On 23 September the town of Rahachou (the Homiel Region) hosted the official inauguration of the local initiative “Make a step towards art!” implemented within the framework of the UN project “Development of International Chernobyl Research and Information Network (ICRIN)”. With the opening of the exhibition hall in the town center (50, Lenin street) the dream of many artists of the district has come true.

– There are many talented people in the Rahachou region, – said Antonius Broek, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus. – Once such writers as Vladimir Karatkevich and Andrey Makajonak were inspired by this place. I do hope that the exhibition hall will contribute to further development of talents and capacities of the Rahachou residents.

Prior to the opening of the exhibition hall, the Division of Culture of the Rahachou District Executive Committee with support from the ICRIN project organized a contest for the best souvenir. Dozens of craftsmen presented their works to the exacting jury. The winners were among the first exhibitors in the hall. Diplomas and prizes were presented to the winners during the opening ceremony.

In addition to exhibits which are regularly renewed, the exhibition hall has a sale room which helps address an acute problem of marketing the works of local craftsmen.

On 23 September the Rahachou residents enjoyed a true festivity. “City of Craftsmen” was arranged opposite to the House of Culture. People willing to demonstrate their talents came from all over the district. Achievements and skills were also demonstrated by holders of the grants of Maria Sharapova’s Foundation. Since 2009 the Foundation of the famous tennis player awards special scholarships to talented students from the Chernobyl affected regions who study culture and arts. Three students from the Belarusian Academy of Arts were teaching the basics of painting to the Rahachou teenagers. This action symbolized continuity of the projects of the UN Development Programme.

In the Chernobyl affected regions UNDP employs a comprehensive recovery approach intended to demonstrate to local residents that the key to rehabilitation and development is in their hands. As a result, people overcome the so-called “victim mentality” as well as other hardships.

The opening of the exhibition hall became the first in the series of local initiatives implemented by the ICRIN project. Within a months similar events will take place in Cherikau, Slauharad, Rechica, Kalinkavichy and other local communities demonstrating a will to self-development.

The opening of the exhibition hall became a part of another important event for the Rahachou district – the Third Regional Economic Forum. Representatives of different countries (Russia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and others) gathered together to discuss how to improve the attractiveness of the region for investors as well as options for cooperation in export/import supplies and establishment of joint production.

The project “Development of International Chernobyl Research and Information Network” (ICRIN) is a joint effort of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The national implementing agency is the Ministry on Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus.

For further information, please contact Esmira Ismailova, the project PR Specialist, tel.: +375 17 226-11-15, +375 29 948-95-87, e-mail: esmira.ismailova@undp.by.

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