Narnia recently played host to a group of children and young people visiting NI from Belarus and Ukraine as part of the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The 21-strong party of children and young people aged to 7-14 years old visited in July during a 3 week recuperative holiday programme organised by the Chernobyl Children Appeal NI (CCANI).

During the group’s trip to Narnia, they participated in mountain biking and arts and crafts activities currently enjoyed by young members of the NICFC Youth Programme.

Speaking on behalf of the NICFC, Chief Executive Gillian Creevy commented:

NICFC are delighted to offer the hand of friendship to the children and young people from CCANI. We welcome the chance to work in partnership with organisations which shares a common purpose to our own. The group may be from a very different culture; however they have experienced life changing circumstances similar to those of the children and young people we support here in NI. By sharing our knowledge and participating in some of our Youth Programme activities, their visit to Narnia and Shimna Valley has made a positive and memorable impression to their trip.

John Duffin, Secretary with CCANI explained what the holiday means to those involved,

During their visit to Northern Ireland, the children will enjoy fresh air, uncontaminated food and clean running water, a luxury when you consider that back home they face a very different reality, as the living conditions are very basic. The constant exposure to background radiation can lead to damaged immune systems so a holiday gives them a break from contamination and they generally return home much healthier. While they are here, they also receive dental checks and visit an optician if needed. As a host family ourselves, my wife Eleanor and I can really appreciate what the trip to Narnia has meant to the children and would like to thank NI Cancer Fund for Children for making it possible. The facilities at Narnia are fantastic and the experience has really added to their overall holiday. It was the first time the kids had seen the mountains and the sea, so it really was a magical day.

Updated on: 26th July, 2011