Our volunteers are truly the life-blood of Chernobyl Children International, and have been for 20 years.
We are fortunate to be able to call upon the services of thousands of volunteers who are committed to the aims and objectives of the organisation and who work tirelessly on behalf of the children of Chernobyl. They have risen to the cry for help and give their time, effort and skills, but they also give their love. They are the backbone of CCI. They give helping hands as host families, doctors, nurses, builders, care and general assistants, chefs, drivers and fundraisers. Without them, we would not have achieved so much.
The three programmes that rely most heavily on volunteer involvement are:
- Medical Programme: Doctors, nurses, surgeons and dentists offer their time and talents to provide medical treatments and hospice care to the children of Chernobyl. Their efforts have saved the lives of thousands of children and reduced the pain and suffering of thousands more.
- Building and Construction Programme: Skilled electricians, builders and carpenters put their talents to work in building, refurbishing and renovating much-needed institutions, such as day-care centres, medical centres and asylums, and foster homes known as “Homes of Hope.” These volunteers put a safe roof over the heads of some of Belarus’s most vulnerable children and families, improving their health, sanitation, and comfort levels.
- Rest and Recuperation Programme: Families across Ireland open their homes and their hearts to more than 1,000 children affected by the Chernobyl disaster, giving them a chance to recover from the ravages of the toxic environment in which they are forced to live. Volunteers from Ireland and America also travel to Belarus each year to help run in-country rest and recuperation camps for children too ill to travel to Ireland.
We also maintain Volunteer Outreach Groups located throughout Ireland and in Northern Ireland that are dedicated to year-round fundraising activities. Our Outreach Groups organise and support a wide range of activities—from car washes to marathons to casino nights and so much more. Though hard work and creativity, our Volunteer Outreach Groups have helped CCI raise millions of Euros to fund much-needed programmes.
If you would like to join CCI as a volunteer, please email us at info@chernobyl-international.com. To find out more about the many ways you can contribute, visit the Get Involved section of our website.