Who
are the Friends of Chernobyl's Children?
FOCC are a registered charity started in
1994 by founder/director Olwyn Keogh MBE. The impact of just one little
Belarusian child coming to stay with her, initiated the beginnings of this
fantastic charity. Ever since FOCC began, the charity has spread nationwide and
currently has 31 charities throughout the UK. All their energy is devoted to
raising money to bring children, who are at risk, to the UK for one month
annually. FOCC mainly focus on children with disadvantaged lifestyles from
orphanages or broken homes. For these children to be able to come from
difficult social situations, FOCC ensure that these children acquire all the
care that they aren’t getting back at home.
What
happened in the Chernobyl incident?
It all began on the 26th April
1986, and just like that, Chernobyl was back on the map. The Chernobyl incident was, and
still is, the World’s worst nuclear accident – releasing 190 tons of highly
radioactive waste material into the atmosphere, exposing the people of
Chernobyl to radioactivity 90 times bigger than that from the explosion of the
Hiroshima atomic bomb.
When the UN conference meeting came
around, Belarusian scientists stated this to be "the greatest international
ecological disaster in the history of humanity". We now know that it will be at
least 24,000 years before the land is safe and when no person will suffer for any
longer.
FOCC
Vale of Belvoir – Bottesford
The FOCC Vale of Belvoir group began 12
years ago in 2002, based in Bottesford, Leicestershire. During this time, they
have hosted two groups of Belarusian children, with the current group being
hosted coming from the Mogilev region. FOCC have welcomed these children with
open arms.
The children arived on Saturday and have a started a jam packed programme of informal activities. They have visited Downtown already to get new shoes and will be visting The
Maltings Dental Practice and Specsavers who generously allow annual checkups for
each child, the children are given any dental work or glasses free of charge. They will also receive immunity boosting vitamins and minerals not for just the visit but to take home.
When not out and about taking in part in all
of these fun activities, with an overwhelming favourite of swimming, this year the
children are housed at Bottesford Cricket Club in order to spend quality
time together, relax and to work with their interpreter.
Also, with thanks to the National
Trust, the children have been able to visit castles such as Tattershall and other local business like us here at Little Skiers and at Little Jacks Garden Centre and Farm in Bottesford have welcomed them for day visits.
Visit to Little Skiers
13 children arrived Wednesday morning and we had a whirlwind of trying on and choosing ski jackets, ski pants, hats, gloves. scarves and thermals all to take back to brave the cold winter of -40.
Visit to Little Skiers
13 children arrived Wednesday morning and we had a whirlwind of trying on and choosing ski jackets, ski pants, hats, gloves. scarves and thermals all to take back to brave the cold winter of -40.
These visits happen yearly but the charity needs donations to fund these visits as there is nothing from the Government. It
makes a whole lot of difference whatever the donation. Donate here at https://www.justgiving.com/foccgb/
by making either a single donation, monthly donations, or by hosting a
fundraiser event.
May Johnson, June 2014
May Johnson, June 2014
