Along with other charities, SAM Chernobyl Relief seeks to get alongside the people of Belarus to encourage and help in any ways we can to make life a bit more bearable for the people we meet. SAM is a Christian Charity seeking to show the love of God in word and action. Our motto is "Encourage one another and build each other up". (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

SAM Annual Report

April 2009 – March 2010

It has been a difficult year for most Charities including SAM due to the credit crisis, but thank God for the wonderful support we are still receiving from our supporters. As Directors we are trying to direct our giving to the most needy situations.

Directors: Remain the same as last year: Rev Colin & Mrs Cindy Mackenzie, Margaret Grainger & Robert Kirk

Hope Centre Grodno:

The Hope Centre is still going well. Over 100 children come a week for short periods. The children are coming on leaps and bounds. They are interacting, making friends, laughing for the first time in many cases. They are able to have a hot meal and parents can not only have some respite for a couple of hours but they can stay and have coffee with other parents and give support to one another along with members of staff. It is wonderful to see what God is doing in this centre. We now have only one member of paid staff and that is Max Sokol the Director, all other staff are now volunteers. We agreed to pay wages for 3 years and we managed to pay staff for 4 years then an American group agreed to take over the centre but unfortunately when the credit crisis hit they pulled out. Please pray for the staff who are still helping without pay but are looking for part time jobs themselves. Profit from the small business we have set up in Grodno is now being paid direct to Max and helps feed the children and pay for the petrol to keep it open.

Blind School Grodno: Our biggest project this year has been raising money to put toilets in the Blind School. It was a huge project which the work team undertook led by Ronnie Cartwright. When I first saw the toilets I was shocked, they were in the worst state you could imagine. You would not have let your animals bathe there! I was told they are blind so it does not matter so much. It does matter and I am glad to say the children now have wonderful facilities thanks to the money given and the work team who went over and did all the work. This is a huge school which services all the blind children in Belarus and much work is still needed.

Chicken's:

It has been a privilege each year to be able to help many people in Belarus and Croatia . This year has been no exception, but one thing we have been learning is: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, give him a rod and you feed him for life. As Directors we prayed and asked God to show us what to do and we all felt it was time to help the Belarusian's to help themselves. So we started simple things like giving families live chickens. This helps to feed the family as well as sell the eggs. As their business grows they hope to sell the meat. Every family has agreed they will give back 10% of their profit to help the Disabled Centre in Grodno . This year we have been able to see the chickens develop, eggs appear and families have benefited from the project. Thank you once again for all the support to buy chickens.

The Orphan House in Minsk:

Pastor Sergie and his wife have 3 of their own children and in this year have adopted 7 other children. The family entered a competition in their town and won ‘best family of the year' award for singing, baking, musical skills and much more. It is wonderful that this pastor with all these children have been recognised as a family - we have never seen such happiness. The children who have been adopted are so grateful to have a home and to be loved and accepted for who they are. It has been one of the most fulfilling projects we have been involved with. A chicken farm has been set up and is helping to support the orphan house. Praise God for His all sufficient help.

Removal Company:

We bought Pastor Pavel in Grodno and his family a removal van several years ago and I am pleased to report this is working very well and again 10% of the profit has been given back to Max the Director at the Hope Centre to help there. It is only a small business in its infancy but we hope it will grow and help this family as Pastor Pavel approaches retirement from the Church. His sons are running the business at present.

Mini Bus:

The red mini bus we gave to Grodno has now been passed on to Minsk . Grodno has been given another bus by Christians somewhere in Europe who wish to remain anonymous. This is a great help for the disabled centre and also we can pass on the other bus so it too can still be used for the Lord.

Marina:

We gave Marina the deposit for a new flat which would have a lift, kitchen and bathroom to suit her needs. We are very grateful to everyone who gave to this project. The idea was she would sell her own flat and use the balance to pay for the new flat. Unfortunately the builders have gone bust and they have lost their deposit. A law suit has been started to try and get their deposit back but it looks unlikely. Please pray for them they are very distressed about the whole thing.

Power 2 Live Motherwell Concert Hall:

On Oct 3 rd we had a wonderful concert. Andrew Polson led the community singing at the start followed by Trinity from Larkhall, One Way from Bellshill, Soul Discretion from Motherwell and By Grace from Wishaw. Ministry in Song & Crystal Clear topped the bill. Alex Gray, Scots Author was our special guest and she gave her testimony. It was a wonderful night with the concert hall ringing out praise to the Lord. Over 600 attended.

Christmas Trip:

We could not go to Belarus this Christmas because visas were refused to the Belarusian's and no one could come and meet us from the plane. We were still able to send money across and the children got their usual Christmas gifts. Times are getting harder and in some ways the door's are shutting a little in Belarus. Please pray for wisdom for the Directors as to the future of SAM.

Christmas Appeal:

We heard about young Andrei whom we have supported for many years (along with Chernobyl Families in Need). He was to have his kidney transplant at last. We launched an emergency appeal and we are pleased to say enough money came in to let him have his surgery. He is doing well but still needs our prayers so that his new kidney will not be rejected. Many thanks to everyone who made it possible may God bless you all.

I think I speak for all the Directors when I say it is a very hard task to keep on going when just over half our usual income is coming in. Like every other charity it is a sign of the times we are living in. However God is good and we are grateful we have been able to help wherever possible the people of Belarus. May God bless you all and we cannot thank you enough for all your continued support to SAM Chernobyl Relief.

Cindy Mackenzie

Chairwoman SAM Chernobyl Relief