Dear Friends,

We are asking you to help fundraise money to help a little boy Arsenyi Selitskyi from Grodno

His main diagnoses are CP, spastic quadriplegia, slow learning development.

Here’s what his mother writes:

“Our boy was born healthy, but on one of the first days, apparently because of the vaccination he had a blood stroke that caused major damage to the boy’s health.

Arsenyi is 4 now but he doesn’t walk, although he can crawl and has good chances to progress.

During these 4 years we have done courses of rehab in Belarus, Check Republic, and 2 courses in Chine that gave him the best push in his development. At home on a daily basis we do phycio, massage courses, horse riding. But best results of course were achieved in China. For a child that was considered to be not prospective in our country he did miraculous things like started crawling and walking with support. Also his mental development improved greatly. The clinic in China (“Angel’s children”) has invited us for the next course in March of 2016. Total amount for the 3 month course makes 13.454 dollars (if including tickets and living costs it’ll come up to 15.300 dollars). Taking into consideration the rate changes we have to fundraise 10 000 dollars (as you see, we have already have some money). That’s why we apply to youto help us fundraise the rest. For an average Belarusian family this amount is unbelievable. But we do hope, there will be some good people who will support us financially and spread the information. We will appreciate every little help that will get our child closer to a better life.

All the news on how the child is getting on is to be found here https://vk.com/club67478748

Banking details:

Charity accounts in Bank branch №400 – Grodno (Belarus), Novooktiabrskaya Str, 5; UNP 500156630; MFO 152101752:

- Belarusian rubles – transit account №3819382100034 for the charity account №000040 в отделении № 400/151, termless

- US Dollars - transit account №3819382100047 for the charity account №000188 in branch № 400/151, termless

- EURO - transit account №3819382100047 for the charity account №000014 in branch № 400/151, termless

- Russian rubles - transit account №3819382100047 for the charity account №000034 in branch № 400/151, termless

Payment purpose: for treatment of Arsenyi Selitskyi, charity account opened on his mother’s name Selitskaya Marina.

Easy Pay № 53348381

And here is more lovely memories from our volunteer Ruth Byrne:

"I was so so excited to return to Belarus this year. At this stage it’s like going home, to visit friends and family . . . a very very big family!! It was my longest trip yet but it flew by. Four weeks with these amazing children and young people just isn’t enough. Each year they surprise me with unconditional love and happiness. This year was no different. I’m delighted to report that there were some huge improvements to be seen and although there were some difficult times, on a whole it was a very positive trip.

It was great to meet so many new volunteers over the few weeks, from bringing my friends out for their first (of many, hopefully!) visit to Belarus to joining forces with volunteers that travel annually and also spending time with volunteers and locals from Chernobyl Children’s Trust. I was so fortunate to travel with so many hard working volunteers who put in long days jam packed with activities for all the children. Each day we’d be up and ready to go bright and early and we’d keep going till late at night.

Gorodishche:

There was a fantastic programme of activities for the entire summer set up in Gorodishche Orphanage by some of the staff. Each day had something different from sports to concerts and trips to the lake. On the days that it was too hot to be outside we would take them to the indoor hall for games. It was brilliant to know that even if the Irish weren’t there or if we were with another group, so many of the groups were taking part in these daily activities.

We got the little ones in cots and chairs outside as much as possible for walks (and sometimes even a sneaky ice-cream!). Spending time with them away from their groups for some peace and quiet but also some much needed one on one time. Singing, playing music, doing hair and makeup, playing simple games, sensory play, bubbles, cuddles, or even holding a hand can brighten these children’s days. On cool days we were able to take some to the small gym. We took the bedbound out of their beds for massages. We had beautiful sensory play items handmade by one of the volunteers, with fairy lights, tinsel, glitter, different textures, noises and smells that all went down a treat – with the Irish as well as the children! It was great to see so many of them growing bigger and stronger and in such good form.

The teenagers and young adults were in mighty form. Thanks to the summer activity programme. We played soccer with the older boys most nights to give them some down time after working hard on the farm or on the grounds all day. We would treat them to orange juice and bread and jam too.

We went on four trips over the course of my stay;                                                                                                           Our morning at the lake was brilliant. It was about a 20 minute walk from the orphanage and we brought 30 teenagers and a picnic with us. A very tame few minutes of paddling and a light game of pass soon turned into a full blown water fight. Nobody was safe, we all got soaked. It was the most fun I’d had, to see them so utterly free and happy. J                                                                                      A very hot day led to a completely spontaneous “Can we bring them for ice-creams?”, and so we did. We brought one of the groups up to the village for an ice-cream. It sounds like nothing but it was such a treat for them, they were delighted.                                                                                                                           We travelled to a crystal factory with a group of 25 for a day. It was quite a journey but it was lovely to be able to bring them to somewhere new and interesting. The children loved it but probably loved the bottles of coke they got even more!! J It was a brilliant day out complete with our trusty picnic and ice-creams.                                                                                                                                                    We also brought a group to Baranavichi, the big town nearby. Here we brought them to the park to go on rides, the arcade and for a bite to eat. It was a brief trip but they loved getting away for a few hours.

