Development of the Network Capacity of Family Clubs in Chernobyl Area in order to Improve Social and Economic Situation

The international technical assistance project entitled as “Development of the Network Capacity of Family Clubs in Chernobyl Area in order to Improve Social and Economic Situation”  has been initiated and is being implemented by Green Cross Belarus NGO with the financial support of the European Union. The main European partner of the Project is Padre Nostro Centre (Palermo, Italy).

The Project is planned for 4 years (2014-2018). The Project’s geography covers Bragindistrict, Gomeloblast.

ThemainobjectiveoftheProjectis to create local communities in order to improve social and economic role of small communities in Bragin district as well as to cope with consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

7 Family Clubs have been already opened in Bragin district within the framework of the Project. Their members are engaged in the promotion of healthy living, preservation of historical and cultural traditions, development of entrepreneurship in villages and small towns. Club members organize and participate in various activities such as seminars and workshops, sharing trainings, concerts, festivals and Nights of Arts.

By the end of the initiative, it is planned to organize regular productive work of 8 Family Clubs, which will increase the quality of area residents’ life. 50 participants of the program will become assistants and consultants for local village councils.

The official website of the Project (In Russian and Belarusian)

On March 1, 2017, the first day of spring, the 4th workshop “Family Clubs and Social and Economic Development of the Region” is to begin its work.

On August 11-12, 2016, researchers, specialists in local history and residents of Bragin district gathered for the first time in many years to discuss the history of the district, and to remember how Bragin and other villages and towns looked like 30-50 years ago and even earlier.

June 5-7, almost in a month after the holiday “Bragin Fair” , representatives of Bragin district’s family clubs, Natalya Svyatkina, the project manager, experts, volunteers and representatives of local authorities gathered near Smolevichi to discuss results of the holiday event.

On May 6-9, life in Bragin was full of events. Members of family clubs, the manager, experts and volunteers of the project “Development of the Network Capacity of Family Clubs in Chernobyl Area in order to Improve Social and Economic Situation”, funded by the EU, held meetings, rehearsals and competitions, as well as the final preparations for the feast which took place on May 8-9.

On April 21-24, the manager, employers, experts and invited experts of the project “Development of the Network Capacity of Family Clubs in Chernobyl Area in order to Improve Social and Economic Situation” participated in the organization and implementation of the family clubs’ events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl and also helped to prepare the district’s feast “Bragin Fair”.

On April 13-23, an exhibition of photos “Life Energy. Chernobyl. 30 years” was held at the art gallery “University of Culture” of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts (Palace of the Republic)

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