145 children from the Chernobyl region in Belarus arrived at Shannon Airport last week where they were greeted by their host families from around the country.
The children will spend a month being cared for by families all over the country and local woman, Niamh Moriarty, wouldn’t miss seeing the children during their visit, for the world.
Niamh first got involved with the children after being crowned Westmeath Rose last year. As per tradition, Niamh traveled to Belarus with 20 of her fellow Roses where she was joined by three volunteers from Chernobyl Children Ireland and Adi Roche, CEO of Chernobyl Children International.
The volunteers stayed at Vesnova Children’s Mental Asylum for a week which is home to over 170 children with various forms of physical and mental disabilities. “The children in the orphanage are basically left there because of their illnesses and defects which stem from the Chernobyl disaster,” Niamh explained to Topic.
“A lot of the children have congenital heart defects or thyroid problems or serious deficiencies and basically the Belarussians have an embargo against people with disabilities. Seemingly this is one of the best orphanages in Belarus which is hard to imagine,” she added.
Vesnova consists of 10 units which features two purpose built independent living facilities. “They are funded by Adi Roche. When a child turns 18 in Vesnova they have to go to an adult’s asylum. Adi Roche wants to help facilitate any person who has the potential to live by themselves and also help get them working if possible. There is a girls and boys dorm for children over 18 and there is a number of adults living there in their 20s,” Niamh revealed.
31 Years Ago
Wednesday, 26 April marked the first International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day 2018 and despite the intervening 31 years, Niamh said the effects of the disaster are still being felt throughout the country. Adoption is forbidden by the Belarusian government but through the Chernobyl Children’s Trust, the children are able to visit Ireland for a month where they stay with host families. “These programmes give the children a chance to see life outside the asylum. The host families come to see the children as their daughters and sons and siblings which is lovely to see and they come over for Christmas and there are numerous other trips. It’s all thanks to Adi who really is an amazing woman.”
Niamh said that Adi instilled a sense of hope into the volunteers during their time at the oprhanage. “One thing she always said is we had to keep believing that we are making a difference and she is right. The money that she has generated through the charity is going towards vital surgery for children who have been unable to get it before.
Heartbreak for Niamh
There was great sadness for the volunteers when they learned that one of the little girls they had cared for had passed away recently. “I spent a lot of time with this little girl called Zhenia who had Down Syndrome. She was an amazing little character and was so funny and full of life and we would come down in the morning and feed her breakfast along with a few of the other children. She loved music and dancing and was so much fun.”
Niamh said the volunteers got word that Zhenia had died three weeks ago leaving them heartbroken. “It was very hard to hear when you think of how full of life that child was and how she had a smile on her face all day, every day despite the conditions she was living in.”
Niamh said Zhenia was born with a congenital heart defect as a result of the effects of the radiation. “That’s the problem-it is engrained in people’s genetics for hundreds and thousands of years to come and children will continue to be born in Belarus and the Ukraine with genetic diseases.”
Niamh said that if Zhenia had been lucky enough to be in Ireland, she would be just another happy Down Syndrome child living with loving parents. “She would have received treatment for her heart defect and would still be alive and so many other children there have died from illnesses that could be prevented. I don’t think the Belarusian government recognise the problem by not allowing adoption,” she said.
Earlier this year RTÉ broadcast a documentary called ‘Finding Banni’ about a six-year-old boy with disabilities from Belarus who stayed with the Flynn family in Co. Clare in 2001. “It is a prime example of what happens- the children who come to Ireland and their host family fall in love with them but they are not allowed to adopt them,” Niamh continued.
She said that when the children arrived at Shannon Airport they were tears of joy for many. “They are in host families at the moment and we will go to the houses and give them a weekend off or stay over. Many Roses from previous years are still involved with the children and it’s great to see. I’m really looking forward to seeing the children again. It’s great they can come over and have days out and be treated and just be loved really because they don’t really receive that there,” Niamh concluded.
