A shoe box from Selby travelled approximately 6,500 miles to Nastya, who lives in a children's home in the village of Asarevichi , Belarus . Nastya is nine years old, she lives, plays and studies in a drafty, 99 year old, converted church building along with 30 other children including Kardia, her seven year old sister. As we approached with outstretched arms, bearing the gift filled shoe box, the grey tones of her pale skin faded as her sparkling eyes and enormous smile shone through.
Unable to contain her excitement, Nastya opened the box and gazed at the content, overwhelmed and uncertain of what to look at first. She was elated and loved every gift. It was impossible for our interpreters to hold a conversation with her for over half an hour.
Nastya, a budding singer-songwriter, was particularly delighted with her new, coloured, glitter pens - the perfect tools for her next composition. Eager to perform, she asked to speak to Paul, the cameraman on our team. A few minutes later, she had selected an area in which to stage her latest song.
Nastya told us: “Mummy is in hospital, she will be better soon and come and collect us. Daddy is abroad,” she confidently explained. My heart broke. One of the carers revealed that Nastya and Kardia's mother is an alcoholic living in a rehab centre and her father is in prison. Children are not permitted to visit parents in such rehabilitation centres, it would be too disturbing and although parents are welcome to contact their children, they are generally unable to visit.
Nastya and Kardia, in their ill fitting, second hand clothes, represent tens of thousands of children, each one a victim suffering from the actions of others. By delivering a shoebox packed with gifts to Nastya, Operation Christmas Child has opened a window to the little known circumstances of those left with the legacy of Chernobyl .
Rachael Bonfield
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