"Not only has this festival given me a chance to express myself – I’ve met other school students from Russia and Ukraine. Besides, we’ve learnt a lot of new things during the preparation period – much more than at an ordinary lesson", says Artiom Savchenko, participant of the festival "Chernobyl: 20 Years of Life". 
Artiom Savchenko, 17, is a graduating high school student. Well trained in the Internet technologies, he is already capable of developing his own websites, and he plans to study computing in college. Artiom’s promo site on the Chernobyl-related problems has ranked third at the International Computer Skills Competition that was held recently in his native Dobrush, a town which stands at the juncture of three countries – Belarus, Ukraine and Russia – next to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Artiom is a bit disappointed to have finished off the top, and he is determined to make another attempt to win next year. “I’ve collected too much information about the Chernobyl accident. I should have better focused on the best practices to ensure safe living in our area,” says Artiom. The Chernobyl meltdown had led to radioactive contamination of 23 percent of the Belarusian territory, home to about 20 percent of the Belarusian population. Many had to leave their homes. The most affected areas became unarable, which in tern had a negative impact on the economy and cost the region a good deal of jobs. However, people are still living and working in less contaminated areas. What is at this point vitally needed for the residents of the contaminated districts in the provinces of Gomel, Mogilev, and Brest is advice on safe living in such areas, ways to overcome the radiophobia and “radiation mentality”, as well as essential professional skills. The NGO Hope for Children, supported by the Office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has been disseminating new information technologies to this end in the region for 3 years now.  This year, the NGO and their counterparts from other countries have held an international computer skills festival – Chernobyl: 20 Years of Life. The festival has brought together school students and teachers from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. The organizers have aimed to reinvigorate public interest in the long-term aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster and put the problem in the perspective of children’s creativity. The World Bank has contributed with a USD 5,000 grant as part of a co-financing effort.
In February 2006, at a training seminar in Dobrush, young people learnt how to make digital photos, computer-aided presentations, interactive banners, and promo websites. Those interested in writing practiced basic essay skills. Then the children prepared their works in chosen areas, and their teachers competed in presenting educational projects. 
In April, an adult jury shortlisted 50 participants, and in May 19 – 21, in Dobrush, the participants chose the winners. All works were exhibited in the local high school. The children displayed their works and described the working process. The awards ceremony was held in the town’s central square. It reached a climax when everybody threw balloons up in the air as a symbol of hope and made a wish, thinking of a better future despite the Chernobyl tragedy. The best works by the finalists have come out in a separate brochure with an enclosed disk featuring their computer creativity. An exhibition of digital photos named For me Chernobyl is … has traveled to Dobrush, Minsk, and Novozybkov (Russia). The organizers hope that this festival will be held yearly. “Not only has this festival given me a chance to express myself – I’ve met other school students from Russia and Ukraine. We’ve exchanged addresses, so we can now become pen friends. Besides, we’ve learnt a lot of new things during the preparation period – much more than at an ordinary lesson,” says Artiom. He spends hours in the school Internet club, and he believes that the future belongs to new technologies. A case in point: many in his small town of 20 thousand people already have computers and high speed Internet. More stories |
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