In the spring of 2020, Belarus was not unique in the world history of coronavirus infections. The only difference compared to European countries was the absence of a quarantine. This meant that people continued to work, and students and pupils studied as normal. As a result of a number of factors, including the pandemic, unemployment rose, incomes fell, and forced leave and reduced working hours occurred.
During this difficult time, the humanitarian aid provided by Mission Stephanus was a great blessing for many large families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Parents with many children received free clothing and shoes for their rapidly growing children and can use the money saved for food and basic necessities. Pensioners and people with disabilities can also receive medication for chronic illnesses.
Families with five or more children, the oldest of whom are not yet employed and the youngest of whom are of preschool age, often turn to the organization "Otklik" for help. In such families, usually only the father works, while the mother manages the household. There are many such families in the municipality of the capital, Belarus. Their needs extend beyond clothing.
The children from the large families of Leonid and Monika Gazenko (10 children), Nikolai and Natalya Malashuk (15 children), Alexei and Valentina Ignatovets (4 children), Vasily and Nadezhda Gonchar (5 children), and Nickolaus and Olga Malashuk (6 children) were delighted with the bicycles that were donated to them. They can now be much more independent, mobile, and active. The same applies to other household items and furniture.
The Vzdykhanko family received financial assistance as
Alexander became ill due to Corona.
These payments significantly help mothers manage their households and save a small family budget. During this difficult time, there have been cases where the family's sole provider became ill and had to be hospitalized and subsequently undergo rehabilitation. The family was left without its primary income. This happened to Alexander Vzdykhanko. His wife and two young children were very grateful for the financial support from Mission Stephanus. The same is true for the family of Vladimir and Valentina Parfenenko, who care for their 28-year-old disabled son.
These stories are just a small part of the charity work. But the tons of distributed aid worth tens of thousands of euros are little compared to the grateful eyes of a child who can ride their own bicycle, the tears on the cheeks of a mother of many children who is already imagining placing the donated furniture in the children's room, and the reserved words of thanks from a lonely pensioner who receives a package of food.
Please accept, on behalf of the Belarusian people, these humble words of thanks for your work.
Charity organization “Otklik”,
Minsk in Belarus
