Belarus by Campervan

18 April 2008 I've been waiting months for this date; I'm leaving for Belarus. A trip for humanitarian purposes in the Gomel region but also a trip to discover the reality in which Ivan and his family live (the child I host). The moments before departure are for me a mix of anxiety, agitation and so much emotion! More than 2,000 km, crossing countries unknown to me. Departure from Desenzano del Garda, a caravan made up of 7 campervans, a van acting as our flagship and 43 people, united by a single great purpose: TO HELP the Belarusian population which, 22 years on and who knows for how many more generations, has to suffer the consequences of the Chernobyl power plant explosion! We go to our campervan, number 6; Roberto and I join our fellow adventurers, load the last things and off we go...

at 10 we finally set off full of enthusiasm, towards something that we don't yet quite know awaits us in 2,500 km. During the day we stop several times to change drivers; managing to sleep is a feat, especially once we reach Poland where the roads aren't the best! Time passes quickly, until on 19 April at 14:30 we arrive at the dreaded Belarusian customs at Brest. We stay put for about eight hours; we have lunch, dinner and deal with the paperwork for entry. At 22:30 we leave customs behind us, very pleased, and continue on towards Gomel. The landscape is always the same, an endless straight road, lined by birch forests, green expanses, uncultivated land; all this gives me a sense of peace, of calm, perhaps too much, perhaps this is already the beginning of the sadness and despair I will feel in the following days.

Arriving in Gomel, what struck me was the grey that seems to dominate everywhere: in the Soviet-era tower blocks, in the clothes of the people, on their faces. Tired from the journey, we finally reach the hotel; after being assigned our rooms, very nice ones, we get ready to take a first walk around Gomel. 21 April: meeting in the campervan square and departure for Petrikov, destination a girls' juvenile correctional facility, where 70 beds are to be assembled, donated by our Association, Garda Solidale. Outside the institute we are given some instructions; the time we can spend there is only 2 hours. The environment is clean, there is a particular, distinctive smell that I will also smell in the following days. The director of the facility takes us into a "classroom", where the girls are doing cross-stitch work.

What strikes me most is the age of the inmates, little more than children, and I wonder what they could ever have done that was so serious to be there! I play table tennis with one of them, we take photos together. Before heading back to the hotel, we visit an orphanage in Gomel; many are orphans, many have a family that cannot take care of them because the State has taken them away from their parents due to alcoholism, which is very widespread. Here too we brought something to the children; they smile at us, many are fearful, I can barely hold back my tears. 22 April: destination Chojniki, to deliver parcels to needy families. On arrival outside the social centre, there are already those who know about our arrival and are waiting for us; we hand out the parcels and go to visit an orphanage and a school.

Here we visit a class made up of children without a family; how much sadness in the eyes of these children; I'm particularly struck by a little boy, Filip, frightened and skinny; I go up to him, hug him and he struggles to raise his gaze; he starts to smile when I begin to tickle him; probably for the first time in his life he is receiving hugs, kisses... We have to leave the classroom; I say goodbye to Filip, I move away from him and he cries. I can't pretend nothing happened, I go back to him... How much sadness inside me, how much pain, why all this!! All this suffering isn't fair for these children, so defenceless! 23 April: today I'm overjoyed, happy; I'm going to Ivan's home, in Chechersk; the whole family is coming to pick me up. I arrive in the hotel lobby and, to my surprise, I see Ivan, mum Natascia and dad Ivan already sitting on the sofa.

A warm hug with all three of them, I can't believe it! In the parents' embrace I feel the gratitude for what I do for their child and their family, but it's I who should be thanking them. This experience of hosting has enriched me deeply, made me grow, and made me discover the true values of life! We visit Chechersk; I'm shown the most significant places, the reality in which Ivan lives every day. Unfortunately, after spending several hours together, it's time for goodbyes; of course there are tears. 24 April: We go to Palessie, a village 3 km from the border with Russia; we are guests of the family of Ivan, another child hosted in Italy; few cars, little asphalt; our "Europe" seems light years away from here, more so than in other villages I've visited. 25 April: Departure for the journey home... Mine is certainly not a goodbye but a see-you-next-year. I took many photos, made videos...

to show others; I don't need photos, videos, everything I experienced, all the emotions I felt are in my heart and will stay there forever. The children, Belarus, its people opened my eyes to something I wasn't seeing. The hospitality of Ivan, like that of so many other children, gives value to their lives but also to that of those who host them!