Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal Children's Charity

Welcome Chernobyl Children Into Your Home

The Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal take children to Ireland for recuperative breaks from their radiation contaminated homeland of Belarus. We take children from institutions and from families living in contaminated areas. While in Ireland the children stay with host families for Two weeks or One month. A month long break in our clean environment with a host family helps to strengthen their immune system. Some children come to Ireland for medical treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How can we go about Hosting Chernobyl Children?
If you would like to host Chernobyl Children in your home, or perhaps to work as a volunteer, you are required to fill out an application form for host families and volunteers. This form may be acquired from Pat Dillon at 090 9673832 or 087 4172307

How does the charity decide if we are suitable to host Chernobyl Children?

A host family co-ordinator from the charity will call to your home. This is not to inspect your home, but to make sure that your home is a welcoming place for children. The type of house you have or what you have in it is not as important as the warmth within it. The co-ordinator will give you a list of guidelines and discuss the practical issues of hosting Chernobyl children. We have to clear all host families with the Health Service Executive and need to check that you have no convictions for crime against children or for any violent crime. The charity has a designated host family officer who deals with any confidential matters. Do not worry or be embarrassed if you have had minor traffic offences etc. as our main worry is the safety & well-being of the children.

Can we host just one child?
No. It is part of our child protection policy that 2 Chernobyl children are placed with host families.
This is helpful if children do not speak English or are lonely as they can speak with each other.
How long do they stay?
The children usually stay with a host family for either a 2 or 4 week period.
Is it expensive to host Chernobyl children?
Becoming a host family should not be an expensive experience. We discourage host families from buying designer wear or expensive gifts for the children or their families. The children are here primarily for rest and recuperation. You may need to buy the children some clothing when they arrive. The air fares are covered by the charity.
Do they speak English?
Most of the children do not speak English, but some may have a little English. We have translators on call 24 hours a day and we also provide translation sheets to assist you in communicating with the children.

Do we have to have children of our own?
No. If you have no children, toys and games may be borrowed to make your home more child friendly. We also have a selection of books and Russian cartoons which you can borrow.
What food do they eat?
Generally the children will eat what you eat. They are particularly fond of fruit. Of course like all children, some may be fussy.
To contact us for more information about hosting Chernobyl children, please click here


Our online donation facility is fully secure where you can make a donation online. You can choose to make a single donation or opt to make donations at regular intervals such as every month. Please click on the link for more information

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