Background
The Zhtkovichi Community Center is located in Gomel - the region most affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
The Center services a population of approximately 50,000. At least 18,000 citizens rely on the Center for social and education support - many of them families with young children, who live in poverty. The Center serves 970 single parent families and 190 families with disabled children.
When Chernobyl Children's Project International found the Center two years ago in a state of severe disrepair - due to the decrepit building and inadequate facilities - the Center was unable to serve its community.
Chernobyl Children's Project International committed to refurbishing and revitalizing the Center, forming partnerships with the local Belarus government, community leaders, Center staff, and CCPI volunteer builders, electricians, plumbers, architects and project managers. Funding for the building project came from CCPI supporters, the Irish Government, and the Pfizer Company.
The basic facility was completed in May 2005, and includes multipurpose rooms, lavatory facilities, a sunroom, and a temporary shelter for up to 10 at-risk children from the community. The community of Zhytkovichi welcomed the "grand opening" with local food and entertainment for the CCPI volunteers and government and United Nations representatives who attended. With the basic facility completed, we now seek funding that will allow us to develop educational and community support projects to serve the people of Zhytkovichi.
CHILD Support
CCPI proposes to use CHILD funding to develop a Computer Room/Classroom inside the Zhytkovichi Community Center. We would propose to provide multimedia-ready computers, educational software, and teachers from the community to provide the following services to the community:
- Literacy and computer literacy programs for children and adults
- Skills training for disabled children
- Drop in homework help sessions
- After school computer programs for local children
- Educational programs on radiological hygiene and healthy living (an identified need in this community based on research from the United Nations "International Chernobyl Research and Information Network (ICRIN)," a program with broad international support.
Chernobyl Children's Project International
