The New Year's charity campaign Our Children will kick off in Belarus on 16 December, BelTA learned.
“Top government officials, heads of state administration bodies, state and other organizations, and public associations are going to visit more than 130 institutions, including children's residential institutions, healthcare organizations, developmental education and rehabilitation centers, educational institutions, and family-type children's homes. The campaign is meant to draw attention to the problems of childhood, provide assistance and support to the least protected categories of children who need special care and attention of the state and society, and also those who have excelled in studies, social, sports and cultural activities. The main goal of the campaign is to reach every child so that everyone could feel the holiday spirit. That is why the campaign is traditionally running for a month,” said Viktor Dovnar, Head of the Directorate for Educational Work and Youth Policy at the Education Ministry of Belarus.
The event will be held for the 29th time, and this year Vitebsk Oblast is taking over the baton. A TV link will connect all the sites in each region. In Minsk, the start to the campaign will be given at the Minsk State Palace of Children and Youth.
The Belarusian Children's Fund will organize a marathon to raise money for medical care of children with heart diseases. Therefore, voluntary donations and transfers, which will be donated by people, enterprises, organizations and public associations, will go to the treatment of children with cardiovascular diseases.
A New Year's charity children’s party at the Palace of the Republic will traditionally become the main event of the campaign. Almost 2,400 children aged 8-14 from all regions of Belarus are invited to attend the event. Another significant event is a New Year Ball for young people at the Palace of Independence. More than 300 students of Belarusian educational institutions are invited to it.
Students will also congratulate the children. Volunteers from Maksim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Pedagogical Universities of Mogilev, Gomel, Brest, Mozyr and other educational institutions will visit children’s healthcare centers, residential schools with festive entertainment programs.
"All adults participating in the campaign will bring sweets and gifts for children. The gifts will include something that will help with the development of the younger generation or medical care for children, something that each particular organization or institution needs," Viktor Dovnar said.
The charity campaign will last until 15 January 2025.