Hard work goes on at orphanage

FOR the past 11 years, Shannon has been linked to the Goradiche orphanage and at the moment, Rosie Byrne from Pinewood is in Belarus, where she is volunteering.
“We’re here for two weeks. Myself and my daughter, Ruth are here, there’s seven of us in the group, three from Clare. One of the girls, Julie Pipe, is from Connolly but she works in St Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon,” she told The Clare Champion this week.
It is her seventh time going over and when she spoke to the newspaper, the group were helping out at another orphanage, at Cherven, outside Minsk, before going on to Goradiche.
She says that in Belarus, small children routinely go without items that are taken for granted in Ireland. “The recession has hit here, prices have gone up and people are feeling the pinch, big time. In the past, there wouldn’t have been disposable nappies all the time anyway, but this year there are hardly any because they are just so expensive. The girl that’s interpreting for us has two young children and she said herself that she can barely get them, they’re so difficult to get as well as being very expensive. It has always been kind of difficult to get but with the economy as it is, it’s harder and harder.”
While staff at the orphanages are doing their best, she feels that resources are just too thin. “The building here is lovely, it’s nicely kept and well maintained but there are just loads of kids who need stimulation and attention and love. Everybody working in the orphanage is very good but there’s a high rate of staff to children,” she added.
Rosie said that the volunteers try to spend time with children, who often don’t get the level of attention they need.
“The weather is a bit like home at the moment but we can we take some of the children out, play with them, take them for walks. If they can’t get out of bed it’s just a matter of spending time with them and giving them that bit of stimulation and love that they don’t normally get.
“It’s no reflection on the staff working here, it’s just that the demands on them are huge,” she added.
She says that while there are things to be positive about, change happens slowly in Belarus. “Things are improving all the time and even the attitudes of people are improving. But it’s a whole different set-up here, everything works slowly, things change slowly, everything has to be documented. It’s not bad, it’s just the way they do things and I suppose it’s a carry-over from the old Communist regime,” she said.
Many people are unable to look after their children in their own homes, such are the conditions in Belarus.
“The way I’d describe it, and I’m not particularly in the know, is a bit like Ireland 50 or 60 years ago. The services aren’t in place to support people at home. It’s slowly happening now, there is change coming with the help of organisations like Burren Chernobyl and other bigger organisations.
“They’re working on the ground with the government people to create change and support families. There are daycare centres opening up but for a lot of people there is minimal support and a lot of people couldn’t afford to keep their children with special needs at home,” Rosie added.
She said that the support received from Clare makes a big difference and needs to continue.
Shannon parish priest Tom Ryan said he was pleased that the link with Goradiche is enduring.
“We’ve been associated with Goradiche since 2000 and it has continued due to the generosity of the parishioners.
“They continue to give generously of their time, as Rosie and Ruth are doing, and they are going to be joined by Carol Stephens soon.
“It’s great to see the good work continuing,” he said.