Corofin - North Galway Branch

On April 26th at 1.23a.m. a nuclear accident occurred in the Ukraine, across the border from Belarus. As a result 800,000 children live in radioactive contaminated areas, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water and breathing contaminated air. Thyroid disease and leukemia, as well as unexplained growths are commonplace for these people. Unbelievable poverty has also taken hold in the towns and villages around the twenty years old disaster.

The Corofin/ North & West Galway Branch of the Children of Chernobyl was established in March 2002. The first children from Chuchevichi arrived in Corofin in July 2002. Following an initial notice in the parish newsletter, eight families signed up to become host families for the Belarusian children. Sixteen children spent the month of July in Corofin and Belclare. At Christmas of that year six children spent four weeks in the area. Children now stay with host families in Corofin, Belclare, Headford, Clonberne, Corrandulla, Oughterard, Tuam, Dunmore and Killanin. 40 children arrived in July 2006 and 34 in July 2007 to the same number of Host Families. A total of almost three hundred children have visited Ireland and benefited as a result of the work of the Corofin / North & West Galway Branch of the Friends of the Children of Chernobyl, and the kindness and generosity of the host families, doctors, dentists, opticians, benefactors and the many businesses who contribute to the group financially. The voluntary branch would not survive without them.

Martin Fleming, a member of the committee visited a primary school in Chuchevichi in September 2002. Twenty of the students who attended this school stay in living accommodation attached to the school. This school had no toilets, kitchenette or running water. The Corofin / North & West Galway group, in conjunction with the Ballinasloe group, decided to send trade's people to the school to install toilets and a kitchenette. This came about in September 2003. During another visit in 2004, the group of trade's people rewired the main kitchen in the school. The group have now employed a local electrician to look after the upkeep of the school and the wiring.

A real success story for the Corofin / North & West Galway group is Nicholai Binko who suffers from cerebral palsy. In 2003 he and his mother were brought to UCHG by our group. Thanks to the intervention of the charity, Nicholai will eventually be able to walk.

Corofin / North & West Galway branch also became involved in a second school- Redigerovo, a school of 180 pupils with no toilet facilities. Work began here in April 2006.

In 2006 while installing toilets in Redigerovo school we were asked to visit a school called Luban, where 40 of the children there have the highest reading of radiation. We brought 12 of those children to Galway in July 2007. We also decided to replace 14 toilets and 10 sinks not working in the school. We also visited the Exclusion Zone and saw first hand exactly the conditions in which people live. While there we met a man with no hands or feet and noboby to care for him. In October 2006 we went back and brought this man a wheel chair. We are also repairing some homes down there and hope to give additional assistance there over the next few Years.

A third school was added to our list of works when the trade's people installed new toilet facilities and a boiler in a school in Mikachevichy in April 2006. We renovated a day care centre here also, in conjunction with the Ballinasloe group, installing a new kitchen, toilet facilities and floors. Thirty five handicapped children occupy this facility.

The group has also been involved with an orphanage in Minsk, called Noviki, where disabled children are confined to their beds almost permanently. Together with the Ballinasloe group we funded some of the cost of painting and decorating, and supplied clothing to the children.

The Corofin / North & West Galway branch of the Friends of the Children of Chernobyl would like to sincerely thank the host families, sponsors and fundraisers who work so hard throughout the year. Without them the group would not be as successful as it is.

Spaspia (thank you) from all the Belarusian children and their families.

Some pictures from a visit on 9th - 12th November 2006

Meeting with the Governor	Possible New Centre	Meeting the children in school
Meeting the Infants in school	Children for 2007	Local Transport
Meeting the locals	Presentation of wheelchair	Local child

On a visit in early Nov 2007 four members of our group visited all the schools we are working with and selected the children for summer 2008. They then visited all the homes of these children to help make arrangements. To help fund ongoing projects a Monster Auction was held in Corrandulla Parish Hall on 27th May 2007. Select here for details Thanks to all that helped New host families in the North & West Galway area are always welcome. If you would like to learn more about being a host family please contact Martin Fleming, Chairperson on 086 2238085 or Tom Kearney on 087 6209090.

A group of 34 children and 3 interpreters returned to Belarus on Sunday 29th July 2007 having spent one month in the Corofin and surrounding area. Once again thanks to all the host families and friends who helped in any way. Also thanks to all who helped with hair cuts, eye tests, dentistry, or whatever. Below are most of the group along with some of their Irish friends after the mass in Corofin on Sunday 22nd July.

A special trip was arranged at Christmas 2007 in order to bring a special wheelchair to a child in need.

Trip to Belarus March 23rd - 30th 2008