Visitors and Belarusian have access to the country through a modern international airport located approximately 40 miles from downtown Minsk connected by an excellent four lane highway.

The capital city of Minsk, with a population of two million, is constantly expanding its suburbs into the surrounding countryside. Such areas are connected through subway, bus, and trolley. 

 

                                

These seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings are all that is left of Minsk after the invasion of the Nazis in 1941. This three square block area has many shops, restaurants, and other tourist sites.

 Pictured is Independence Square and "The House of Government." This is the Republic of Belarus National Assembly of Representatives, a noted landmark in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

 

                                

Visitors from throughout Europe and Asia enjoy the sites of old and new Minsk. Pictured is a group of Russian University students.

 Independence Square and "The People's Palace" provide a convenient meeting place for social outings in all four seasons.

 

                                

Families are the focal point of Belarusian life as shown by these grandparents enjoying the portable ice skating rink in front of the Palace of Culture. 

 This is a very somber memorial dedicated to the mothers of fallen service members who died in their service during the Soviet Union's Afghanistan War.

 

                                

The American restaurant chain, McDonald's, has been a most successful business venture in Minsk and Belarus. Each facility serves full Western and Belarusian foods serving the needs of all ages. 

 Councilor Elena Sidash (L), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was official host, with translator Professor Olga Nizhivinskaia (R), Minsk State Linguistic University, for the Humanitarian Study-Tour.

 

                                  

Alisjevich Nickolai Ivonovich (R), Chief of the President's Branch of Humanitarian Activities, serves as the clearing house for all humanitarian aid towards children suffering from the lingering effects of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  

 Presentation about the purpose of Dr. Hancock's Humanitarian Study-Tour in Belarus before the Minsk and the Minsk City Rotary Clubs. Included were Rotary District #2230 Governor Wojciech Czyzewski, and Marian Jerzy Korczynski Rotary Foundation Chair.

 

                                   

Rotary International, as a premier worldwide civic organization provides invaluable contacts to support humanitarian projects throughout Belarus. Pictured is Dr. Hancock exchanging club banners with the President of the Minsk Rotary Club. 

 Western styles, goods, and the convenience of a modern indoor shopping center has been added to the social life of central Minsk. Seen are shoppers enjoying an outing to celebrate "Women's Day", the equivalent of Valentine's Day in the United States.   

 

                                  

The Russian Orthodox Church is the center of religious life in Belarus. Other major religions such as Roman Catholic, the Protestant-Baptist, and the Jewish faiths, are all represented. Shown is the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Old Minsk. 

 The future of Belarus lies in the hands of its youth. This special English Language class held at the Minsk State Linguistic University allows advanced high school and university students to learn the world's business language. 

 

                                  

With the disillusionment of the former Soviet Union, private television and musical production studios are available. Ivan Beladubenka (C-L) has led the way in alternative programming.

The welcoming sign for the City of Volozhin, Minsk District, which is the location of two orphanages. The first is the Volozhinsk Public Education Bording School of Orphans and Events Orphanage for Children with Disabilities. 

 

                                  

A meeting with Anatoli Nikolaevich Kulak (R), Head of the Regional Council of Deputies, Volozhin District, in the City Headquarters Building.

 A meeting with Anatoli Nikolaevich Kulak (R), Head of the Regional Council of Deputies, Volozhin District, in the City Headquarters Building.

 

                                  

Main office of the Volozhinsk Public Education Boarding School of Orphans with Nikolai Vasilievich Kalinovskii (R),  Director, and her Director of Educational Work (L).

 A typical dormitory room for girls in the Volozhinsk Public Education Boarding School of Orphans Left Without the Care of Parents. 

 

                                  

A typical dormitory room for boys in the Volozhin Public Education Boarding School of Orphans Left Without the Care of Parents. 

 View of the children in their science laboratory as this orphan's boarding school provides for the educational needs as well as all other material and social support. 

 

                                  

View of the children in their history and social studies classroom as this orphan's boarding school provides for the educational needs as well as all other material and social support. 

 The greatest need identified in this, and all other orphanages was for modern computers, software, and access to the Internet. Shown are computers from the mid-1990s with Windows 95 software. 

 

                                  

View of the children in their traditional arts and crafts classroom as this orphan's boarding school provides for the educational needs as well as all other material and social support. 

 The children are given much attention and care by not only the administration, but also the teachers and staff of the orphanage. Featured is a local grandmother who is an expert in using traditional Belarusian materials to produce the crafts. 

 

                                  

The Evenets Orphanage for Disabled Children is under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. This facility supports approximately 125 children, 70% have physical disabilities with another 30% with both mental and physical handicaps.  

