ZHODINO, 28 December (BelTA) – Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko visited the family-type children's home of Margarita and Yuri Galinovskys in Zhodino as part of the New Year Eve's charity event Our Children on 28 December, BelTA has learned.
"Our country has been running the children's charity campaign for about 25 years. Government officials, heads of organizations, banks, enterprises visit children who especially need care and attention – children's care schools, family-type homes, guardian families, hospitals, in order to share with them kindness, warmth and attention during the New Year holidays," said Roman Golovchenko.
The situation with children, who, for various reasons, have been left without parental care, is gradually improving in the country. "Traditional children's homes are closing down. They used to be a common practice in the past. Every year, more children are moving out from orphanages to more family-type institutions, such as family-type children's homes. For example, in Zhodino alone there are three such homes. The government children's home has closed down, because almost all the children have been placed in families where they can live in conditions close to real families," the prime minister said. “There is also a trend when children eventually return to their biological families."
According to Roman Golovchenko, about 1 million children across the country will participate in Our Children campaign. “These are toys, presents, Ded Moroz and Snow Maiden. This is very important. Some Br3.5 million will be spent to buy some necessary equipment, make repairs, buy some things necessary for children. In general, the state creates good conditions for the development of family-type children's homes,” the head of government said.
Roman Golovchenko spoke to the children near the Christmas tree and at the tea party. He gave the children sweet gifts, a computer and a multifunction printer.
The children presented the prime minister with a handmade New Year picture.
During his working trip to Zhodino, Roman Golovchenko also visited the Belarusian Automobile Plant and took part in an operational meeting.
The Our Children charity project will be running in Belarus from 14 December 2021 till 14 January 2022. Every year, heads of ministries and other government agencies, local authorities, representatives of public associations visit children's care homes and family-type homes, foster families, families raising disabled children, correctional and rehabilitation facilities, hospitals. During the campaign, they wish children a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas, give gifts, help address their issues.
Photos by Oksana Manchuk
