Friends of Chernobyl's Children

Area: This group is based in the Wilpshire/Salesbury area of Blackburn in the beautiful Ribble Valley between Blackburn and Clitheroe, and was the Founder group of the whole Charity, bringing 28 children and 2 interpreters to the area in March 1995 with a further 22 children and 2 interpreters in September 1995. The group was set up by the Founder of the Charity, Olwyn Keogh who decided to recruit some local help after hosting a child Veronica Petrova (now 22 years old) in her home in 1994. The Charity brought together 4 local churches to work as one for the good of the children and did much to promote a "Churches Together " ethos in the area.

The first children to arrive in March 1995 were from exceedingly poor homes, they were hungry, slightly afraid, and very needy. By the end of their month's stay the children were healthier, confident and full of energy. Both of these groups came every year for 5 or 6 years and the difference made to their lives and the lives of their families are enormous.

One such child Tania Odintsova, who lived in one of the most dreadful homes we had ever seen, was very ill when she first came. Her home was one of the oldest in Mogilev. It was propped up inside by a huge tree trunk that was preventing the house slipping into a fluorescent lake of poisonous chemicals, which was the effluent of the nearby huge chemical factory. A truly unhealthy place to live.

...Second Mum and guardian angel

Tania had numerous visits to us, the family was eventually rehomed and slowly with the help of her hosts in Wilpshire, the Charity and the perseverance of her own family, Tania began to get stronger and her English improved in leaps and bounds. She passed all her school exams, then attended Minsk University and gained a good degree. She will be the first young girl to grow up and come back with the Charity as an interpreter this year, a huge achievement for all concerned.

In the intervening years hundreds of children have come to this locality, Host families have shown love and care to these very needy children. So many wonderful stories to be told like the one above. Loving and supportive links with families in Belarus have been formed, visits to Belarus have been organised and the whole of this area has been involved in one-way or another.

This group continues to be very active and will welcome its 22nd group of children to our area in June 2006, no less loved than the first group and just as welcome. We would be happy to hear from anyone living in the Blackburn or surrounding areas who is interested in our work or who would like to support or host a child.