[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               YOUNG AMERICAN STUDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 1996

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
note for my colleagues the charitable work carried out by some of our 
young high school students from Rockland County in my congressional 
district. The Ramapo Children of Chernobyl Fund, founded after the 1986 
Ukranian nuclear reactor explosion at Chernobyl, by Ramapo high school 
teacher Don Cairns, has engaged young people from that school in 
gathering medical supplies for children of Belarus affected by the 
radiation released by that explosion.
  Once again this year, students working through the Ramapo Children of 
Chernobyl Fund participated in a humanitarian relief program for those 
children in Belarus. On April 18, 1996, a delegation of 19 students 
left for a 10 day trip to the Republic of Belarus to act as ambassadors 
of international goodwill and understanding. Upon their arrival in 
Minsk, the American students, led by Don Cairns, were welcomed by the 
Premier of the Republic, Micheslav Gryb, who praised their efforts.
  Through their travel to Belarus, these American students provided not 
only moral support for the children suffering from the effects of the 
1986 Chernobyl explosion, but presented 5 million dollars' worth of 
medical supplies and toys to hospitals and orphanages. To date the 
Ramapo Children of Chernobyl Fund has provided $20 million in such aid 
to Belarus. Part of the assistance delivered on this most recent trip 
was given to the Children's Hospital of the Radiation Medicine Research 
institute in Aksakovtchina, while the rest of the donations were 
distributed to other hospitals in the provinces of Moguilev and Gomel 
where children affected by Chernobyl are undergoing treatment.
  In addition to bringing charitable aid to Belarus, the Ramapo High 
School students also put on musical performances for the children, 
performing a total of 21 times throughout Belarus as they visited nine 
schools, nine hospitals and appeared on national television. They also 
put on a performance for the Belorusian foreign minister, the 
Belorusian Friendship Society, the American Embassy and for the 
Belorusian President, Alexander Lukashenko.
  Mr. Speaker, the Ramapo High School students' charitable efforts in 
Belarus are helping the United States to strengthen its relations with 
the republic of Belarus. And I should note that this most recent trip 
took place at a time when radiation was again being released from the 
contaminated Chernobyl area, this time by fires in the area around the 
nuclear facility. Our young American students decided to continue their 
visit in Belarus, despite that potentially threatening situation. 
Fortunately the delegation safely returned to the United States on May 
1, 1996, with their charitable mission accomplished. Their service 
abroad serves as a model for all young people in our country, and 
demonstrates how young students' efforts can indeed make a difference.
  Mr. Speaker, at this point I would like to insert letters 
representing the good work done by the young students, written by Don 
Cairns, president of the Ramapo Children of Chernobyl Fund; by the 
President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksander Lukashenko; and, by 
Arseny Vanitsky, president of the Belorusian Friendship Society.


                            Ramapo Children of Chernobyl Fund,

                                   Spring Valley, NY, May 15, 1996
     Benjamin Gilman,
     Congress of the United States, Middletown, NY.
       Dear Ben: Enclosed please find some information and 
     pictures from our most recent humanitarian trip to Belarus.
       We are very proud of our 19 member Student Delegation who 
     visited the village of Shklov, the city of Mogliev, the 
     village of Polotsk, the village of Sharkovchina, the World 
     War II Memorial, Khatyn, and the city of Minsk. They worked 
     very hard as they performed a fifties' song and dance routine 
     and hand carried and delivered medicines, supplies, and toys 
     to children in 9 hospitals and 9 schools. They were 
     transported by a Belarus Military bus to visit numerous 
     cathedrals, museums, and other historical points of interest. 
     The students performed 21 times in ten days in the hospitals 
     , in the schools, for the Belarusian Foreign Minister, 
     Vladimir Saenko, for Metropolitan Filoret, for the Belorusian 
     Friendship Society, for the United States Embassy, and for 
     Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko. They were televised 
     three times detailing their achievements.
       This trip was a unique experience for students and adults 
     alike. We stayed in families and made many new friendships. 
     Our group was the first group of Americans to visit the 
     remote village of Shklov and we planted two chestnut trees 
     together with school children in the village of Sharkovchina. 
     Emotions flooded from all who participated and our students 
     vowed to return to see the trees grown.
       The Ramapo Children of Chernobyl Fund has delivered 
     $20,000,000 in supplies since we began our program in 1990. 
     Our students are our best ambassadors. They have truly begun 
     bridges of friendship that will indeed MAKE A DIFFERENCE in 
     their future.
       Thank you for helping us and for your continued support of 
     this very important program of children helping children.
           Sincerely,
     Don Cairns & Pat DeFrancesco.
                                                                    ____

                                                    April 26, 1996
     Mr. Cairns,
     President of the ``Ramapo--Children of Chernobyl Fund''
       The Belarus Society of Friendship and Cultural Affairs with 
     Foreign Countries expresses its deepest gratitude for the 
     tremendous work of ``Ramapo--Children of Chernobyl Fund''. 
     This Fund is helping the victims of Chernobyl nuclear 
     catastrophy.
       Significant help that was presented to the people of 
     Belarus, first of all the children, is priceless with its 
     compassion, nobility and participation.
       The emergency medical supplies played an enormous role in 
     the fight for life of the people of Belarus.
       People of Belarus know and deeply appreciate the role of 
     the Fund, the staff and students of Ramapo, for building 
     relations and mutual understanding between the youth of both 
     countries.
       We hope that in the near future we will continue to work 
     together towards peace and prosperity for mankind.
           Respecfully
     A. Vanitsky.
                                                                    ____

                                                  PRESIDENT OF THE


                                          REPUBLIC OF BELARUS,

                                                   April 29, 1996.
     To the teachers and students of Ramapo Senior High School and 
         to the persons associated with the Fund entitled 
         ``Ramapo--for Children of Chernobyl.''
       Dear Friends: Heartfelt greetings to the teachers and 
     students of Ramapo Senior High School, and also to the 
     leaders and members of ``Ramapo--for Children of Chernobyl'' 
     Fund.
       Your Fund and your great work are well known to the people 
     of Belarus. You became a symbol of amicable relations between 
     our countries.
       The help with medicine and medical supplies from overseas 
     is still extremely important for our republic, although 10 
     years have passed since the catastrophy in Chernobyl. As a 
     consequence of the tragedy many things are being affected. 
     The area where the accident took place is not habitable and 
     people still experience great economic difficulties.
       Even more important to us are the spiritual gifts, you 
     generosity, understanding and solidarity, as well as the 
     program which is based on the wonderful relationship of two 
     growing generations of our countries, USA and Belarus. The 
     mutual understanding of our young people will make the world 
     stronger in the next millennium of its history.
       Dear Mr. Donald Cairns, Patricia De Francesko, members of 
     ``Ramapo--for Children of Chernobyl'', we sincerely 
     appreciate your caring for our children, all victims who have 
     experienced this terrible tragedy. We also thank you for 
     building bridges of friendship between our nations. It is our 
     honor to join with you on this significant occasion, the 10th 
     anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy.
       Accept our words of appreciation which come from the bottom 
     of our hearts for the support and friendship you have 
     extended to us, showing the best qualities of the American 
     people. Belarus will always keep a close relationship with 
     America.
     Aleksander Lukashenko.

                          ____________________