Do you like gifts? Who doesn't, you would say. Yet, making gifts is probably even better than receiving them. It is really gratifying to surprise your loved ones and friends with nice gifts they really wanted, thus putting a smile on their faces. The New Year and Christmas period in Belarus turns into a marathon of good deeds. We have already told you about the national charity campaign Our Children. Over three decades, it has become an integral part of the government’s social policy. This episode of BelTA’s YouTube project “After the Fact: Lukashenko’s Decisions” will tell you about another important initiative of the Belarusian president. How many pensioners and long-livers are there in Belarus and why does Aleksandr Lukashenko call them the pillars of the country? How did the head of state once witness a love story and what stereotypes are destroyed by care homes?
How did a new tradition emerge in Belarus?
Two years ago, Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested holding a New Year's charity campaign for the elderly. The head of state has paid much attention to this population group from the very beginning of his presidency and has repeatedly visited nursing homes for the elderly during winter holidays. Now, in the wake of this initiative, the elderly will get thousands of visitors. The From Heart to Heart campaign is a kind of spin-off of the national charity project Our Children, and is symbolic in its own way - first we visit children, and then children pay visits to our elderly.
"We should visit lonely old people today. Some of them were abandoned by their children. And these children are not necessarily poor. These are old people. We will all grow old, even you. Therefore, the elderly should not be left behind. And I would like the Our Children campaign to go on till New Year (or better yet, even longer). We also plan to visit our old people and bring them gifts, wish them Happy New Year and Merry Christmas,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a charity event as part of the Our Children campaign on 29 December 2022.
What is the purpose of the From Heart to Heart campaign?
The campaign focuses on lonely elderly people, and there are more than 120,000 of them in our country. These people have no family members to take care of them, thus they have to rely on social services. They live at home, or in care facilities, nursing hospitals, hospices, in a caring and compassionate environment. The campaign also covers long-livers - people of ‘golden age’. By the way, more than 40,000 Belarusians have already celebrated their 90th birthday, and 600 people have crossed the centennial mark.
Labor veterans are not left behind either - there are almost two million of them in Belarus. These people rebuilt our country in the post-war period, and today they enjoy a well-deserved rest. They are an example of how to live and work, they left a legacy the country is very proud of today.
Last time, the From Heart to Heart campaign covered about 330,000 people. This year the number of people has increased.
"A government is assessed based on how it treats the elderly and children. If a government does not care about the elderly and children, who needs such a government? We have a good, kind tradition to visit children and the elderly on these days. That is why I am very glad that, despite problems and challenges, you live on, you are in a good mood. And I would even say that you manage to be happy," Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he visited the Nikolayevshchina nursing home for war and labor veterans and the disabled in the run-up to 2017.
What do Belarusian long-livers dream about?
In Belarus, there are about 100 nursing hospitals where patients undergo rehabilitation, and almost 70 social service centers with round-the-clock facilities. There are 80 care homes, and people living there get all the attention they need, they live an active life, take part in cultural events. We visited one of such facilities.
Aleksandr Lukashenko visited it in January 2013. Back then he was greeted by one of the residents of the facility, World War II veteran Lyudmila Pevneva. She has recently celebrated her centenary and is in good spirits!
"The president arrived and approached me. I gave him a bouquet of flowers and said: "You are not only the President, you are an epitome of a Human Being. I borrowed this phrase from one of Tolstoy’s books. And I congratulated him in both ways. Maybe he remembers it," Lyudmila Pevneva, a resident of Minsk Care Home ISTOK, said.
On New Year's Eve, you want to make as many wishes as possible. In any case, we always have something to choose from. And what do those who have already crossed the centenary anniversary think about at this magical moment? Better health for themselves, and peace for the country.
"What can I wish? Better health. I wake up in the morning and I am glad that I am alive. I get up, tidy up and slowly walk to the dining room. Slowly, but on my own. When I enter the dining room and see all my people, it makes me happy. This is worth a lot – to be able to walk at such an age. The first thing I would wish for Belarusians and the whole world is peace. I know from my own experience what war is. People should live, enjoy their lives, war is never necessary. We must live in harmony, we must live well. Our life is so short and flies by fast. Things will get better, everything will be fine, we just need peace," she long-liver said.
Minsk Care Home ISTOK has quite a remarkable history. Until recently, it was the national care home for war and labor veterans. It was established in the 1970s under the patronage of Piotr Masherov for people who made a big contribution to building our country. Similar facilities opened in all the Soviet republics in those years, but after the collapse of the USSR, only one remained in the entire post-Soviet space – and it was in Belarus.
How do residents of nursing homes live and what stereotypes do they destroy?
Back then, in line with a tradition, the president studied the living conditions in the nursing home, inspected the gym, swimming pool, living rooms, library, and a museum dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. The veterans invited Aleksandr Lukashenko to have tea. They prepared an entertainment program for the high guest: they sang songs, recited poems, and shared stories from life.
How did a new tradition emerge in Belarus?
