year, to which we had made three previous deliveries of aid, much of it flat pack furniture that was so important to this centre which is similar to an “outwood bound” school in UK. Village kids visit for a month of activities aimed at individual development and team working. The director made the comment that without our aid this place would not have opened.        

On the Friday with just the small truck to complete with 1200 kgs of aid for the diabetic Association Paul and Aidan were once again delayed at customs and their work unloading took until 3pm. The team had been taken by the Education department firstly to Gomel district diagnostic and assessment centre. The director is Stevlana Izophatova who came to the UK with our charity, previously to visit similar centre for the disabled and special needs children here.  The place was indeed very special and the children appeared to e very well cared for. Barbara and David Cox, on holiday in BY had joined us for the day. Then it was on to Telyashi kindergarten. We started to support this kindergarten several years ago and David and Barbara have continued to support them since.  

All dress up at Telyashi Kindergarten

They brought dressing up clothes for the children and it was a great sight to see the kids obviously delighted with their new apparel as they paraded up and down and sang for us. We had a meal at the kindergarten  and after we had the opportunity to visit two of the families in their homes. Just as we were leaving for Gomel Paul and Aidan arrived and went to the centre for some well earned refreshments.        

Saturday was rest and relaxation, buying Russian dolls and vodka, visiting friends and packing and preparing for the journey home. We still managed a very productive joint meeting with two Belarusian charities namely ‘White Dove’ and the ‘Co-ordination Centre’ represented by their directors Victoria and Valentina (Barbara).  Both these organisations receive aid and distribute it across a wide area and all to the poorest families. Three days later and we were in Europort after another uneventful, if long return journey, looking forward very much to the pint or two on the ferry and most of all the food that did not disappoint.        

On all convoys the intensity has to be experienced and to say that we never stopped, hardly slept and worked long hours is not an understatement but the team bonded well and there were lots of laughs that eased some of the fatigue and frustrations caused mainly by the delays in customs both at the borders and in the local towns.        

The genuine appreciation of the receivers for the aid and our efforts was just reward and their thanks are passed on to the team in the UK who have given so much of their time as usual. Thanks to David Campey for his overall support and the splendid warehouse facilities he provides to us and to Paul Campey who keeps our small fleet of vehicles ‘on the road’.        

Many thanks also to our interpreters in BY, our office in Gomel, our sponsors in UK and the donors of aid many of whom are individuals or small groups of friends who provide some great items such as knitted garments and bedding. I recognised one of the boxes from Copmanthorpe nr York and called the customs man over. When I started to open the box he said “Neit” but it was too late and I showed him the contents. He just said “Beautiful!” I wonder just how much he understood of the English language – maybe he understood some of Aidan’s jokes!        

We are also very grateful to major companies such as Ikea and Proctor and Gamble for their support in supplying key items of aid that have been much appreciated and are in full use in Belarus to the benefit of the disabled and their needy families.        

Job done once again.       Mike Allison      Aid Co-ordinator      April 2011 

Ready for the journey home

 zz

In November 2010 we sent two vehicles to Belarus both carrying over 10 tonnes of aid that would supply organisations and the many needy families they support. The aid included lots of pampers, soap and toiletries, craft material, school sports equipment, clothing, bedding, toys, furniture and lots of household items that would make the life of so many families that bit easier. 

The first vehicle was from Stockton on Tees and  driven by Bob Beech with a destination of the social services in the town of Zhlobyn situated to the south east of the capital city Minsk. An update from the CCP office in Gomel is that the aid is prepared for distribution and after clearance by the humanitarian aid department distribution should start any day.

The second vehicle was from the charity Lifeline 4 Chernobyl whose chairman John Rotman   accompanied the driver and convoy leader Ian Lacey.  The aid went to the charity ‘White Dove’ in Gomel which caters for needy families many of whom have disabled and sick children. Again all the paperwork has been completed and distribution will start any day now. Our picture shows Ian taking off the first box in Gomel actively observed by John!

