Team created to help children affected by the Chernobyl crisis
The Zashirye Link is a Learn to lead Team at the Blue School, Wells whose main aim is to establish a strong link with a school in Zashirye, Belarus where the Chernobyl Reactor exploded 26 years ago. We created the group to help children affected by the Chernobyl crisis and to learn about the difference in culture between the UK and the Belarus via a connection with a school in the country itself. In establishing this link we became the first school in the UK to be associated with a school in Belarus and we hope to encourage other schools to do the same.
In the past we have organised various fundraising events, such as cake sales, bag packing and a mufti day for a charity that we’re closely linked with (The Children of Chernobyl Charity Wells). Every year the charity brings 12 children to spend a month in the UK, whilst receiving vital health checkups. We organise 2 days during the trip to see the children. Within these days we often hold a creative day in which the children get involved in an art project and play sport. On the other we take them on a trip to Longleat or Bristol Zoo.
More recently some members of our team have become pen pals with those in our linking team in Zashirye helping us to further get to know our friends in Belarus. To aid with communication we have started Russian lessons and have been putting these to practice in our regular skyping with the team. Despite some connection difficulties at the start we have now managed to set up a skype of half an hour every week. It’s interesting to communicate with the team and to learn about normal life in Belarus, but the most important thing is that we are finally able to see the team face to face, after 5 years of having the link set up. In the future, we have plans to visit Belarus ourselves, and see firsthand what it is like there.
In the July 2015, 12 children will be coming over to the UK again for 3 weeks. If you are interested in hosting a child please contact the Children of Chernobyl charity, via cofcwells@gmail.com or have a look at their website, cofcwells.com to find out more.
