.
Members of the Tralee District of the Chernobyl Childrens Fund with some of the children from Belarus yesterday.
MEMBERS of the Tralee District of the Chernobyl Children’s Fund (CCF) were on hand to welcome 14 children to town yesterday.
The children from the village of Kozhan in the contaminated area of Southern Belarus arrived on Sunday for a four week way stay in Kerry, which is designed to boost their health immeasurably.
The group, made up of eight girls and six boys ranging from 6-10 years of age, were understandably nervous and tired as they stepped off the bus into the St Brendan’s Church car park for their first trip to Ireland, but the local host families were quickly on hand to give offer hugs and smiles to the children.
It is all part of the charitable campaign by the local volunteer led CCF organisation which is dedicated to helping children, families and victims of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, and which has so far brought over 1,000 children to the North Kerry area since its formation in 1993.
The short four week stay here will help to boost their immune system and allow medical attention, along with instilling a general sense of positivity that is lacking in the harsh conditions and lifestyles of their own village, where temperatures in winter can reach up to -30°C.
They will have an active few weeks during their stay here with trips and activities planned in the Tralee Bay Wetlands, Crag Caves, Dingle, Killarney and Ballybunion on the cards.
For more information on the charity or if you want to get involved call Bridie Courtney on 087-9298558.
The children from Belarus who will be staying in north Kerry for the coming month.