Today Sunday 23 January we had our first loading day tackling the big sheet sided trailer -  it is our largest vehicle at 44ft in length. A team of 12 assembled at the warehouse in Selby at 9am from their homes in Stockton on Tees, Catterick, Burton on Trent and the local regulars. The convoy is due to leave UK on April 1st and was planned for two vehicles however hopefully and funds permitting we may be able to take additional.  The aid and vehicles are there but if sufficient funds are not to hand then the additional vehicles will go out later this year.It was a brilliant day today and the whole team contributed to almost five hours of continuous graft to complete almost three quarters of the trailer having loaded well in excess of 10 tons of some of the best aid we have handled. 

                                                                                           Team members preparing to move stock to the vehicle for loading.   

A final check on the label

 Specific attention to the weights and contents of the boxes to meet the demands of the customs procedures.

Paul and Tony among the packed boxes

This 44ft trailer was part loaded today with almost 11 tonnes of a wide range of aid and the job will be completed within the next two weeks to allow the paperwork (manifests) to be produced

Bryan and Ian at the sharp end inside the trailer

Ian, Bryan, John and Bob were the loaders within the trailer. To fill the cube using all available space no pallets are used resulting in all 1400 items/boxes being handled manually. A great effort by the team

 Mike Allison 23 January 2011

From UK. Mike and Jenny Allison

Having sent three very large and varied deliveries of aid since November 09 it was time to make a follow up visit to talk with the receivers and to see the aid ‘on site’.  The notes below are taken from the report.

Arrived late Monday night and stayed at the Sozh Hoel in Gomel.

Tuesday 9am. Co-ordination Centre. We met with Valentina in her cellar warehouse as she had vacated her rooms and office upstairs due to a massive increase in rent. She was quite despondent and had almost given up the aid work but is now seeking new cheaper premises. Her organisation is important to us as she is able to receive aid and distribute to many families and organisations most of whom would be chosen by us.

 10.30. Mayflower. Short visit as they informed us about a show they were having at 12 noon so we headed for the SCT office where I handed over the cash etc I had taken for the office and Minsk CIT. 

11.00. SCT office. The staff was very busy preparing for the hols, visa etc but it looked a professional set up with everyone active. There was too much going on to have a long conversation so it was back to Mayflower.

 1215. Mayflower:  It was brilliant, clean and bright. I counted 23 or 24 disabled children including seven severely handicapped youngsters and several parents really enjoying the work of two young clowns who had them singing with actions, a bubble blowing display etc. All good stuff.  Six of the less disabled were dressed as cheer leaders and our Sveta was putting them through their paces. The cook there is sending two of her children to Monk Fryston in Yorshire for the summer holiday so it was a surprise and useful for both her and Jenny to meet.

1.30pm Rechitsa:  Victor the director was away at a meeting and his deputy was busy with an inspection but they still wanted us to go. The place is having a big update with new doors, windows and floors so the facilities improve all the time however that does not seem to translate into the staffing area.  On one of the corridors with lots of young children having their afternoon nap the stiletto heels of the secretary woke the children in at least five of the rooms and soon we were surrounded by kids wanting a hug when they should have been resting. Staff were not visible and we had to move out quickly before they all kicked off!

4pm:  Klimovka.  We bought provisions for them at the shop and ice cream and had a nice meal with them. They had been to the sanatorium and were very cheerful including Liena. Three of the youngsters were from Duanovka staying at KM while alterations to their rooms are completed at Duanovka.  I found them to be very bright and surely could benefit from education. They talk about avoiding alcohol so I asked “where would you get it from”.  The clammed up then but insisted that it was available at Duanovka. Greesha was not eating but ok and he had a birthday approaching in two days so he was to cheer up for that.  There is a small leak under a wash basin that they have tried to fix locally without success.  Yuri wants a DVD player.

 6pm: Duanovka.  The place was under quarantine as an old man had died – swine flu they said – but that was most unlikely. So we met Sasha outside. He looked very fit, suntanned and smart and looking forward to his visit to UK. He asked for information regarding his schedule.  He is smoking but not drinking. I asked how and where they would get the booze and he said from that house and pointed to the small block of flats to the right.  He said they waited until he director was out of the way then went across to purchase the booze which he said was “chemical like cleaning fluids!”

7pm. Back to Gomel and a meal at the theatre bar.

 Wednesday.

 It was not planned for Liena to be with us today as she had a video link planned with Linda but as we were to visit Vikov and Zhuravichi, places that she had not been to for some time, I had asked Liena to ask Linda if they could re-arrange their talk and that happened.

