The Chernobyl Children Project USA, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing respite and relief to children whose health has been affected by the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Accident. The Children, ranging in age from 8 to 15, have radiation-related illnesses and come to Boston to live with "host families" for a four week period each July. This is a wonderful opportunity to offer the children a month of fresh air, clean food and water, medical assessments and treatment, and lots of love and fun. Since its inception in 1995, the Project has brought over 750 children to the Boston area. With support from the New England Medical Center Floating Hospital for Children and many other physicians, the Project offers the children a sense of hope to live.

The parishioners of Saint Agatha's have been extremely generous in hosting and supporting these children. Each year approximately 10 children and one or two chaperones are hosted by St. Agatha families that are willing to open their homes and hearts to the children of the Chernobyl Children Project. Many other families assist the project by volunteering their time to drive children to doctor’s appointments, providing backup support to host families, and through donations. It is a wonderful experience for the whole family. As one parishioner put it "being part of the Chernobyl Children Project has been a wonderful experience for our whole family. When we first got involved with the Project we did so to help out the children whose lives have been so devastated by this nuclear accident. However, the Project and the children we have hosted have given us much more than we have given them. They are polite, well-behaved children who love to have fun and are so grateful for the opportunity to spend time in America. Hosting the ‘Chernobyl children’ has been one of the few experiences my children have had that I know will be a lifelong memory for them".

We are now attempting to collect enough money to help defray the cost of the children’s airfare ($1,000 per child) and to assist the host families with the expense of having additional family members for a month. Activities have occurred to help in this regard (e.g. Can & Bottle Drive), but we’re still short of our goal.

If you are interested in becoming a host family or volunteer, or would like additional information about the project, please contact Mary Gallagher at 617-698-2439 or mgallagher@stagathaparish.org.

Chernobyl Information Meeting with Mike Wankum & Patty Doyle
TBA for winter, 2007

Chernobyl Bottle and Can Drive – March, 2007