This article is from page 101 of the 2008-10-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 101 JPG
LAHINCH woman Tessa O’Connor has returned from Belarus with a message of thanks for all the people of north Clare who have contributed to the work of the Burren Chernobyl Project.
Earlier this year she organised a charity sandcastle building compe- tition, with all the money raised go- ing towards works on the Cherven and ‘Tarasiki projects. Tessa has just spent four week in Belarus, working with the people there effected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
“Thanks to everyone who helped with the sandcastle building compe- tition – it wouldn’t be possible to help
the people out there if it wasn’t for people generosity,’ said Tessa.
“We went to the children’s orphan- age in Cherven for awhile and then on to Tirasiki, which is an adult in- stitution. It’s a miserable looking place, all blue and white, and with a very cold, institutionalized feel- ing. We really to give each person a different colour bedroom, and make them feel that they had somewhere of their own. The different colours are great for them, even that simple change helps to bring them out of themselves.”
Tessa has been involved in the Bur- ren Chernobyl Project for a number of years. Indeed, her latest trip was her fourth journey to Belarus.
‘My mum has been involved with the Burren group for a while and I think it was back in 1993 when we started getting children with us dur- ing the summer. We had a child called Sergi over with us from the Cherven orphanage and when they were no longer allowed to come over here, myself and a friend of mine decided to go over and visit them 1n- Stead,” she said.
“There is great satisfaction from being over there. They give you love so willingly. These people out there are in a really bad situation and even if you do something really small for them, the reaction is incredible. It’s gives you a real sense of perspective about your own life.”
For more information or to make
a donation check out Wwww.bur- renchernobyl.ie or contact the of- fice on 065 7071130 or e-mail office @burrenchernobyl.ie