Belarus

In Belarus, Star of Hope is working primarily with improving the situation of children with special needs. We do this for example by providing support for daytime activities for children with special needs and parents groups, Through the Nordic occupational therapists, physical therapists, specialist teachers and others, we provide transfer of knowledge to the Belarus health professionals and authorities which in many areas changed their way of working

The goal of this work is to improve the lives of children by giving them a place where they are treated with love, knowledge and respect. We also inform them of the educations rights they should expect. In addition we work to change the attitudes of health professionals, politicians and society at large towards children with special needs. The sight of these children has long been characterized by the notion that people with special needs cannot contribute to society, and therefore that they are inferior. Instead, they have been placed in institutions where they have not had any opportunity to develop as human beings and live full lives. They never get out of bed, do not learn to walk, talk, feed themselves, dress themselves or do without a diaper. There was simply no time to give every child adequate care. The children were under-stimulated and forced to a life without the possibility to develop as human beings and live full lives.

In Belarus, Star of Hope is running projects, which among other things, aims to children with special needs to integrate into society, they should be able to go to the local school and to live with their parents instead of being placed in institutions. To assist we use occupational therapists, physical therapists and special educators from the Nordic countries that educate and inform health professionals and authorities in Belarus.

Another important part of our work in Belarus is to plead the children's cause, be their voice, and show the local authorities, health professionals and society at large to see these children as human beings with their own value. Thanks to our wholehearted efforts for children in Belarus, we can see that the attitudes and practical approach started to change for the better.

Help in Many Ways

Star of Hope has also provided material support to various institutions, food packages have repeatedly been distributed to families, and children from radiation areas affected by Chernobyl have come to recreational camps in the Nordic countries.