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	Home Page \| The Chernobyl disaster \| The Trustees \| Groups Host families & the children \| The Charity needs


	RECUPERATIVE VISITS TO BRITAIN All but one of the Groups in the Charity are dedicated to bringing young children from Belarus to spend up to four weeks away from the constant low level radiation in which they live. Medical evidence suggests that four weeks away from this contamination can result in the elimination of radioactivity from their bodies. thereby allowing the immune system to strengthen and help the children to resist disease and infection when they return home, especially in the harsh winter months.

GETTING THE CHILDREN TO BRITAIN

The Groups in Britain recruit "HOST FAMILIES" and are then able to determine how many children can be accommodated.

Aircraft seats are pre-booked with an Airline and deposits paid. Children from two different groups may travel together on the same flight.

The Minsk Office of the Charity, headed by Doctor Igor Kot:

Money is supplied to the Minsk office from the UK to pay for visas and bus transport.

Children are flown to the U.K. where they are picked up by coach or minibus organised by the groups concerned.

On arriving in the Groups home town the children are met by their host family and taken home to begin their four week visit.


	HOST FAMILIES WITHOUT HOST FAMILIES THE WORK OF THE CHARITY WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. Children stay in the homes of Group members who have undergone vetting procedures to ensure they are suitable people with whom to lodge vulnerable children from abroad. Many families are selected after being recommended by current host families and group. members A detailed application form has to be submitted together with two references. Criminal Record Bureau checks are made. Enquiries are made with the referees by Committee members from the Group and the home of the host family is visited. Where possible a child is lodged with a family who have children in the household. Where there are no children in the house it is often the practice to lodge two children. This helps to reassure children and is of benefit to the hosts.


	HEALTH In fairness to host families enquiries are made before visits to make sure children suffering serious health problems are not knowingly brought to the UK. All the children have some ailments as a result of living in the low-level radiation and because of poor diet and health services. Groups generally have arrangements with their local Doctors for minor treatment.