- Project Restoration's History
- Scenes from Belarus
History of Project Restoration
Late October of 1991 eight people, organized by Campus Crusade, left the Kansas City area on a trip to the Republic of Belarus. This group was about to have one incredible experience as just one month earlier Belarus had declared its independence from the former Soviet Union. What an exciting time in the country!! Ultimately more than 100 persons from the Kansas City area have made their way to the tiny country of Belarus that is about the size of the state of Kansas.
During that trip a seed was planted that eventually grew into the nonprofit
organization named “Project Restoration.” Various people continued
to return and on the third trip for one of them, more than 50 disabled persons
were visited. They were extremely difficult because of seeing the
isolation and loneliness, poverty and despair and, of course, the physical
challenges they were grappling with. Many of these disabled persons did
not have families, but were fortunate enough to have visits by social services
people. However, even though they received care, visits twice a
week were not enough to reduce the sense of isolation. 
Full time commitment began in March 1994 and over the next several years six containers of humanitarian aid were sent to Belarus. Project Restoration was approved by the US State Department to participate in their humanitarian aid shipping program to the newly independent countries. Hundreds of individuals received aid to assist them with the needs of daily living as a result of receiving the product in these containers. Many hospitals received much needed supplies.
In 1996 the first medical trip to Belarus was organized. At that time 20 children, all patients of the Republic Prosthetic and Rehabilitation Center in Minsk were provided prostheses and braces. This was followed by a trip in 1998 when another Project Restoration medical team interacted with Prosthetic Hospital employees and patients, once again providing prostheses and braces.
A commitment was made to follow these children on an ongoing basis so some of the original children were reevaluated during the second trip. At that time, it was determined that the condition of four of them was getting worse. Project Restoration made the decision to bring them to the US for orthopedic evaluation and possible surgeries.
Seven months later, in June 1999, the four...all teenagers... plus a 5 ˝ year old severely disabled orphan were welcomed to the Kansas City area. The arrival of Oleg, Andrei, Lidia, Olga and “Little Olga” was the beginning of a journey that those involved will never forget!
Four years later, four of the five children have been adopted and their lives have literally been changed forever and they now have their “forever families.” The long-term care program has aptly been named the “Circle of Love.”
Another of Project Restoration’s programs began in 1997. Through the “Children of Chernobyl” summer respite program there have been nearly 100 Belarusian children have been invited to the Kansas City area. You will find more information about that program and others as you read through this web site.
There is such high respect for our Belarusian friends who are living and working day by day in very difficult situations. It is hoped that this site will be one more voice among many seeking to inform others of the needs of those affected by the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
Project Restoration wishes to thank
the SCCF for the grant given for the development of this site.
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All content and images copyright ©2003 by Project Restoration International,
Inc.