CHERNOBYL CHILDREN'S PROJECT (UK)

Special School No 5

This is a wonderful special school in Gomel which we have supported over the last ten years.

When the Education department expressed an interest in trying to integrate more physically disabled children into school we decided that School No 5 would be the best place to start.

We brought Oleg Baikachov, the Head Teacher on an educational visit to Britain; persuaded the health department to pay for a neurologist to act as consultant for all the children in the school; put in ramps, disabled toilets, doors and carpets and sent out a minibus, which was bought for us by the Celebrities Guild of Great Britain.

From September 2004 a small class was set up for five children in wheelchairs and they have developed beyond all recognition. For the first year we funded a classroom assistant until the education department took this over. And we continue to fund the driver and run the minibus.

During the Summer of 2007 we further improved the access within the school allowing ‘our’ children to use the gym and enabling more children in wheelchairs to be integrated. We also fund a specialist teacher who works with children throughout the school and send regular deliveries of aid.

Click here for more photos of Special School No 5.