Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal Children's Charity

Chernobyl Children’s Holidays In Ireland - Esker Summer Camp

The Sunflowers bring Belarussian Children from the contaminated areas of Belarus to Ireland every summer for one month. They stay with volunteer host families for two or four weeks. It gives them a chance to breathe clean air, eat good food and drink clean water. This has a very positive effect on their general health, boosting thier immune systems. If you would like to host children, contact Pat Dillon on 087-4172307 for more information

The Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal also takes children from Belarus to stay at Esker Youth Village, Esker, Athenry, Co. Galway with their translators and voluntary workers from the locality.The children have a most memorable month, where they enjoy the excellent care, sleeping and dining facilities and beautiful grounds of Esker Monastery, which includes walks, pitch and putt course, playing fields and games rooms.

The children are facilitated in every way by transport companies, local individuals, hotels, resteraunts and businesses who provide donations, services or goods, dentists, doctors, opticians, gardaí, fire services, civil defence, volunteers and the kind people of Athenry and Co. Galway.

Mayor of Ballinasloe Johnny Walsh meets the children during their visit to Ballinasloe soccer club

The children enjoy a wonderful day out on The Corrib Princess

Grainne McMahon entertains the kids during their visit to Galway's i102 104fm radio station


The annual visit to Athenry Heritage Centre and Athenry Castle is a favourite with the children



The children spend a day at Chanelle Marzouk's pony trekking centre in Claregalway. We thank Chanelle and her mother Carmel, and her staff, Patricia Beckles, Roisin Kenny, Louise Crawford and Sinead Lyons for their kindness.

A most enjoyable Fun Day is held at the Youth Village for the Chernobyl Children, which is attended by the general public and families hosting Chernobyl Children with The Sunflower Chernobyl Appeal volunteers from around counties Galway and Roscommon. The facilities are kindly provided by the Redemptorist Order at Esker Monastery and the dedicated local volunteers look after the Children’s every need. This is a very worthwhile project, as the Children return home refreshed and full of many happy memories

Members of the Connacht rugby team visit Esker every year to play games and hold competitions for the children. We thank Desmond Ryan and all the guys of the team for their kindness

The children who were visiting Esker Youth Village visited Dubarry shoe factory in Ballinasloe where they were fitted out with new shoes and runners. We thank Sean og Hurley and staff for their kindness every year. Pictured are some of the children and their parents, Translator Irina Senook, Doctor Irina Sots, shop manager Declan O'Connell and Sunflowers Director Pat Dillon.

Click on the camera for more photo galleries

The Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal Ltd., Aughrim, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway is a Registered Voluntary Charity No. 16217 and is a charitable company limited by guarantee
Tel: +353 (090) 9673832
Fax: +353 (090) 9673832
Email: info@chernobylchildren.ie

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