Witney Rotary Club supporting WOVA

The Rotary Club of Witney has for a number of years supported the work of  WOVA (West Oxfordshire Vetka Association), a small local charity based in Witney which works in the district of Vetka in the Gomel Oblast of Belarus.

The town of Vetka and the surrounding countryside was heavily contaminated after the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster of 1986 and remains to this day a place where large areas of farmland and forest in the district remain contaminated.

Since 2001 the charity has worked in the area setting up sustainable income projects for families and supporting the local hospitals and schools.

Reporting on the charities work Nigel Roberts, WOVA Director and Chairman of Trustees, describes how funds are being used "Our current project is the full refurbishment of the Children's Correction and Rehabilitation Centre in Vetka. This resource supports children and young people with profound mental and physical disabilities living in Vetka District. It also supports and develops others across the full range of the special educational needs spectrum.

So far, WOVA's investment has delivered a new and fully equipped sensory room, as well as general works of repair and a fully fitted kitchen to enable hot food and drink to be prepared on site for the children and their families.

Sadly much remains to be done. More than half of the building is derelict and in need of significant building works as well as total refurbishment.

WOVA is committed to seeing the project through to conclusion and later this year, a further donation will be made to the local authorities in Vetka, who have agreed to make match-funding available. The hard work is about to begin ..."

The Rotary Club has also made Bursary grants to young people who have visited local schools in Vetka and the Children's Centre, passing on their skills in the field of education.

Close monitoring of the projects, both from the UK and on the ground in Belarus, ensures that best use is made of the grants awarded. The Trustees, one of whom is a club member, retain overall financial control at all times and are able to ensure that the greatest value for the financial support is gained.

Read More about WOVA