9.30. Vikov.  Again much improved buildings with double glazing on new windows and doors. All a big change since I was last there. It was a hot sunny day so those able to be outside were all around the gardens. We met the new director, a lady who seems very keen to make a difference, I think we were her first foreign visitors so it was evident that ‘runners’ were moving in front of us keeping good order and the corridors clear. She was surprised when I went into Yuri’s room to talk to him and to see the big guy with his TV. She did not expect us to know anyone there.  Aid requirements are pampers, mattresses etc. The young people we support were outside under shade with staff and we visited their room with one of the carers we employ.  With all the windows and doors open and most people outside it all looked very much better than I remember.

 12.00 Zhuravichi.  Before I left for BY Jean had said that if she had been blindfolded on her last visit and placed in Zhuravichi she would not have recognised it when the blindfold was off and she was spot on. Again the weather was brilliant and the place has had a major refit throughout. It is full of colour and kit with lots of activity toys etc.  The new director is very friendly and the staff acknowledged her a she walked around. The atmosphere is positive. The children without exception were clean including their hair and there appeared to be plenty of staff including the Nuns. There is a huge glasshouse, maybe 2000 sq ft with lots of tomato, cucumber, strawberry and melon plants. They have pigs and lots of root vegetables planted. The older kids and young adults were active working on the ‘farm’.  We had lunch with an Italian charity. They have worked at Zhuravichi for seven years sending aid by container to a receiver in Gomel and then travelling by minibus when the aid is cleared to deliver it to Zhuravichi and work on building the glasshouse etc.

 The director is looking forward to her visit to the UK in June and stated that Linda’s insistence in making the Minsk doctors visit Zhuravichi has meant that she now has a contact and gets action from the doctors when she needs help. Aid is not required as she states that she can buy most things through her budget but would like a music centre and loads of Pampers. Later in the day we were told that Zhuravichi had received a full truck of Pampers from a sender – disappointing that the director did not tell us but understandable also.

2pm: Rodni Kut.  Enjoyed some time with the youngsters and some food and then viewed the extension. Sergie was ok but is smarting from having his salary restored to the original agreement.  Liena told me that he is keen to adopt the children and live on the premises and where he will then have occupancy rights.  Similarly she told me that he has already spoken with the local churches for support in keeping RK operating should CCP cease to support! I hope I report that correctly.

 4pm; Sails of Childhood. Rogachev.  Galina is the largest receiver of aid in Gomel region sending aid to 100 families of her own and 90 different organisations including many that we support and including some of our other receivers such as co-ordination centre in Gomel. She has received 10 containers of aid from USA in the past 6 months. This aid is one item per container ie military boots, military underclothes, military sleeping bags etc so she prizes our aid for its variety. We went into the warehouse for what she pays 1.3m BLR per month (£300) and viewed our aid with the Sanatorium gear all separated. Clearance for the aid was received today 8^th June and Sergie was to collect Nazar’s wheelchair.

 6pm Rogachev Association.  They had almost the full committee there – no new people and much the same procedure with Valentina in full flow. They are very nice to us but are annoyed that we send their aid through Galina who they claim makes people pay for the aid. I have heard this previously from them and had already asked Galina about this earlier in the day. The answer I got was that if another distributing organisation want aid then they pay towards the expenses of the clearance, warehouse costs, salaries and labour.  SCT pay the paperwork costs of several of our receivers but Galina will not accept this payment as she recognises the cost we have in providing the aid.

During the meal one of the Rog Assn committee quite firmly said that if we ceased to support them it coulbe the end of the association. I believe that she was referring to the aid supply but I explained, very firmly, that unless we increased our income in UK CCP would not be able to support at all..  I have spoken about my thoughts on the association before in a meeting. There is a lack of drive here- all the committee seem to be the originals and their own disabled children are now adults. Viewing Rogachev town there are new shops, cafes and restaurants – surely there must be a chance of some self help here. It is happening elsewhere.

 8pm Off to Gomel arriving at 9.30.

Thursday. 9am. Children Hospital No 3.  Jenny had been suffering with a swollen ankle, from a mozzie bite,

throughout the visit and despite the creams and pills it was not improving so Liena organised for us to go see our hospice doctor, Irina, who gave Jenny prescription that sorted the problem. The doctor reminded me that we had met seven years ago in a bar when she heard our English and I spoke with her.   The lady, our hospice director now, asked me then what we did and when told her she asked “Do you know Linda Walker?”

