The Times Advocate, 2006-05-24, Page 14Crossroads
14
Wednesday, May 17,2006
Exeter Times Advocate
Local mother and son travel to Belarus with donations
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Virginia
and her son Brett
Warwick, residents from
just outside of Exeter
recently returned from a
trip to Belarus.
They are part of the
Huron -Bruce Chernobyl
County organization
which works with the
education fund in Gomel,
Belarus, fmding host fam-
ilies for the summer for
children affected by the
Chernobyl explosion.
Several children in
Belarus and area are still
showing effects of the
explosion which hap-
pened over 20 years ago.
The explosion at Unit
Four of the Chernobyl
plant in Ukraine in 1986
resulted in radioactive
dust flying across the
entire Northern
Hemisphere.
The 20th anniversary
was last month, April 26,
with the theme of the con-
ference still focusing on a
strategy for recovery and
sustainable development
of the affected regions.
Some children have
high blood pressure, oth-
ers have thyroid or respi-
ratory problems or other
health issues. Symptoms
vary from child to child.
The children come to
Canada so their "immune
system is built back up,"
says Virginia.
This year it was the
Warwicks' turn to travel
to Belarus. Every year
someone is sent from the
Huron -Bruce Chernobyl
Organization with the
main purpose of "meeting
the new families and chil-
dren," says Virginia.
"We're building a trust,"
Virginia adds.
Steve and his son
Spencer of Lucknow also
travelled with Virginia
and Brett.
This was the first trip
for Virginia and Brett
who went bearing many
donations from their fam-
ily, friends, neighbours,
church and volleyball
team.
Everyone brought two
suitcases filled with dona-
tions. "Clothes, tooth-
brushes, hair accessories,
English school supplies,"
(and more) was given to
orphanages and homes
for the disabled in the
Gomel region,according
to Brett.
While in Gomel the
Warwicks stayed with the
family of the 10 -year-old
girl, Almira whom they
have hosted for the past
two years.
This will be their fifth
summer hosting a child.
They visited one senior
citizens home and two
orphanages.
"The other part of the
trip was visiting orphan-
ages and homes for the
handicapped," says
Virginia.
She says one part of the
trip that really stuck out
is that after handicapped
children turn 18 they are
sent to a senior citizens
home.
"The one senior citizens
home had 317 residents.
About 30 of the residents
were in their 20s," says
Virginia.
There are 20 families
participating in the
Huron -County Chernobyl
Organization this sum-
mer. Eighteen are hosting
children from Gomel, one
family is hosting the inter-
preter and another is
helping organize.
The children will be
here for six weeks from
June 26 to Aug. 7.
They will receive free
dental care in Exeter as
well as having the oppor-
tunity of receiving med-
ical care if needed.
Host families are orga-
nized for this year but if
interested in becoming a
host family next summer
or for more information
contact the president of
the organization Lynn
Dawe at (519) 527-2060.
MEJM{EYNAPOONAA IONCBEPENEEb YEPHObbinb 20 OTT CnTCTti,
CTPATEFNR EIOCCTANORnENMR
M YCTOMVMsorO PAIIRNTEil nOCTPAAABW,U 6er110140E'
1986 epn�
ChernobHo6elza 120
1006
INTERFUTIONAL CONFERENCE -20 'FEARS AFTER CHETNOE*t
STRATEGY FOR RECOVERY AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TME AFFECTED MORS
The 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl explosion was
April 26.Virginia and BrettWarwick of Exeter along
with Steve and Spencer Wright of Lucknow attended
the second day of the conference in Gomel.The first
day of the conference was held in Minsk. Strategy for
recovery and sustainable development of the affected
areas was the theme. (photo/submitted)
Virginia and Brett Warwick of the Exeter area, along with Steve and Spencer Wright from Lucknow recently
returned from a trip to Gomel, Belarus where they represented the Huron -Bruce Chernobyl organization that
hosts children over the summer effected by the Chernobyl explosion.Virginia and Brett met with children,
bearing donations, that will come to Huron and Bruce county next month.Above from left areVirginia and
BrettWarwick and Spencer Wright at Pearson International Airport with luggage containing humanitarian aid
first orphanages and homes for the disabled in the Gomel region. Below, Steve Wright and Virginia Warwick
gather with children from a Gomel region orphanage after they received a Canadian flag pin. Bottom, school
children from a Gomel region orphanage are given maple sugar treats from Virginia and Brett. (photos/submit-
ted)