In June of 2011, the President of Belarus passed a decree that due to the economic crisis, all children living in orphanages throughout the Republic, that have parents or relatives, must return to their families regardless of the living conditions, abusive circumstances or neglect. This had an immediate impact on 50% of the children living in the Chausy Orphanage.
Canadian Aid for Chernobyl took immediate action to plea to the Government to pass a law that would allow children living in dangerous or abusive situations to be “sponsored” by Canadians to return to the safe environment of the Chausy Orphanage. This request was approved and made law in early August 2011!
This is the first “foreign” agreement for sponsorship of children living in an orphanage in the history of Belarus! To date, we have identified and safely returned 21 children in September, 4 in October with 5 additional children returning in November. Canadian Aid for Chernobyl negotiated with several Ministries (Education, Health and Social Services) and agreed upon several terms and conditions. The cost per child is $1,000 per school year. We need an additional 5 sponsorships at this time.
In addition, these children will remain living at the Orphanage until the end of the school year, at which time they will be returned to their families! Canadian Aid for Chernobyl is now trying to raise the funds to invite 15 of these deserving children to Canada next July for rest, recuperation, dental and medical attention and to experience life in a loving family environment. At the end of the summer program, the children would return to the Chausy Orphanage and providing we have the necessary funding in place, they would continue to live and be educated at the orphanage. There is absolutely NO administration costs attached to these sponsorships!