She spoke very well and with enthusiasm about the new hospice operation and said that the families are now much happier having being anxious about the changes in the first place. Another very positive if unplanned meeting..

 10am. School No 5.  A good visit with Oleg flitting in and out but he showed us around and said he was very grateful for the aid some of which he had given to a Jewish charity which interests me as we have worked with the Jewish Revival Charitable Mission in the past and speak with their team near Luton.  The aid is now ready for full distribution and he stated that he was thankful for the assistance he had received from SCT staff in the paperwork process. Wherever we visited the food was served on the crockery we had supplied on the last three convoys and part of a 12 pallet load from Stoke on Trent.

11am:  Tourism and Lore.  This is one of the education director Shevel’s responsibilities and is a centre for young people – like an outwood bound centre. We visited last year when they were tearing the place to pieces to put in new floors, ceilings, windows and doors. We have made two substantial deliveries in November and March and all the aid was there to see. Each room has tables, chest of drawers, storage units and wardrobes curtsey of Ikea.  There were youngsters under canvas and loads of outdoor activities. In the presentation room they gave a powerpoint presentation that I will send to Ikea if they send it as promised in English.  I asked if special needs and disabled children would be allowed to use the centre and the answer was “yes” and “in parallel”. As you leave the centre there is a small tree on which you place a ribbon to indicate that you will return. They have had the voluntary help from workers from the collective farms, local  villages and cash support from the local companies and the place is a credit to them. If they can do it why not at Rog Assn?  We do not plan to make anymore substantial deliveries here as they seem well equipped and self motivated.

 4pm Klimovka again. Just a flying visit for 10 mins with cake and ice cream to wish Greesha and another lad ‘happy birthday’  Greesha was very pleased.

 5pm. Volkova.  Ludmilla had been told of the visit but as usual she reckoned that it would be me and another of the team. She has been coming to Monk Fryston for over 10 years now and was more than surprised when Jenny appeared from behind me. We had a good 90 minutes with her son and family.

 7pm White Dove.  We have used this charity to receive last year’s sanatorium gear so I wanted to thank them and see who they were as we may need them in the future to receive aid. It is very evident that all our major receivers work together and send aid across a wide area. They all emphasis the need and just accept the difficulties the authorities put in their way.

 8pm and we arrived at Sveta’s flat – on the ninth floor and the lift not working. It must have been very difficult for Sveta, a disabled person, to climb all those stairs some minutes before us as we were completely exhausted when we did it. It was a lot easier going down.  Despite her previous reluctance to move from Klimovka and become independent she looks so confident and proud in her new surrounding. She is excited about hosting Greesha and Liena in her flat but the logistics are daunting as both will be in wheelchairs. It is a comfortable flat with quite a view as you would expect from the ninth floor. She has a TV and laptop and it was good to see a chest of drawers assembled by John Withers in the aid warehouse in Selby. This is one of 50 that we have recently delivered to Belarus.

 9.30pm. Back to the hotel and another chat with Liena about cost reductions in SCT before Jenny and I changed and went out for a beer.  Along day but another good one.

 08.30 Friday. To the Railway station in Gomel where we met Alexie Laptev. He had travelled overnight from Moscow on route home to Rogachev and as it is some years since he had seen Jenny we arranged to be there. Twenty minutes later we were on route to the airport for home.

 Mike Allison June 2010

After an eventful start to the journey when the cab door of the truck was badly damaged, on the ramp as the vehicle left the ferry in Rotterdam, Ian and Frank made a successful delivery into the town of Rogachev with a 16 tonne load of aid.  The receiver was a Belarusian charity called ‘Sails over Chernobyl’ and is the largest recever of aid in the Gomel region with over 160 tonnes annually mainly by container from America.

The charity has nearly 100 families that it directly supports and many other  institutions and organisations across the region that will benefit from the aid. All the families and institutions or organisations supported are in need of this aid especially as most have sick or disabled children in their care.

So it is another ‘Job done’  and the result of the tremendous effort of the aid team in the preparation and loading of the vehicle and of course of Ian and Frank’s  efforts in making the delivery.

