Sponsored by CCF and the Belarusian Youth Organization of Mozyr, we are planning to do a makeover on the home of Natasha Mitskevich and her elderly grandma.

"Dom," the Russian for "home," conjures up images of the aroma of fresh-baked dark bread, a toasty warm fire, and thick goose-down quilts for those cold Belarusian winters. Not so at Natasha Mitskevich's dom, which she shares with her frail grandma. Living in abject poverty, their tiny flat is in disrepair, suffering from years of filth and infestations. Every child deserves a clean, safe, and secure home. Let's turn Natasha's dom into a warm and welcoming place, so she can invite her "druziya"--friends--over for sleepovers!

Pictured is a view of Mozyr and a typical "dom," a Soviet-style building consisting of dozens of flats. Situated on the Pripyat River, Mozyr is surrounded by rolling hills. Prior to the Chernobyl accident, Mozyr and environs were called "The Switzerland of Belarus." Today, this region’s inhabitants struggle with widespread contamination, a poor economy, and compromised health care. Often, those who suffer the most are the children. Our project gives them hope for a better future.

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