The Faces of Projects photo exhibition dedicated to projects implemented in Belarus with financial support from the European Union opened in Svietlahorsk on July 18.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ms. Natalia Stasevich, Project Coordinator of the Delegation of the European Union to Belarus, Mr. Konstantin Petrovsky, Deputy Chairperson of Svietlahorsk District Executive Committee, Ms. Yulia Matskevich, the project author and photo artist, representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, project heroes and the town community.
In her opening speech, Ms. Natalia Stasevich drew attention to the wide geographic scope of the European Union's projects and programmes covering the entire Belarus from its capital city to small towns. "Ecology, local and regional development, healthcare, healthy lifestyle, energy saving, education, culture and social engagement are the thematic directions that the European Union supports and for which it provides technical and financial assistance to Belarus. Still, the key in any project/programme, regardless of the scope of financing, are proactive people who can assume responsibility and improve the life of their town and country. The exhibition is dedicated to such people, our fellow countrymen and it presents true stories told by Belarusians, and mostly for Belarusians".
Ms. Olga Atroschenko, Project Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme, mentioned that the multi-year cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union in Belarusian regions allowed implementing a large number of fascinating projects supporting more than two hundred local initiatives. "It goes without saying that financial, statistical and other data are highly important for our work in terms of activity planning and more efficient investing, but the faces of such people as the exhibition heroes, whose lives have changed for the better owing to the assistance, speak about achievements as much as the numbers, and they penetrate the heart".
Mr. Oleg Dubovik, manager of the Project "Preventing Non-communicable Diseases, Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle and Support to Modernization of the Health System in Belarus (BELMED)" mentioned in his speech that teenager-friendly medical centres will open in Belarus with a special focus on regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
Ms. Anastasia Borbut ("Development of a Pilot Project to Protect the Rights of Children with Severe Disabilities and Terminal Conditions in Belarus") said that owing to the project families, that raise children suffering from serious incurable diseases, from Minsk, Homieĺ and Hrodna voblasts will get support from qualified staff of the Belarusian Children's Hospice. Hot line +375 17 503 57 23 is in operation already; an online forum for parents will be set up.
Ms. Yulia Matskevich, the photo artist, said that she has been working under the project for the third season with great interest. During that time, she has travelled many thousand kilometres throughout Belarus to take pictures of about 100 heroes. "They are amazing people, their proactive stance has made a great impact on me. I believe that I have come more integral and responsible during the project".
After the exhibition opening ceremony, two working meetings of the Delegation of the European Union to Belarus and UNDP were held with representatives of the district executive committee, departments of health, sports, culture, environment and non-governmental organizations. They discussed issues of further cooperation, participation in projects and programmes.
The projects displayed at the exhibition will be available for public viewing before and on July 30.