Two years ago, Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested holding a New Year's charity campaign for the elderly. The head of state has paid much attention to this population group from the very beginning of his presidency and has repeatedly visited nursing homes for the elderly during winter holidays. Now, in the wake of this initiative, the elderly will get thousands of visitors. The From Heart to Heart campaign is a kind of spin-off of the national charity project Our Children, and is symbolic in its own way - first we visit children, and then children pay visits to our elderly.
"We should visit lonely old people today. Some of them were abandoned by their children. And these children are not necessarily poor. These are old people. We will all grow old, even you. Therefore, the elderly should not be left behind. And I would like the Our Children campaign to go on till New Year (or better yet, even longer). We also plan to visit our old people and bring them gifts, wish them Happy New Year and Merry Christmas,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a charity event as part of the Our Children campaign on 29 December 2022.
What is the purpose of the From Heart to Heart campaign?
The campaign focuses on lonely elderly people, and there are more than 120,000 of them in our country. These people have no family members to take care of them, thus they have to rely on social services. They live at home, or in care facilities, nursing hospitals, hospices, in a caring and compassionate environment. The campaign also covers long-livers - people of ‘golden age’. By the way, more than 40,000 Belarusians have already celebrated their 90th birthday, and 600 people have crossed the centennial mark.
Labor veterans are not left behind either - there are almost two million of them in Belarus. These people rebuilt our country in the post-war period, and today they enjoy a well-deserved rest. They are an example of how to live and work, they left a legacy the country is very proud of today.
Last time, the From Heart to Heart campaign covered about 330,000 people. This year the number of people has increased.
"A government is assessed based on how it treats the elderly and children. If a government does not care about the elderly and children, who needs such a government? We have a good, kind tradition to visit children and the elderly on these days. That is why I am very glad that, despite problems and challenges, you live on, you are in a good mood. And I would even say that you manage to be happy," Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he visited the Nikolayevshchina nursing home for war and labor veterans and the disabled in the run-up to 2017.
What do Belarusian long-livers dream about?
In Belarus, there are about 100 nursing hospitals where patients undergo rehabilitation, and almost 70 social service centers with round-the-clock facilities. There are 80 care homes, and people living there get all the attention they need, they live an active life, take part in cultural events. We visited one of such facilities.
Aleksandr Lukashenko visited it in January 2013. Back then he was greeted by one of the residents of the facility, World War II veteran Lyudmila Pevneva. She has recently celebrated her centenary and is in good spirits!
"The president arrived and approached me. I gave him a bouquet of flowers and said: "You are not only the President, you are an epitome of a Human Being. I borrowed this phrase from one of Tolstoy’s books. And I congratulated him in both ways. Maybe he remembers it," Lyudmila Pevneva, a resident of Minsk Care Home ISTOK, said.
On New Year's Eve, you want to make as many wishes as possible. In any case, we always have something to choose from. And what do those who have already crossed the centenary anniversary think about at this magical moment? Better health for themselves, and peace for the country.
"What can I wish? Better health. I wake up in the morning and I am glad that I am alive. I get up, tidy up and slowly walk to the dining room. Slowly, but on my own. When I enter the dining room and see all my people, it makes me happy. This is worth a lot – to be able to walk at such an age. The first thing I would wish for Belarusians and the whole world is peace. I know from my own experience what war is. People should live, enjoy their lives, war is never necessary. We must live in harmony, we must live well. Our life is so short and flies by fast. Things will get better, everything will be fine, we just need peace," she long-liver said.
Minsk Care Home ISTOK has quite a remarkable history. Until recently, it was the national care home for war and labor veterans. It was established in the 1970s under the patronage of Piotr Masherov for people who made a big contribution to building our country. Similar facilities opened in all the Soviet republics in those years, but after the collapse of the USSR, only one remained in the entire post-Soviet space – and it was in Belarus.
"Of course, we will share everything we have with our children and the elderly, and you see it. I always insist that on holidays when everyone is having fun... And not everyone can enjoy themselves. Not everyone has children. And if they do, not all children can support the elderly. Not every child has parents. And thousands of children were abandoned by their parents. But we are always by their side. No child, no elderly person is left behind. We take good care of old people, knowing that we will also grow old. You bear the memory, are a stronghold, a prop, including for my policy. Therefore, I want you to live on and remain a living and breathing example of how to find purpose in life and how to appreciate this life," Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he visited the facility in January 2013.
How do residents of nursing homes live and what stereotypes do they destroy?
Back then, in line with a tradition, the president studied the living conditions in the nursing home, inspected the gym, swimming pool, living rooms, library, and a museum dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. The veterans invited Aleksandr Lukashenko to have tea. They prepared an entertainment program for the high guest: they sang songs, recited poems, and shared stories from life.
“This place defies the stereotypes that a care home is a place which meets only physiological needs (i.e. to sleep, drink, and eat). Our care home provides social rehabilitation, medical rehabilitation, and leisure activities. The ISTOK staff does its best to ensure that the elderly do not just receive assistance with daily activities, but also help enhance residents’ lives,” Director of Minsk Care Home ISTOK Yuliya Mitko said.
