b>At the invitation of the Belarusian head of state, 80 children from Syria aged between 8-14 came to Belarus for recuperation holidays. 40 kids stayed at the national educational and health center Zubryonok and others were hosted by the Rodnichok summer camp in Minsk Oblast. BelTA reporters went to Volozhin District to learn how Syrian children spent their vacations in Belarus and what memories they will take home with them.
The Rodnichok summer camp is located 45km away from the Minsk city ring road in the village of Borok. Surrounded by the forest, the camp is a good place to enjoy fresh air and the Belarusian nature.
Special attention was given to children's health: every child passed medical examinations and procedures. The kids spent much time on socializing, games, arts, sports and many other activities.
The Syrian children got acquainted with Belarus: they visited the castles in Mir and Nesvizh, went to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha national park. “I really enjoyed the nature, the new places that we visited, the events and festivals that have been arranged for us. We were surprised at the temperature swings: when we arrived it was hot, and then all of a sudden it became cold. We have very different weather in Syria,” said one of the Syrian kids.
According to Al-Fares Molham, one of the accompanying persons, the children really enjoyed their stay in Belarus. “After the things they saw during the war, they were very happy to be here. For them it is the first trip abroad: new places, unusual nature, weather, food. They were happy to receive such a warm welcome in your country. We did some notes for the kids with the Arabic words translated into Russian so that they could communicate with Belarusian children. Now they can say, almost without an accent, Privet, Kak Dela? and some other phrases in Russian. When they wrote their wishes on special peices of paper, it turned out that everyone dreams to return to Belarus someday. Many would like to continue their studies after high school here,” he said.
Songs, dances, exchange of going-away gifts and the feeling of light sadness – that was the atmosphere in the camp in the morning.
The closing ceremony was attended by Syrian Social Affairs and Labor Minister Rima al-Qadiri. She thanked everyone for the care and attention to the Syrian children. “These memories and emotions will help them overcome the difficulties they are to come across at home,” the minister said.
On the last day of the international day the Syrian and Belarusian children planted the Alley of Peace and Friendship. “Our children do not know Arabic, the Syrian children do not speak Russian or Belarusian, but the language of friendship does not need a translation,” Belarusian Communications and Informatization Minister Sergei Popkov said.
Education Minister Igor Karpenko noted that Belarus welcomes children for recuperation holidays from different countries. “We have so far hosted children from Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland,” he said.
Over the two weeks the Syrian children made friends with Belarusian kids, got familiar with the Belarusian culture, had a great time and relaxed. We hope the Syrian children will have warm memories of the time they spent in Belarus.
Valeriya Gavrilova,
Photo by Gennady Zhinkov,
BelTA.
