CHERNOBYL CHILDREN'S PROJECT (UK)

THE CRAVEN GROUP PROJECT

The Craven group is quite small in number and 3 years ago found it hard to find enough host families. We decided to send the money raised to enable children who were unable to come to the UK for a holiday to have a holiday at a sanatorium in Belarus. This was a great success and letters from the families of the children were very moving and full of appreciation. The children were not tied to a particular time of year to take up the offer and we found that we could in fact help more children as the money went further.

The following year we began funding a very special project. Over 100 children live in Ulookovje Boarding Home, Gomel. They have mild to moderate learning disabilities and unlike their counterparts in other boarding homes have a chance to experience life in a foster family. Other boarding homes are closing or have vastly reduced numbers, but not Ulookovje. Until now their numbers have continued to increase.

We decided to sponsor a worker to find the birth families for a number of the children and return them home with support where it was safe to do so. For those children who cannot return to their family of origin foster families will be found. Vera Rudenok is our worker and has returned 5 children to their families. She is presently working with 19 more children, helping their parents through the lengthy court process to have their rights returned to them. 2 children have been adopted and 3 have been placed in foster care.

Vera works alongside other staff at Ulookovje to prepare the children to move back with their family and liaise with the authorities to set up a support package. All staff have been trained by CCP trainers.

We raise £4000 per year to employ Vera and this covers her fuel costs and also provides some material support for families at the beginning of the placement, covering clothing and bedding etc.

Vera sends us regular reports and CCP monitors progress 3 or 4 times a year.

Jean Holt, Training Co-ordinator, Chernobyl Children’s Project U.K.

Craven News