Faces of Projects exhibition is on display in Valožyn since June 12. The open-air exhibition gives an account of 29 projects implemented in Belarus with financial support from the European Union. These projects address such crucial environmental, economic and social issues, and environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources, introduction of energy-saving and green technologies, rural development and support to entrepreneurship, aid to children from the Belarusian Children's Hospice, as well as to women survivors of domestic violence, promotion of the European approach to education and science, preservation of the historical and cultural traditions.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr Elgars Ozoliņš, Deputy Head of Operations Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Belarus; Mr Piotr Bibik, Chairperson of the Valožyn District Council of Deputies, as well as the Valožyn without Barriers Project hero Mr Vladimir Potapenko and the photography author Ms Yulia Matskevich.
An ecotrail built in the Naliboki Forest under the Valožyn without Barriers project was opened on the same day. The 1.3 km-long ecotrail is adapted to the needs of people in wheelchairs and weak-sighted people.
A press tour for Belarusian journalists was dedicated to the exhibition and ecotrail opening; there, the journalists had an opportunity to learn about several initiatives of the project on Support to Local Development in the Republic of Belarus implemented by the United Nations Development Project with the financial support from the European Union.
In particular, media representatives visited the Miadovaja Karova ("Honey Cow") tourist and agricultural farm, where an api-house for providing the sleep on beehives health-improving service was built and surrounding area was landscaped with EU support.
Cots for sleeping are set about beehives inside a wooden house. It is believed that even a short sleep with bees restores power and energy better than an 8-hour nightly sleep. The favourable conditions for a healthy sleep there are created by a combination of such factors, as the aromas of wax, honey, pollen and bee glue; microvibration and steady buzz of the bees; the beehive physiological temperature; and air ionization.
No one else provides api-therapy services in Valožyn District; therefore, the sleep on beehives will attract new tourists to the area, the project organizers are positive about that.
Journalists also visited the Za Mastočkam ("Behind the Little Bridge") farm in the village of Zamasciany where a site for watching aquatic and semiaquatic birds in their natural habitat – on the bank of the Sakaŭščyzna Reservoir – was built under the Bird in Focus initiative.
The watching site is expected to become a favourite place for professional and amateur ornithologists who could watch birds through binoculars and field scopes. The place has everything necessary for taking photos.
The watching site is barrier-free; clients of the initiative's partner organization, the Valožyn Territorial Social Services Centre – elderly and disabled people – will be able to join in the new form of recreation.
The press tour participants visited the District Life Safety Centre established in Valožyn School No. 2. The Children's Safety. Innovative Methods of Teaching Health and Safety initiative provided the Centre with Behaviour on Ice, Fire Extinguisher Operation, Calling Rescue Services and Error Room practicing sets. The Centre will be used for teaching emergency behaviour skills to schoolchildren and adults.
