BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

13/06/2008

Teens to bring summer play scheme to Belarus orphans

by Moira Sharkey, South Wales Echo

A GROUP of teenagers are on a mission to bring joy to the lives of children in an orphanage in Belarus this summer.

The pupils from Corpus Christi Catholic High in Cardiff will spend two weeks organising activities for the children, playing games with them and taking them outside.

Four teachers will be going on the trip, organised through Cardiff-based charity Leaves of Hope.

The playscheme will be set up at the Zhordino orphanage which looks after abandoned children aged three to six.

Each student has had to raise around ?450 to cover travel costs, with any extra going to buy equipment for the orphanages. As well as sponsorship events and car boot sales, they have been bag- packing at supermarkets.

The group of Year 10 pupils, chosen from a shortlist, include Rhys Grant, 14, John Ridout, 15, Connor Griffiths, 14, Nadia Miller, 14, Dominic Price, 14, and Lois Williams, 14.

They will travel in a minibus for three days to get to the Belarus city and will stay at a youth hostel.

Rhys, 14, said: "I am really looking forward to getting out there and seeing what it is like. It is going to be a great experience."

Rhys' mum Michelle added: "They have all been working really hard to raise money for this trip. It is a great opportunity and I am sure it will be an experience they will not forget."

Teacher Trevor McKeever said: "We want to improve the quality of the children's lives and allow the staff to see what a difference a few activities can make to their lives."

Val Cousins is the founder of Leaves of Hope, which works to improve the lives of children in Belarus through projects which are led by young people from Wales.

She said: "We want to work with the Belarusian staff to introduce games and activities to their daily schedule."

Any company that can help provide a minibus for the two-week trip should contact Mr McKeever on 029 2076 1893.

Source:

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2008/06/13/teens-to-bring-summer-play-scheme-to-belarus-orphans-91466-21066102/

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