One particularly special day for me was the 1^st of September. They held a ‘Back to School Concert’ where all the children who were returning to school dressed up and looked so smart and handsome. There was music and dance, speeches, and presents for the classroom. All the teachers from the local school and who teach in the orphanage had come for it and some family members of some of the children had come too. It was very special.

Cherven:

I feel like my time in Cherven absolutely flew by this year. The apartment was very busy with a constant flow of volunteers to-ing and fro-ing. We crossed paths with some amazing student nurses who were travelling with Chernobyl Children’s Trust and their brilliant interpreters. While BCP was well represented with a small but mighty team!

We had long days and lots of activities here too. One of my main focuses when I go to Cherven each year is to get the children from group 5 who can walk but need assistance outside for walks and sunshine. Our three main little chaps Vlad, Alosha and Pasha would walk for hours if they could and when they got tired they’d look to be pushed in their chairs, the cheeky monkeys knowing full well we needed to get to the rest of the group! J

We spent a lot of time with group 6 taking them outside for walks in their chairs, giving massages and sensory play. There were some new faces in this group that were delighted to play and get some attention!

We spent time in the senior yard every evening playing games, colouring, dancing, you name it! It was great to see so many of them outside and enjoying the last few days of sunshine. We had great fun with them all. We were even treated to tea and biscuits one of the days. It was lovely to see the older boys so proud to be hosting. J

We took a huge group on a trip to the disco and cinema. It was a huge success, they danced their socks off and played lots of games. We watched Horton by Dr Suess in the cinema and had made up little goody bags for each of them too. We also organised for a magician to come one of the days. He did a big show in front of loads of the children. We were delighted to get so many there from most of the groups. He had tricks, music and a rabbit and bird that caused huge excitement! We got to take some of the older boys out for an afternoon. This was a real treat because they’re normally working and don’t get to take part in all the activities. We took them to a restaurant for lunch which was a first for all of them and even ordered pizza – another first and they loved it! We took them all to the lake afterward where they relaxed and had fun.

Saying goodbye never gets easier but knowing so much is being done and improved upon, year on year is comforting and encouraging and instils hope. I would like to thank everyone who made this trip so special. To our interpreters Irina, Veronica and Alena, everyone at CCT, Br. Liam, Tamara, Yuri, all the volunteers and all at BCP, thank you for all your hard work. See you all next year!

Spaceeba ~ Thank You! J

Ruth"

Dobra Tut Fund is happy to announce that the Official Opening of Edel Smith’s House for Supported Living will take place in Yazovki  Internat on Friday 18^th September 2015. Many of the volunteer builders who helped construct the house are travelling to Belarus in the coming week to partake in the celebrations. Edel herself cannot travel due to the family circumstances but will be represented by her father John Smith and friend Pat Aherne. At the moment Yuri Kruk - the project manager is putting the final touches to this new development. The house which has been mainly sponsored by Edel and her group Help the Cherven Orphans is intended as a home for some of the children from Cherven Children’s Orphanage with whom Edel has built a strong bond over the years.

The Irish Ambassador to Vilnius will attend the official ceremony on Friday 18^th as well as many important people and dignitaries from the Belarus side. Other Irish charity groups who helped fund and carry out this project will also be represented - Burren Chernobyl Project; Friends of the Children of Chernobyl, Killarney Chernobyl Group, as well as the builders from Athlone Chernobyl Group and the men from Roche Pharmaceutical Plant in Clarecastle, Co Clare who made several trips during the construction phase to continue the good work.

More details of the event will become available as the week progresses. And we will post scenes from the Official Opening on 18^th.

Liam O’Meara

Director Dobra Tut Fund

Friends,

We were asking you to help Sergei Luschin back in January. His mother shared good news with us that the boy has improved since the trip to China: he can sit better, head control improved alot, Sergei started to pronounce some sounds, and the MRI test said that he was getting closer to nomral. Surely they were offered another course of rehab to go on with successful treatment.

Sergei was appointed to have another course on August 17, and the family was able to fundraise the required amount for the rehab on time, but in Belarusian rubles. Due to the growth of the dollar, it turned out that the family lost $ 3,000. So now they are asking all caring people to help gather the missing amount. The family is already in China, so we are in a hurry!

Please help this remarkable mother, who is trying to raise a son on her own!

In belarusian rubles: №000024

(Transit account №3819382102020 - indicated only the transfer of funds by legal entities or of Belarusbank)

In US dollars: №000022

(Transit account №3819382105027 - indicated only the transfer of funds by legal entities or of Belarusbank)

In russian rubles: №000015

(Transit account №3819382105027 - indicated only the transfer of funds by legal entities or of Belarusbank)

The euro: №000009

(Transit account №3819382105027 - indicated only the transfer of funds by legal entities or of Belarusbank)

Payment: In the name of Luschina Marina S. for treatment Luschin Sergei Alexandrovich

Easypay: 00360412

Home address:

211030 Vitebsk, Orsha Str. Proletarian, Building 4, Apartment 127

Luschina Marina S.

Contacts:

tel.: +375 33 611-59-27

Thank you so much!