Summer Visit 2006
On the 21st June 2006, nineteen
children and two leaders flew into Edinburgh Airport to be met by
their host families. When they arrived at Edinburgh Airport the
children looked very tired and somewhat bewildered which was not
surprising considering the journey from their homes in Belarus.
Their journey had started about midnight the previous day when they
had set out from the Stolin area in the south of Belarus. A
five-hour minibus drive took them to the capital, Minsk, where they
took the morning flight to London. Arriving in London Gatwick they
had a few hours wait before boarding a flight up to Edinburgh
arriving at 18.00. Unlike British children who enjoy foreign
holidays as the norm in many cases, the children we bring from
Belarus may never have been far from their villages so it explains
their bewildered looks. To top everything the children were then
introduced to strangers who are to be their host parents for the
next four weeks!!
For the host families the weeks and months of preparation had
finally come to an end when we all boarded the coach to go to the
airport and meet the children. New host families can be especially
anxious at this time, having thoughts such as “will the children
like us?” One new host mum once said it was like having her first
baby but without the labour! Help and advice is, however, always
available from others who have hosted in previous years. Any
anxieties were soon forgotten after we met the children.
Introductions were made, what little luggage they had was reclaimed,
and we all set off on the final leg of their journey back to their
new homes for the next four weeks.
It never fails to amuse us to see the look on the children’s faces
when we show them round their new home. What to us is your average
modern house seems like five star luxury to these children who, in
many cases, may not even have running water in their village homes.
They soon settled down and began to enjoy all the new found
“luxuries” of modern living.
Next day the whole group met at a local church hall where they were
kitted out wit “good as new” clothes that we had been collecting. I
am sure the children had never owned so many clothes in their lives
judging by the bulging bags which they staggered home with. A few
days later the link bought each child a pair of good quality,
properly fitting, school shoes from Clarks and Asda donated a pair
of trainers to each child for which we are very grateful. The
children arrive with very little in the way of clothes but return
home with as much as they can carry.
The main reason the children are here is to improve their health but
to a ten-year-old child it is the holiday of a lifetime. To this
effect the Perth Link had organized a very busy program of events
over the visit ranging from swimming at Windlestrae Hotel leisure
pool, visits to Noah’s Arc play area, a sports day at Norwich Union
Heathworks, a tea party with the Lord Provost of Perth, a visit to
the fire station, BBQs at Loch Tay and Delvine House, lunch with the
Rotary Club of Perth St Johns who have supported us for many years
and a visit and BBQ at Blair Drummond Safari Park donated by
Kinnoull Rotary Club to mention a few.
To all those individuals, businesses, Perth and Kinross Council,
Rotary Clubs and other organisations who helped us both financially
and materially and who gave of their time, we are indeed grateful
The weather during the visit was kind to us. Sunny warm days allowed
several visits to the beach where the children enjoyed their first
ever day at the seaside. It can be very entertaining listening to an
excited ten year old telephoning home and telling parents about
their day at the beach.
In between all the trips we somehow found time to for each child to
visit the dentist and the optician for check ups and any remedial
work. Again we are very grateful to all the dentists and
“Specsaver”opticians who gave their services free of charge to help
these children.
Towards the end of the visit we held our “farewell ceilidh”, a good
old-fashioned Scottish party. This year, as in previous years, our
Belarussian boys all appeared wearing kilts. With the girls in their
“posh frocks” a good time was had by all.
As with all holidays they have to come to an end sometime. At 04.00
on the 19th July we all boarded the coach to return to Edinburgh
Airport for the long journey home.
At the airport final farewells were said, lots of hugs and kisses
and a few tears shed. (On both sides!) These children had been part
of our families for the past four weeks and it was hard saying
goodbye. Bonds had been formed and friendships made between families
here and in Belarus.
A rather subdued group of host families returned to Perth on the
coach – to start planning the next visit.
A few weeks later when letters started to arrive from parent in
Belarus telling us how much their children had enjoyed the visit,
how healthy the looked on their return and thanking us for
everything that had been done for their children – we knew that all
our time and effort had been worthwhile.
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