Belarussian Orphanage Project

Love . Dignity . Integrity . Respect

Novinki Orphanage

 

Novinki Orphanage is situated in the suburbs of Minsk about 10kms from the centre of the city and easily accessible by public transport or by Taxi. The present building was built in the early 70’s adjacent to the largest Psychiatric institution in the region and it has been the primary focus of the Belarussian Orphanage Project’s work since our foundation in 1996.

Officially known as a centre for ‘children with psycho-neurological disorders’ the Orphanage is home to approximately 200 differently abled (special needs) children from the age of 4 to 18+ years.

The children's conditions range from mild to moderate Downs syndrome, children with hearing and visual difficulties, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida and other illnesses primarily associated with hereditary conditions or birth injury.

The Orphanage is divided into 5 departments and BOP works in all areas, providing the highest quality of care within our means. The majority of our Belarussian Staff work in this Orphanage. The boys (unit 2) and girls (unit 5) are for children (aged 10+) with minor disorders and who are fully socially integrated and whom the volunteers spend most of their time with on ‘learning through play’ projects. Unit 3 is for smaller kids from age 4-10 and who are absolute characters!.. Unit 4 is also the infirmary where the more physically dependent kids live. There are approximately 54 children in this unit and they have the highest staff-child ratio as they are almost totally physically dependent on nurses and carers for their needs. Unit 1 (where we began our projects in 1996) is for more physically abled, high dependency children who are the most boisterous and energetic.

BOP works in very close cooperation with the Administration, Management and Staff of Novinki and are the leading and most established Humanitarian Organisation involved in the daily care of the children. We have our own full time Belarussian manager working daily with our staff and children.

By working in Partnership with the Directors, BOP has assisted in creating the ‘Disneyland’ of Orphanages in Minsk. Directors from many other institutions visit Novinki and appeal for our assistance. Our dedication in providing the very best for our kids is unrelenting and a majority of our funds raised go towards their daily care. We assist in providing everything from nappies to nappy creams, yoghurts to fresh fruit, shoes, clothing, bedding, shampoos and all the children's daily physical needs as well as working with the medical team to keep the kids in optimum health. Treatments and Surgeries are arranged and post surgical hospital care is a priority for us with our team of qualified nurses on duty when the children are in outside hospitals. We also spend tens of thousands of euro on the correct aids, equipment and wheelchairs.

The physical environment is also a very important to us and since 1996 we have created some of the most practical while visually stunning playgrounds in Belarus. We again work in close cooperation with both the directors and with local companies to create gardens, playgrounds, sports areas etc for the children's use during the long summer days. The photographs on this page pays testament to the hundreds of volunteers who built, painted, planted and created this children's paradise. In 2010 a special Irish Playgound construction team created the most up to date playground in Minsk at Novinki.

For the Russian Winter, we have created special spaces where the children can continue to be cared for, educated and develop under the tuition of both our staff and the state teachers. We assisted in the renovation of 11 Classrooms, have created top of the range Therapy and Sensory rooms, Solarium and the first purpose built Music Therapy Centre in Belarus. We continually strive to work with the state in redecorating and maintaining the Activity Hall / Cinema and Discothèque, the Children's Canteen as well as filling all of the walls and corridors with Belarussian Art and paintings to create a brighter and more child friendly environment. At visiting time there is a beautiful Visitors room and in the event of a child taking ill, there is a fully equipped, 7 roomed Infirmary.

All of this work could not be completed without the incredible ongoing sponsorship by many people in Ireland and throughout the world. BOP specialises in, what we call, the ‘extras’- rooms and environments that provide our individual kids with what they need to develop to their maximum potential. Such is the volume of work and sponsorship involved that we have commenced creating a website dedicated to past, present and future plans for Novinki. Our commitment to our children is unending and is evident in the hundreds of positive photographs on this site.. Children who are happy, educated and at the peak of their health being of utmost importance.

Each year we also create a Wishlist for Novinki with contributions and requests from the Director and staff, Directors of government departments of Humanitarian Aid and Social Protection (services) as well as major contributions from our Volunteers who have been there to work. This list is available by emailing us at bop1@eircom.net requesting our ‘Current Wishlist’ as it is updated regularly. If you wish to contribute to the welfare of the children in Novinki through fundraising efforts then please consider what area can be ‘yours’!