 An active arts and crafts curricula is supported at the Evenets Orphanage for Children with Disabilities. As in the Volozhin facility there is a great emphasis upon traditional crafts using special Belarusian materials. 

 

                                  

Although comfortable and attractive, this 30 plus year old building needs major structural and cosmetic improvements. The gymnasium pictured is used constantly for physical education classes and therapeutic sessions for the children.

 As at the Volozhin facility, Headmistress Elena Sigizmungovna Petrashkevich placed modern computers, software, and Internet connection, as the most needed educational tool for her school. 

 

                                  

An expanded library with Internet research capabilities would be most useful for all classes at the facility. 

 Headmistress Petrashkevich (R) is very popular among her students and joins them for rest and play time when possible. 

 

                                  

A typical classroom scene. Great emphasis is placed upon arts and crafts as education medium for the physically and mentally handicapped children.

 A well functioning mechanical shop is available for the students during class time and off-hours. Professional woodworkers are hired from the community to work with students.

                                  

This water therapy facility is most important for the severely mentally and physically handicapped children. 

 Logoysk, national mountain skiing center, is 36 km from the capital city of Minsk, which includes six slopes.

 

                                 

Pictured is Logoysk, one of three ski resorts around the Minsk region.

 Media interviews for the International Investor television broadcast were made throughout Dr. Hancock's Study-Tour.

 

                                 

Pictured is Chair Marian Jerzy Korczynski (R), District Rotary Foundation Committee (D-2230). Mr. Korczynski is most interested in providing foundation funds for humanitarian and education projects in Belarus. 

 Pictured is Sergey L. Shkred (R), Director of the Regional Industrial Subcontract Software Development Centre hosted at the Minsk Capital Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers.

 

                                 

Dr. Boris Vladimirovich Svetlov (R), Dean of the Institute of Parliamentarism and Entrepreneurship, is a leading private institution for leadership development in Belarus. Professor Luba Zagorskaia (L), Professor of Minsk State Linguistic University and volunteer for "Hope for the Future" as translator.

Dr. Vladimir N. Karyagin (R), President of the Minsk Capital Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers is a leading national figure for leadership education and entrepreneurial development for small-to-medium scale enterprises. He is an active member of the Minsk Rotary Club, and accomplished writer, with worldwide speaking experience.

 

                                 

An important meeting was held with Mr. Valeryan V. Karol (RC), Deputy Minister and Mr. Vyacheslav Shtolko (R), Department for Foreign Relations Head, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, responsible for the Evenets Orphanage for Disabled Children.

Mr. Sergey Kryshtapovich, President and his wife Dr. Alla Narovskaya, Secretary and Art Critic of the International Public Association of Artists and Art Critics, are leading the nurturing of Belarusian artists through benefit art auctions and the sale of original Belarusian art through the Internet.  

 

                                 

Examples of original art by Sergey Kryshtapovich, who is standing in his Minsk art gallery. Mr. Kryshtapovich is working tirelessly to introduce Belarusian art to the European Union and the United States. As an active Rotarian, he is able to reach thousands of leaders around the globe.  

 Pictured is the Deputy Director of "Hope for the Future", a major NGO annually caring for some 2,000 youth victims of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. This organization provides summer youth camps within Belarus and home stays in America, Canada, and 10 European nations. 

 

                                

Pictured are typical university students of Belarus. 

 Scene outside Minsk State Linguistic University. 

 

                                

Mr. Georgi Butrin is the head of the Head of the Department of Social and Educational Work in the Ministry of Education. Mr. Butrin's Department is formally responsible for the orphanage in Volozhin. 

 Inside the main reception hall of the Central Post Office. There are many kiosk, which sell Belarusian souvenirs, postcards, and stamps all promoting the Republic. Adjacent to this hall is an Internet service center.

 

                                

A modern and efficient subway system links the downtown with the major suburbs of Minsk. The new central Minsk train and subway station serves as a shopping and social center along with being a transportation hub.

 

 

                                        

Protestant churches are emerging as a positive social support system for orphanages, children of the Chernobyl disaster, the elderly, and others of special needs in society. Pictured is the Bethlehem Baptist Church, which will have the first governmental sanctioned elderly care facility in the NIS nations. There is much interest amongst the churched to reach out to the greater society.  The people of Belarus are generally friendly, attractive, positive, and well-educated. They care deeply about their nation and the future relations with Europe and the United States. Education is a premium in every household and encouraged for all youth. The Eurasia Center will be proud to collaborate with the organizations, agencies, and people of this most lovely country.