The four day experience was, as expected, an emotional rollercoaster, with thankfully as many highs as lows, which kept the team in good spirits. We were faced with many upsetting scenes and stories, all however resulting in the same reaction – a huge smile of appreciation when it came to shoe box time!

One 13 year old girl we met (Marsha), lived with and looked after her frail and ageing grandmother, who had been able to give her a Christmas present – a ‘2004' diary. Although out of date, Marsha so obviously cherished it with the love it had been given and had brought it with her to meet us - immediately filled it with our autographs - and decorated the cover with stickers she found in her shoe box!

On Christmas Day, we visited a community of handicapped people, whose children were mostly able bodied, but confined to a block of flats, because it was the only place which was wheel chair friendly in the city. This lovely community have a desperate need for simple aids, which would not only give the parents more independence, but release the children for part of their time to pursue ‘child like' activities! (One of the parents was quoted as saying: “at the moment, our children are our hands”.)

Another place we visited was a shelter for children rescued from the streets. Here they were lucky and stayed for anything between 6months – 1 year. Having expected to find teenagers, I was numbed when I saw the age of the faces peeping out of the window waiting for us. The children ranged between just 3 and 11 years old. The youngest, 3 year old Dvovar had been very badly treated by his father. When given his shoe box, Dvovar picked everything out one by one, carefully replacing each item before picking out another. (That particularly struck me at every distribution point – children always carefully replaced each item into their shoe boxes.) Dvovar said a most wonderful universal “Ooooooo” to everything he picked out of the box. He carried the packet of sweets (probably not knowing quite what it was) around all the time we were there - along with a little tiny dog on a key ring that fascinated him when the top of its head lit up. The power ball was kept safely in his pocket, so that he could re-admire everything else. Things came out, things went back in, the lid went on, the lid came off as did the elastic band – on and off numerous times!

One of his “OOOoooooo”s made a carer rush to tell me that, only days before he had cried because he didn't have a toothbrush like the other children. Yes, he had found one in his box and was over the moon – even more so, when he found a second one and in an excited voice had said “now I have two”. Yet again, a simple shoe box had changed a dream into reality!

Meanwhile a 5 year old walked around the room with his sweets, offering one to everyone. This touched me so much. I had heard so often about children sharing in this way - now I was seeing it. Through that simple shoe box gift, he too was enjoying the privilege of giving, as were we!)

Another child later came up to Dvovar (the little 3 year old) as he yet again studied his new possessions. Not only did the older child start shaking his box of Tic Tacs in front of Dvovar, but the next minute, he simply opened the little sweet container and poured half of them into Dvovar's shoe box. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. These children were displaying such huge generosity with so little.

On our last morning we visited one of 7 schools for the blind in Minsk . This was their first day back at school after the Christmas break – what excitement, knowing that their gifts had arrived!

This distribution was very different, because many of the children had to be guided to the contents. Each item was studied and ‘felt' at such an intense level - it was very humbling to see how each possession was appreciated in all its fullness. It was uncanny to find that in the boxes I helped children open at this school, a lot of the items were ‘exaggerated', in a sense which meant they could be felt easily. For example, a small packet which was put back, turned out to be a huge beach ball which my friend Ilia could feel and have fun with.

In the second class room, Jenja, a boy I helped quite a lot, had a box which had in it a back pack which he could feel easily and explore the zipped pockets etc., a largish cuddly toy, an A4 sized note book which he could feel and recognise easily, along with a huge pencil – amongst other things of course. These children spent so long over their boxes, feeling every nook and cranny of the box, and each item so thoroughly.

These are just a few of the precious memories I have of my four day experience. I am left with no doubt in my mind that ……

Each little shoe box is SO precious to that one special child who
receives it.

You can make a difference!

Report by Jane Simmonds

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