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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-08-14, Page 16Area families host nuclear disaster victims By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter ZURICH - After visiting Zurich, Kirkton, Mitchell and St. Marys for six weeks, 14 children from Belarus left for home in the former Soviet Union on Sunday. They were affected by the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl where, due to violated safety regulations, a plant reactor exploded, killing 31 people, injuring 500 others and forcing the evacuation of those within 30 km of the site. Radioactivity was spread heavily throughout the former western Soviet Union and parts of Europe, covering a 1,600 mile radius. Within 20 miles of the site, the region was considered inhabitable for humans and animals. In 1990 Soviet Union authorities acknowledged several million people living on land surrounding the evacuated area were subject to contamination. Among this population, which includes Belarus, cases of radiation - related illnesses such as leukemia and thyroid cancer had risen. Of the 600,000 children affected by the accident, an estimated 50,000 left towns and villages in the Belarus area in search of treatment. Countries around the world have offered help through the Belarusian Charitable Fund For the Children of Chemobyl, which was established in 1989. Seventy per cent of the nuclear fallout settled in Belarus, contaminating nearly half of its land with radioactivity. The fund has distributed humanitarian aid, built homes for evacuees, organized recuperation programs and established sponsorship as well as partnership between Belarus and other countries. Natasha, Irina and Masha visited host families in the Zurich area. The children are from Kostukovitchy, a village the government does not classify as contaminated. The government also fails to recognize nuclear -related health problems of children who were born after the accident. St. Marys For the Children of Chernobyl was established four years ago to organize local visits and raise funds to cover transportation and health insurance costs of the children, who are between the ages of eight and 12. While $1,200 is budgeted to bring each child to Canada, hosts offer to cover food, necessities and dental work. Last year, 14 Chernobyl children visited Exeter, Blyth, Zurich and St. Marys through the organization, which has sponsored 50 children to date. In order to prepare for the summer visits, volunteers, who have the option of hosting a boy or girl or more than one child, must make a commitment early in the year. 'They're trying to get every child out at least once in their lifetime," explained Debbie Denomme, of St. Joseph, who, along with her husband, Larry, has been a host for the second year in a row. "It doesn't interrupt your life at all to take a child and it does them some good." Visits reduce radiation in the children by 50 per cern and there is noticeable improvement in their 1 ealth, especially their ability to recover from minor illnesses. "They all gain weight when they are here," said Denomme. "They go back (home) healthier." Although the children do not have serious medical problems, constant exposure to radiation has affected their immune systems and caused fatigue, nosebleeds and headaches. Due to poor nutrition, they often have dental problems and brittle hair. They are accompanied by an adult interpreter/guardian, a member of the Belrusian fund who also stays with a host family and helps with communication problems, social gatheringsand appointments such as the dentist, which in at least one case, has been arranged through volunteered services. Although they arrive with a limited ability to speak English, the children quickly learn the basics through everyday conversation and often retain much of it when they return home. "They want to learn English," said Denomme, adding many keep in touch with their hosts after returning home. Some children return at the invitation and expense of their host families. Not only do the Chernobyl kids see their host families as role models and references for future ideas, the visits also benefit the children of hosts. "You really see your lifestyle in a different (light)," explained Denomme. "They don't waste anything...They really appreciate things...They adapt very quickly." They also thank their hosts for meals and this, she pointed out, makes a positive impression on her own children. Visits are often arranged with families who have children close to the same age of the Chernobyl visitors. The visits are busy times that require patience and understanding. "You try to cram a lot of living into the time they are here," said Denomme. Zurich area host families for Children of Chemobyl, from left, Shelly Hoffman, Debbie De- nomme and at right, Emmy Zandwyk with her daughter, Laura. In back from left, Natasha