According to her, an important thing for care homes is cooperation with the Belarusian Orthodox Church. “This spiritual support of the priesthood is of great importance for us, because where there is a lot of pain... The pain is present in such care homes, unfortunately. People who stay here, as a rule, have chronic diseases, mental health problems. In this sense, the priesthood helps a lot not only to the residents of the care homes, but also to the care staff,” Yuliya Mitko said.
Zoya Mikhailyuk is a physics teacher with 44 years of experience. She moved to the care home after her husband died and has been living here for a year and a half. The couple had lived together for 60 years, and after the tragedy Zoya spent almost a year recovering. She thought she was left alone, but it turned out otherwise.
“I feel much more comfortable here than at home alone. Here I have no worries at all. Everything is done for me here: I get food, have place to rest, and everything else. I even have Nordic poles. Every day I walk with my poles. I have made friends here. There is always someone to talk to, to share your joys and sorrows. We celebrated holidays here, danced around a Christmas tree and got gifts. Everything here is like people’s usual life,” the resident of Minsk Care Home ISTOK said.
Nina Silvanovich is officially a long-lived person. Almost a year ago she mark her 90th birthday.
“Since I moved here, I have felt so good. We sang songs, walked through the forest, took pictures. I am very happy here: the food is very good, the staff is helpful. We have our own artists. I thought I'd sing there too. I used to sing the songs of Kadysheva, Tolkunova and Zykina. The only thing that disappoints me today is my voice. It is failing me. I hope I will get it back,” Nina Silvanovich said and performed a part of the song My Village.
“Bravo!” the director of the care home praised her.
“Well, the voice is not very good,” she replied.
“You are a star! Your eyes are shining!” Yuliya Mitko said.
“We still face stereotypes that a care home is a place where elderly parents are sent by their indifferent relatives. Many care home residents themselves are embarrassed to admit it. Even those who are completely alone are ashamed for some subjective reasons to be in such an institution. There is a ray of light, however. Today we have a certain layer of elderly citizens and their children who realize that staying in such institutions, receiving 24/7 medical support, having four hot meals a day, getting various social, medical and leisure services is a very good thing. It is unlikely that a person can get such support and care while staying at home alone,” the director of the care home said.
Visiting care homes, Aleksandr Lukashenko always ask how veterans live, what they do, what problems they have. People in care homes lead an ordinary life - they attend hobby groups, follow the events in the world and in the country as well as the decisions the president make.
Among the residents of care homes there are always people of different professions. Someone built a nuclear power plant, someone was a pilot, or an accountant. Heartwarming memories, songs of youth, tears in the eyes, and words of gratitude have always been a part of meetings with the head of state, which, for sure, everyone would remember for a lifetime.
Topics to discuss are always different - from politics, assessment of the situation in the country to personal revelations. All these people know well the price of peace, as many of them have gone through the war, famine and devastation. That is why they are so grateful for a peaceful life, a peaceful old age and the efforts that are made at the state level to support the elderly.
Why is From Heart to Heart campaign not only about the support of the elderly?
Heads of government bodies and MPs, trade unions and public associations take part in From Heart to Heart nationwide campaign. As they say, young and old alike. All educational institutions run volunteer movements that unite more than 70,000 schoolchildren and students. Young people visit veterans' homes, help with cleaning, buy necessary things and products, decorate Christmas trees and help get into a Christmas spirit.
There are also so-called Silver Volunteers. These are just-retired professionals who help older people. Over the past year their number at territorial centers of social services has increased by 30%. Silver Volunteers provide patronage and social assistance, moral support, and share professional skills throughout the year.
“In fact, I am greatly impressed and surprised. It is worth a lot when such kind initiatives related to the elderly come from the president, and we talk From Heart to Heart at the national level. This is a campaign initiated by the president. It is worth a lot. It is a great help and protection for all care homes of the country. It is a moral support for all elderly people, because these are usually veterans of labor, who have devoted their labor activity to the state. When the state supports them and takes care of them, it inspires hope and often reassures that life is not lived in vain. This is good support for social welfare workers, because we see that our officials, the government do not turn their backs on our problems. Today about 40,000 people work in social welfare helping people in need. This is in fact a small army of rescuers,” Yuliya Mitko said.
The Christmas ball has become a traditional part of the campaign. This event is very popular with older people. Balls are held at different locations - in palaces of culture or even in historical and memorial complexes.
The most important thing however is that at care homes elderly people not only make new acquaintances and friends, but also find their love and create families. The president was a witness to such a love story.
When the head of state paid a visit to the care home ahead of 2017, the two care home residents told him they were going to get married. Aleksandr Lukashenko promised to support the event.
People are the most important resource for any country. As the president once said, economy is worth something only if it is done for the people. Otherwise, there is no need for such an economy, and there is no need for such a state.
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