THE NEVA CHILDREN'S CHARITY
Project 2009
A small team of volunteers visited the Children’s Hospital No 3 on Vasilievsky Island St Petersburg Russia at the beginning of April 2009. We were there for 12 days during which time we saw all 4 seasons of weather. We had snow, ice, (there was ice in the river and the Gulf of Finland was still frozen enough to stand on!) wind and rain and then saw a little bit of sunshine (well from inside the hospital windows!) The temperature varied from -5 to +5 while back home spring had already arrived!
Our Russian friend, Stas, and his friends had made a very good start to the work before we arrived, although there was still an awful lot to be done. We worked very long days in very dusty conditions sometimes not finishing till midnight. But we managed to complete the refurbishment of 2 wards and a bathroom.
All the windows and doors were replaced, 5 new radiators were fitted. New false ceiling and lights were fitted along with all the electrics being replaced. New sinks, bath and toilet were fitted. New vinyl being laid to the wards (after the removal of about 7 layers of old flooring and what felt like a million old nails!) and the bathroom was retiled walls and floor.
The final touches being the new beds, bedside cabinets, chairs and table that were bought for the wards. The staff at the hospital including the head nurse, Valentina, and the head doctor, Galeena were delighted with our work and are already making plans for our return visit!
Without the help and support of so many people back home in England we would not have been able to complete this project. So on behalf of the staff and especially the children of ward 2 thank you very much for your support. It really does make such a difference to the lives of so many children in St Petersburg Russia.
Thank You, Neva Children’s Charity