Belarussian Orphanage Project

Love . Dignity . Integrity . Respect

Viacha Institution

Belarussian Orphanage Project’s third major project is our work at the Viacha Institution.

Viacha is one of the most beautiful areas on the outskirts of Minsk city.

It is a place so fresh, clean and beautiful that the president has his summer cottage in the area.

Originally built in the late sixties as a summer camp for the workers at Minsk Academy of Science and closed in 2001, BOP was approached by the Director of Social protection with a partnership proposal for its development as a psychiatric institution to which in the future the children and residents of Novinki aged 18, would be transferred there now that Draznia was overcrowded.

Geographically, Viacha is located next to a large clear lake and is surrounded by vast pine forests. It is in the middle of the countryside, away from traffic and is an ideal place for peace and calm, rest and recuperation. Since it reopened it has been undergoing extensive renovation, decoration and adaptation to the needs of its new residents.

At present it is about 35% occupied but it is anticipated that its maximum capacity will be reached within 2-3 years.

Residents live in buildings on a site of over 20 acres.. The original gardens are still laid out and the buildings are well spaced apart. There is extensive room for development and there are a number of large, somewhat overgrown basketball courts, soccer pitches and even a tennis court and orchard. There is a large medical centre, 2 administration blocks and the facility for residential living by the better residents in apartment units also on the grounds. BOP also has a full time apartment on the grounds which our staff use when they are on weekend and overnight shifts.

There were a large number of workshop style buildings also on the territory and future plans are to reopen these as occupational therapy centres. As part of BOP’s partnership agreement, we were given a large spacious general activities building to develop. Fortunately financial sponsorship comes in a number of substantial donations from a private sponsor in Kerry annually and this enables us to realise our projects. We are particular lucky that the costs of goods in Belarus are much lower than those in the west and therefore our renovation and construction budget was significantly less that it would be if we were to complete the work in another country.

Our primary target in Viacha was to open a Therapy Centre similar to the one we opened in Draznia. We developed and presented our plans to the administration and within a few short months went from an empty abandoned room to a first class Therapy Centre, Concert Hall, Television Room and Cafeteria. We are particularly proud of the group of volunteers who were in Minsk at the time of its construction and who contributed the elbow grease needed to set it up. Now it is open 7 days a week and is staffed by Belarussian Orphanage Projects highly trained Therapists.

Activities include the Art Therapy programme, Music Therapy programme, Birthday programme, Concert programme and a host of other events are held there. The Centre has a capacity for over 100 residents theatre style and over 40 for therapies and classes. The residents on Viacha are predominantly low dependency with some very obvious talent and skills which can be explored in a variety of programmes and projects. Some of our residents are professional musicians, artists and we even have veterans of the second world war. The Therapy Centre is a convivial place where the residents can relax and choose to do a variety of tasks and hobbies or have a cup of tea or coffee while socialising with friends and relatives.

Following the opening of the Therapy Centre, the resident psychologist approached us with the proposal of renovating an abandoned Library.. This required extensive renovation, painting, flooring, curtains, bookshelves, books, desks etc., Again we worked in partnership to develop a plan most suitable to the residents and we administrations approval, we created a first class venue where residents can come to choose one of thousands of books, read a newspaper, listen to music or to have conversations. Our future plans include the setting up of a computer section in the Library…

We have also completed the renovation of the dayrooms in one of the residential units. This again was undertaken by a number of volunteers during summer project.. Our photos here show how homely and warm the completed dayrooms are. We set up shelving, Art, Curtains, Flooring, TV, Video, flowers and plants. The results were practical, stylish and very comfortable rooms where the residents who do not attend the Therapy Centre can relax.

Presently we are planning to decorate all 45 bedrooms in the residential units.. Using our work in Draznia as a template, we anticipate the renovation of the rooms to be completed on an ongoing basis.. With each room set up with curtains, shelving , quilts, pillow and covers, radios and TV, especially in the rooms of the residents who are confined to bed. This is just one of many of our future plans which also include the renovation of the extensive grounds, the creation of more gardens, the renovation of a large activity hall which will cater for up to 400 residents to view movies, concerts and sporting activities.

In poorer weather the residents are socially isolated and cannot go on excursions to the city and attend the theatre, concerts etc. Therefore we have a special Music Therapist who invites in groups of musicians and performers to perform for the residents..  ... Again with sponsorship from BOP!!