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You are > Home > Bausch & Lomb employees committed to Vasilivichi vision
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Friday, August 29, 2003
Bausch & Lomb employees committed to Vasilivichi vision
VISION for Vasilivichi, the employee charity of Bausch & Lomb Ireland, which funds the improvement of conditions for orphaned children in a school for blind and visually impaired children, has concluded one of its most successful years to date.
A group of 26 children from the school located in the town of Vasilivichi, one hour from the Chernobyl exclusion zone - one of seven such schools in Belarus has returned home from a three week holiday in Waterford to new bathrooms and other facilities, thanks to the generosity of their friends in Bausch & Lomb. One of the highlights of this holiday was the invitation from Waterford United to the children to attend the game between Waterford and the UCD, says Vision committee member, Paul O’Neill.
And Ger O’Brien, Chairman of Waterford United Football Club, said they were delighted to welcome the children to the RSC: “It was a wonderful sight to see them and their guardians wearing the Blues jersey. They were excellent supporters and created a special atmosphere on the night. They sang and cheered all through the game. I believe they also brought us luck because we equalised with the last kick of the game.
The employees of Bausch & Lomb should be very proud of the support they have given to these children. We look forward to seeing them at the RSC again next summer,” he added. The children were also treated to a trip from Passage East to Waterford by the captain and crew of the Irish Navy ship LE Aoife, says Paul O’Neill. They were also guests at the Waterford greyhound stadium, Waterford Crystal, the city fire station and Waterford Treasures. Once again the people at Waterford Institute of Technology gave their support in organising weekly events in both I.T. training and creative crafts for the children with poor eyesight.
The Vision charity began in 1995 when Bausch & Lomb employees funded the purchase of an ambulance and delivered it to Belarus. They also delivered aid to the school and saw the conditions that prevailed there.
A project was later set-up to use Bausch & Lomb’s expertise as an eye-care company and to tap into the goodwill of employees. Notable successes for Vision have been the provision of summer camp-style holidays for the children in Waterford.
Projects completed have included the refurbishment of three sets of toilets, the provision of spectacles, other optical aids, equipment to help in the education of visually impaired children and Braille machines. Future plans involve the renovation of dormitory toilets by installing showers, drying facilities and new sanitary equipment.
“Funding comes mainly from deductions from employee wages and we also have a significant partner in the World Mercy Fund, who provided a grant for the continuation of our work,” says Paul.
The Fund is expanding their work in the former Soviet Union countries and we are grateful for their help. Last year, their contribution made possible the second stage of the toilet refurbishment. Our main objective each year is to cover the cost of the summer camp because bringing the children to a clean and unpolluted environment extends their life expectancy.
As well as the recreational programme, the visit included the provision of optical and dental care. Many local opticians and dentists volunteered their services to help the children. This year we were very fortunate to have had the support of both Waterford Regional Hospital and of the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
A number of children had their eyes treated, either by laser or - in the case of the Mater Hospital - with eye surgery. As the children live for the rest of the year in an institution, a taste of family life is extremely important while they are here. For this, we ask for volunteer families to take the children into their homes at weekends.
Many relationships have developed between families and are one of the very special aspects of the trip. In this, the eighth year of the camp, the group consisted of 26 children and five adults.
It brought the total number to children to visit Waterford to 250, says Paul O’Neill. The Tramore Chernobyl Holiday Committee once again rowed in with a special day out in Shielbaggan Outdoor Education Centre as well as hosting them on the first weekend of their visit.
The completion of the third set of bathrooms coincided with the holding of this year’s camp. This was the largest single project to date as the bathroom needed a false floor to hide new drainage, a suspended ceiling, replacement of WCs, bidets, washhand basins, new cubicles, tiling, windows and indoor shower facilities which the children will have for the first time. The children returned home after a farewell party hosted by the Tramore Chernobyl Holiday Committee at the Tramore Racecourse.
And as the Vasilivichi committee members start preparing plans for the next camp, we would like to thank all those who supported the camp this year and in the past, says Paul O’Neill.
A very special thanks to all the nurses and doctors at the Waterford Regional and Mater hospitals.
Some people may feel that Vasilivichi is a drab, cold, unforgiving place. In a physical sense, yes but in a human sense Vasilivichi is a happy place and as with children the world over, they are the source of happiness.
The school is lucky to have a strong director and a strong support organisation. There are many places in Belarus where this is not so. Vision for Vasilivichi has provided some dignity in the face of the poverty endemic in Vasilivichi.
The memories the children have of their holiday in Ireland, the provision of basic facilities and the help they have received all served to give a lift of spirits at the school and in the town itself.
In many ways, the story of Vasilivichi is just beginning.
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