Chernobyl Children In Need - Kids Out Day 2009
The coach with the Belarusian children left Bishopstone to the Cotswold Wild Life Park with Timmy Time the children's entertainer to accompany the children. He spent journey making balloon sculptures for the children to keep them amused. On arrival the children entered the park with their host families and friends and looked in wonderment at animals and birds on display. This was the first visit to a Zoo or wildlife the children have ever experienced and you can only imagine what was going through their minds.
At midday the Wild Life Park had arranged an exclusive feeding time for the penguins for the children. Unfortunally the Penguins did not want to feed and the weather was too hot and they were molting their winter coats! However the keeper showed the children the penguins and with the help of the interpreter explained the children the different types of penguin and their habitats. As I stood with the children I wondered what was going through their minds. They were in such a different country, a different culture, a different language and looking at such strange animals but all of them listened intently with huge smiles on their faces.
Lunch was served at the picnic area each of the children was handed a lunch box, fruit drinks and cakes made by the Rotairians and their Partners. We all noted how grateful they were and all of them said thank you either in Belarusian or English. The entertainer sang and played his guitar to entertain the children while they ate their lunch. He also made what can only be described as balloon sculptures for the children and they all sat patentlely watching him and waiting their turn.
One 13 year old boy is dependent on a wheel chair due to a genetic disorder. He was very shy and when asked of he wanted a balloon hat reluctantly agreed. As we all stood with him watching Timmy make his hat a huge spider we realised he was struggling to smile like the other children. It was not that he was not happy but simply not used to smiling and being treated in such a way. When Timmy finally placed the hat on his head a huge smile spread across his face and he spent the rest of the afternoon proudly wearing his hat with a huge beaming smile.
The coach left the Wild Life Park and traveled back to Bishopstone for the Children's Barbeque and entertainment. . Timmy Time entertained the children for an hour with a magic show which . The Barbeque food was greatly received by all the children particularly the burgers and sausages.
Rotary does make a differnce to the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. These children will not only have a special memory of their day at the Cotswold Wild Life Park but their month visit to England will extend their lives by two years.
