Meet 14 year old Pavel -- artist, and resident of the Kletsk orphanage in Belarus

The Kletsk orphanage is located 120 kilometers southeast of Minsk, and is home to 140 children ages 8 - 17. When Chernobyl Children's Project International found this orphanage, it was in a severe state of disrepair; however, it was staffed by Belarusian citizens eager to make a good life for the young residents, and supported by the community. In 2001, Chernobyl Children's Project International dispatched 70 volunteer professionals to Kletsk. The group included architects, civil engineers, masons, plumbers, electricians and carpenters who donated their vacation time to make a better quality of life for these children. With the help of your financial support, we took three weeks to transform Kletsk. In addition to beautifying and repairing the facility, weadded classrooms and toilets, showers, and laundry facilities. A community hall for the children includes a dance and music room, sewing shop, craft rooms, a woodworking shop -- and an art studio. During a visit in April 2005, we met Pavel, the artist whose work you see at the top of this page. 

We are proud of the Kletsk orphanage project, because it confirms our belief that well intentioned citizens can do a lot with a little -- our support, combined with their hard work and desire to make a difference, has resulted in a more stimulating and supportive environment for the children of Kletsk. With your support, we were able to offer a "hand UP," rather than merely a "hand OUT" -- a true partnership.

In the art studio at Kletsk, we found work of young Belarusian orphans, communicating their feelings and values through paintings and drawings. Here is a selection of artwork we photographed in April 2005.  

Chernobyl

A number of the young artists of Kletsk used art to deal with their feelings about the Chernobyl accident that has had such an impact on the citizens of Belarus. Even children who do not suffer the ill health effects of radiation are clearly conscious of the social, environmental, and economic effects of the disaster that hangs over their country. Note the depiction of the radioactive mushrooms -- mushrooms are a "national dish" in Belarus, but are highly radioactive.

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images.