Already the warehouse in Yorkshire, almost emptied by the load on the recent convoy, has started to fill again with collections in Barnsley of photo copiers, York of knitted garments for children and Proctor and Gamble for Pampers.

Our plans for the next deliveries are on hold as we need to build not just the aid stock but also the funds to convoy and fund raising has to be ‘front of mind’. People and organisations in the past have been very generous with their donations of cash and time but the work goes on and without the funds future convoys cannot be possible.

The aid leaflet can be requested by email at mkeallison@aol.com  as can additional information. Please help if you can. Thanks and best wishes.

Mike Allison. Aid Co-ordinator.

March Convoy to Belarus 2010  Sponsored by the Osgoldcross and Elmet Rotarians.

The journey across Europe was uneventful apart from the intense cold when temperatures fell to minus 17c during the night.  Sleeping was very difficult particularly in the smaller truck as the cab heater did not function. The cab interior was thick with ice each morning and the best comment to make is that it was a pleasure to get up. I now know what a fish finger feels like!  Eastern Europe is experiencing its coldest and longest winter for many years and even this week night temperatures are expected to be minus 13c.  On the journey home we thought that we had left the snow line behind some 200 miles from Gomel and stopped the night on the TIR south of Warsaw in Poland on the first night to wake up to some 5 inches of fresh snow. Our first 40 miles on the TIR was on fresh compacted snow that reduced our progress to a very steady pace. However we made good time and arrived at the port two days later safe with no breakdowns or punctures.

It was good to have Tony Parkin from Gateforth near Selby with us making his first convoy and visit to Eastern Europe. Paul Campey, Aidan Siney, Bob Beech and myself made up the team. Aidan was responsible for the drivers pool into which each donated £150 and Aidan then became the ‘mess steward’ and ordered the meals, coffee etc and even the Vodka when requested.

The Customs

On entering the Polish customs at  7pm the 7.5 led the way through the first ‘gate’ – passports and vehicle plate certificate – to be stopped immediately by the police for a tachometer check. We got a rollicking for not using the ‘two driver’ feature but got away without a fine. A driver next to us was told that he would be fined $700 for an axle overweight problem – not sure if he got away with it but it is a sign of the increase in the checks that are being made at all borders.

We decided to cross the border from Poland into Belarus overnight and arrived at the exit in Poland at 7pm having driven 12  hours. Apart from the  aforementioned police check all things went well until we crossed into the Belarusian side where the total time for the full crossing took 16 hours.  We managed to get three hours ’sleep’ before being subjected to the X-ray checks on the trailers and quite severe questioning about the weight of the loads. Two vehicles were released into BY by 11am with Paul having to go back to the agent who had made a mistake in processing our paperwork. This is the second convoy this has happened to Paul and by the same agent!  Paul’s delay was another 2 hours.

The Border customs had noted on our paperwork their concerns regarding the weights and so on arrival at firstly Zhlobyn customs, the smaller truck, and secondly the Gomel customs for the two other vehicles we were warned that every box would be checked.

In Zhlobyn after a nights sleep in a warm flat we went to the vehicle to find that the started motor would not function and with the brakes locked on we needed some help. Within 15 minutes a fire engine and five firemen arrived and with some ‘pressure’ from a hammer and screwdriver we were on our way to the customs. Even the AA would not beat that.

The customs procedure took most of the day especially as they were excited about the vitamins we had on board and eventually well into the afternoon we were told that we would have to remain there overnight as the chief was on his day off and a decision without him was not possible. Our receiver Galina persuaded them that we should unload the vits (250000 tablets) and leave them at customs and after some exciting chatter this happened. The vits will be cleared later this week separately.

On arriving at the warehouse to unload there were two fire engines and six firemen to assist so under the eye of the customs officer we let them get on with it. The customs man stated that every pack of Pampers will be checked. On the manifest it recorded 640 packs and they counted 637 so I asked for a recount!  He just laughed and signed the document – all was well. Leaving Zhlobyn at 7pm we drove to Gomel to meet up with the team.

