A Host Family's Story
At home in Belarus
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Jo and her family:
“This year will be our family's 5th year of hosting our Belarusian child, who we first met as a shy, frightened 7 year old. Her first year was full of firsts: eating strawberries, having a bath, wearing clean clothes each day - all things that we take for granted. Over the years she has blossomed, grown taller and looks healthier, as the visits provide clean air, good food and the vitamins she now takes daily to help strengthen her immune system. While she is here she behaves and is treated as part of our family: a loved daughter, another spoilt granddaughter and an annoying little sister! Our children have benefited from her visits and appreciate how lucky they are and we miss her when she goes back to Belarus. Hosting a Belarusian child has been a privilege and I would recommend the experience to anyone who has a spare bed and a big heart." |
Ready for the first concert
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Mandy and her family:
“I would say that the experience of hosting a Belarusian child is one the most rewarding things we have ever done as a family. Our host child is an orphan and is being brought up by her Godmother’s mother and her family along with her older sister as her Godmother was too young to look after the girls herself and didn’t want them to be put into a state orphanage. Obviously with the language barrier and having such a young child it was a bit nerve wracking to begin with, but with the help of the interpreters on the other end of the phone, mime and Google translate we got by. We had also learnt a few words of Russian and our little guest soon learnt the English words for the things she wanted: Coco-pops, chocolate and blue crisps (cheese and onion) please being some of her first English words! She has been a delight to host, always full of fun, very lively and helpful and we always miss her when her visit comes to an end after 4 weeks. This year will be our last official visit; the 5 years have flown by, but we hope to have her back as a private guest for two weeks every year for as long as she wants to visit us. We have made some close personal friends for life amongst the other host families and have relied on each other for help and support, occasionally swapping children and having sleepovers to help out with family commitments and social events."
“I would say that the experience of hosting a Belarusian child is one the most rewarding things we have ever done as a family. Our host child is an orphan and is being brought up by her Godmother’s mother and her family along with her older sister as her Godmother was too young to look after the girls herself and didn’t want them to be put into a state orphanage. Obviously with the language barrier and having such a young child it was a bit nerve wracking to begin with, but with the help of the interpreters on the other end of the phone, mime and Google translate we got by. We had also learnt a few words of Russian and our little guest soon learnt the English words for the things she wanted: Coco-pops, chocolate and blue crisps (cheese and onion) please being some of her first English words! She has been a delight to host, always full of fun, very lively and helpful and we always miss her when her visit comes to an end after 4 weeks. This year will be our last official visit; the 5 years have flown by, but we hope to have her back as a private guest for two weeks every year for as long as she wants to visit us. We have made some close personal friends for life amongst the other host families and have relied on each other for help and support, occasionally swapping children and having sleepovers to help out with family commitments and social events."
At home in Belarus
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After a trip to the hairdresser's
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The main things you do as a host family are to take the child to the morning meeting place for their daily activities, pick them up late afternoon or early evening, and provide them with breakfast and dinner and loving care - as you would love your own son or daughter. The four weeks go by so quickly you will wish it was for longer, but they go back home - back to their families and friends. All the children wave goodbye. Some shed tears; others cover up their feelings. The host families wave goodbye and the tears flow - even from the men.
FOCC makes a huge difference to the lives of the children that come to the UK. If you think you could give a child a loving home for a month each year, please see the contact list for a link to your local group
.
FOCC makes a huge difference to the lives of the children that come to the UK. If you think you could give a child a loving home for a month each year, please see the contact list for a link to your local group
.