Stoliar, Irina Khomenock and Masha Kovaleva, all from Chernobyl. In the hammock, from left, Meredith Denomme, Deanna Zandwyk, Caitlyn Hoffman, Anna Hoffman, Justin Hoff man and Philip Denomme. Natasha stayed with the Hoffmans, Irina with the Denommes and the Zandwyk family hosted Masha. Children of Chemobyl mingled with their host family kids at a Port Blake picnic on July 27. Students feel at home during intercultural exchange program By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter HENSALL - "How many people are in your family?' Cindy Re- aburn asked her • I4 -year-old son, Ben. "A lot of people," he replied. At times he has to share the bath- room with four 'sisters' - Jamie and exchange students Chisato, Ampa and Gena. "I don't want to go home...but I guess I have to," said 17 -year-old Ampa Campos, who in an unusual move extended her one-year Amer- ican Field Services In- terculture exchange trip by a month. Ampa leaves home for Costa Rica next week. She has taken short exchange trips to Guadeloupe and North Carolina and although she felt homesick in Guadeloupe, her first trip to Canada was one that marked independence and de- cision-making. "I think I am more mature now," she said, adding she has discovered who her friends and family are. Her favorite memory of Canada is witnessing her first snowfall on her birthday in late November. She claims her only dislike about the country is the fact waitresses "take your plate away before you're finished." When she leaves, Ampa, who plans to return at Christmas next year for a three-month visit, will miss the Kraft Dinner as well as the people. In an act of friendship, she cut her country flag in half and gave a portion to her two best friends - Neddi, an exchange student from Australia who stayed for a year in Hensall with another host family, and Jamie, of her own host family. Gena Calay, a 19 - year -old student from Belgium, considers her first exchange trip to the Hensall area ,from '94 to '95 a ' dream come true. "I was really mo- tivated because I want- ed to spend a year in Canada," said Gena, who is staying, along with her brother, Vince, for a one- month visit with the Reaburn fami- ly until August 14. Chisato Hayashi, from Japan, has also returned for a brief visit with the Reahurns following 'a one-year exchange trip with them. Her fami- "The reason we do this is to let everyone in your family know the world is not so big and every- one's not so dif- ferent." ly visited her in Hensall last week during their tour of Canada. The 18 -year-old student, who leaves for home in early September, re- members dressing up as a bumble bee on her birthday for her first Hallowe'en experience here. Even though the students knew very little English when they ar- rived in Canada, they've adjusted quickly. "By Christmas they start to think in English instead of translating all the time," explained Cindy, adding although constant translating makes them mentally exhausted, they are eager to learn. Vince admitted the language was "difficult to understand," making it challenging to be himself. According to Cindy, who has hosted AFS students for the past two years, mastering a country's language is an everyday part of the host family's activities. "You need to teach your children what they need to know." Cindy helps the teens visualize words, then later concentrates on grammar and pronunciation. With a humorous speech entitled, My Canadian Experience, Gena won first place last year in a local Legion speaking contest. Other exchange students visiting the area are a huge help when it comes to acquiring a new language, especially in school. It is man- datory for AFS participants to at- tend school while on exchanges. The students also get involved with local sports while they are here. Gena was a member of the South Huron Girls' field hockey team that won the all -Ontario championship two years ago. Ampa tried fastball for the first time and played for a Zurich team. As well as participating in badminton, Chi - sato was a member of a Hensall fastball team. Involved with eight exchange stu- dents to date, Cindy has no im- mediate plans to host others. "The reason we do this is to let everyone in your family know the world is not so big and everyone's not so different," she explained, en- couraging people not to be afraid of hosting exchange students because "all it does is enrich your life." "It's made us more tolerant," added Jamie. "For them to go," continued Cindy, "is like one of your own go- ing." For Christmas, she gave her ex- change students a house key so "they can always come home." AFS lnterculture Exchange students are part of the family at the Reabum home in Hensall. In back from left, Vince Calay and his sister, Gena, from Belgium. In middle from left, Ben Reabum, Ampa Campos, from Costa Rica, Jamie Reabum and Chisato Hayashi, from Japan. In front, AC'S ex- change host Cindy Reabum. ,r.