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 In the summer of 1997, Kids4Kidz was contacted by the charity Highway Ministries in the north of England to ask if they could help with hosting a visit of teenagers from the city of Brest (on the Polish border), Belarus. The group, based in Brest Youth Centre and under the direction of Elena Dmitrieva were brought together to perform the musical 'For Whom the Chernobyl Bell Tolls', the story of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
The visit of Peace Child took place for two weeks in November and the young people gave their first performance of the musical in north Wales in St.Mary's Church, Chirk. The performance was in the presence of two staff members of the Embassy of Belarus in Great Britain. Dr.Olga Galubovich and Mr.Borisevich and the community of Chirk.
In 1998 Peace Child returned to the UK to perform 'For Whom the Chernobyl Bell Tolls' on the anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy. With support from the Belarusian Embassy in London, the charity Chernobyl Children's Project (UK) and Kids4Kidz the visit was a success and was the start of the youth exchange project between Kids4Kidz and Peace Child.
Peace Child Wales
In late 1998 Peace Child Wales was formed as a project of Kids4Kidz. With their own committee, made up of host families, Peace Child Wales successfully developed the youth exchange link between the two groups.
 April 1999 saw the first visit of young people and leaders from Peace Child Wales to Peace Child in Brest. The visit was a great success and many firm friendships were made. As a result of this visit, two members of the group, Emma Nurse and Robert Greasley returned to Brest to help at a summer camp for disabled young people at The White Lake. Accompanying Emma and Robert on this visit were two staff members, Anna Thomas and Gill Cripps of the Derwen College for Handicapped young people in Gobowen, Shropshire. They were able to give practical help to the Young Invalids Recovery programme and also arranged for two representatives and two interpreters from the recovery programme to visit the Derwen College in October 1999 to learn new skills. Anna and Gill funded this visit through their own fundraising programme. During this visit discussions took place between Peace Child Wales, Kids4Kidz and Bridges4Belarus as to how they could help the young disabled in Brest.
The youth exchange visit was supported by a grant from the Youth Exchange Committee for Wales a regional committee of Connect Youth International in London (a department of The British Council) and fundraising by the young people and leaders.
The second leg of the exchange was in August 1999 when Peace Child in Brest visited the Chirk area for a 16 day stay with host families. The programme included official presentations, visits to places of interest, several concerts and a stay at a local youth hostel with a programme of mountain biking, canoeing, raft building etc.
In April 2000 Christine Ashford (Kids4Kidz). Derek Hughes (Peace Child Wales) and Rhiannon Collinge and Annie Jones (Bridges4Belarus) visited Brest for a week to make arrangements for the humanitarian aid project with the Young Invalids Recovery programme and the Rehabilitation Centre for young children in Brest. The visit also included meetings at Brest Youth Centre, Regional State Committee for Youth in Brest and the Minister of Youth in Minsk. Mr.Alexander Pozniak.
Bridges4Belarus is a small committee formed by Rhiannon Collinge and Annie Jones after the April 1999 youth exchange visit to Brest. Several fundraising events were organised by the young people including two very successful variety shows, which raised funds for their support of the youth programme and the rehabilitation centre for young children in Brest.
Annie is now studying politics in Cardiff and Rhiannon media studies in Manchester. The committee is alive and now supported by the next generation of Bridges4Belarus.
In March 2000 a cabaret evening was held at the Hand Hotel, Chirk starring Claire Sweeney (alias Lindsey Corkhill Brookside and of course now famous for Comic Relief 'Big Brother'. The cabaret also included many other talent young people some of them part of Bridges4Belarus. This cabaret raised £1600 for the humanitarian aid project.
Finally in July after many months of fundraising the humanitarian aid was transported to Brest and safely delivered.
 Again with the support of the Youth Exchange Committee for Wales a further out visit took place of young people, leaders and some host family members to Peace Child Brest. As the humanitarian aid project had developed as a result of the first out visit to Brest. the group were invited to the Young Invalids Recovery programme at The White Lake and also to the Rehabilitation Centre for young children in Brest. The wooden chalet sent from Wales and now named 'Little Wales' had been erected and was being used to serve refreshments at the camp. Peace Child Wales duly tried out the patio furniture also sent with the aid. It is hoped that the chalet will become a focal point in the rehabilitation of the young people with disabilities. They will use it to serve refreshments and sell craft items to those visiting The White Lake. An idea they got from visiting the Derwen College, Gobowen!
On returning from their visit to Brest in October 2000, Peace Child Wales then set about fundraising for the in visit of young people from Peace Child Brest to Wales in August 2001.
An application again to the Youth Exchange Committee for Wales resulted in a grant towards the in visit, which will take place from 5th - 15th August. Fundraising is now in earnest! Raffles, car boot sales, coffee mornings are planned to raise the necessary funds for the visit.
From a small beginning in November 1997 has developed a very unique partnership between young people in north Wales and young people in Belarus. Not only young people but host families too in both countries. It's been a magic 3 years and its not over yet! The story continues ........
For further information on the work of Peace Child Wales please visit our
Website:- http://www.peacechildwales.org.uk
or contact Derek Hughes the chairman of Peace Child Wales on 01691 778148 or
Email info@peacechildwales.org.uk
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