Bob had unloaded at the Co-odination Centre without too much hassle and the following day we all went with Paul’s vehicle to unload at School No 5. This load was over 14 tonnes and the customs man having been pre-warned by the border customs that we were 7 tonnes underweight (impossible but that’s how it is there). He would not accept a coffee saying” I want nothing from you I am just here to make sure that the law is carried out”  That was a good start and as the staff at the school had not received aid before things were a bit chaotic. The team help with the unloading and the boxes were weighed on ‘Mickey mouse’ scales that they had borrowed from somewhere. Too small for the job but they kept at it. It took them two days to complete the check and then they found that we were, according to their calculations, 400 kilos overweight. So no problem.

The visits: The highlight of the convoy was our visits to places that we had previously delivered to and to our projects that receive regular support from our charity.  The children’s department at the huge psychiatric hospital in Gomel were using lots of aid previously delivered. School No. 5 where we had made the delivery has almost 300 pupils who are all disabled and again the children looked well cared for with plenty of activity. On the following day we visited a boarding school for the disabled children at Retista and met the new director who we had know from his previous job as head teacher of a school in Vasilevichi. The children put on a show of singing and dancing for us and enjoyed doing so. It was great  to see them so happy.

Other visits were made to the Mayflower centre, Klimovka, Rodni Kut and the Rogachev Association.  On the Friday we visited a frozen vegetable packing station where the fridges were running at minus 17c ( same temperature as my cab in Poland!) then on to a 25 acre glasshouse production plant where the tomato plants were 2 mtrs tall and in fruit. Finally we visited a dairy to see 400 cows in a milking shed. All very impressive and professional.

On the journey home Tony, on his first convoy, stated “we have never stopped” and it was so as the days and nights were filled with work and activity.

Our sincere thanks go to all who made the convoy possible especially the Rotarians for their continued support, the wider aid team for the preparation for this and past convoys  and our team in Gomel whose organisation skills made it all possible.

Best wishes

Mike Allison  March 2010

The big trailer now fully loaded

On April 10th – Sunday and a bright morning in Yorkshire. The aid team of local and not so local mustered at the warehouse to load the 45 ft sheet sided trailer for the single vehicle convoy to Belarus leaving on May 3rd. The target for the aid is firstly the Sanatorium holiday in July August for over 100 severely disabled children and young adults who are unable to make the journey to the UK for holiday. This is a tremendous event in their lives and something they look forward to each year. The aid we will load covers most of the needs of the participants and their carers many of whom are to be young volunteers from UK who give up their free time and raise their own air fares to travel to BY and look after the young people at the Sanatorium in a ‘clean’ area of Belarus.

Several other institutions and organisations that care for the needs of the disabled, sick and poor people will receive the balance of the aid that contains  pampers, toiletries, washing powders, toys and sports goods, new clothes, bedding  and footwear as well as many of the items used in a household or school.

Ian Lacey will drive the vehicle and is to be accompanied by Frank Robins from Catterick Garrison who with wife Veronica is a regular member of the aid team on loading days. This will be Frank’s first visit to Belarus and he is looking forward to the event. Ian has made  many previous visits so will be able to keep Frank informed.

Since the March convoy returned aid has been collected from points across the UK with major pickups from Procter and Gamble in Lancashire, Ikea in Peterborough and from several of the volunteers who have specialised in supplying items for the Sanatorium holiday.

The loading went well and over three quarters of the vehicle was filled by 3pm so on April 17th the local team completed the task and it is now down to the admin of visa application and manifest preparation. Our team in Gomel are waiting for the manifest to translate in Russian and forward same to the main receiver in Rogachev.  More later….

Ian Lacey is to take the vehicle and we hope to advise shortly his co driver. Beth in our Glossop office and already a veteran of several  sanatorium holidays organised a collection of aid from a Lincolnshire school and from Amy who is one of this years volunteers making her first vist to Belarus. The aid included activity games and toys that create such fun and excitement for the BY kids and volunteers alike.  So Sunday 11th of April will be the major loading day when the bulk of te aid will be processed and placed on the vehicle.  

The promised photos taken on the March convoy have not materialised as yet but hopefully we will catch up on this shortly.

Future convoys in 2010 depend totally on the availability of funds. We have the aid – we have the team and the vehicles -we have the requests for aid from like minded people in Belarus who operate charities to help their very poor and disabled in their country – we do not have the cash to convoy – it is as simple as that!  If you can help please donate and indicate that your donation is for aid convoys. Pleae contact mkeallison@aol.com and we will send you an aid leaflet that will further explain our activities and  provide the option to donate. Thanks.