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Summary: This article contains information about activities and services developed by Belarusian NGO “Ponimanie” in the past 6 years, which include Children’s Hotline, Center for Missing Children and other.
Wisconsin and Minnesota child protection advocates extended their reach this summer, working with a visionary Belarus leader, Andrey Makhanko, Executive Director, “Ponimanie”. A Community Connections exchange alumnus funded by the United States Agency for International Development and hosted by World Services, Makhanko has maintained contact with us since 2006. He shares ideas, and searches for ways to further his quest for a child abuse awareness, prevention and treatment system adapted to the unique social and political environment of Belarus. He has his work cut out for him. In 2010, Belarus reported 269 cases of child sexual abuse. Sweden, with a similar size population, reported 2,992 cases. Makhanko recognizes the urgent need to improve child abuse prevention and intervention capacity in his country. With peers from around the world, they are building a system in Belarus that will provide advocacy in the judicial system, shelter, prevention, and family support. The continuum of services developed by “Ponimanie” in the past 6 years is impressive: Despite his accomplishments, Makhanko is driven to further develop child protection resources and child abuse awareness in Belarus. Twice this spring and summer, Makhanko returned to La Crosse and requested assistance from World Services to facilitate connections with local, state and national resources in our region. Makhanko met with child abuse advocacy colleagues from “Stepping Stones” child advocacy center in La Crosse; the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC) in Winona, Minn.; as well as the Wisconsin Children’s Trust Fund. A week of intensive training in July at the NCPTC provided new insights for Makhanko and Minsk colleagues Professor Vladimir Yanchuk, PsyD, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology in the Academy of Postgraduate Studies in Minsk; and Yury Astsianka, MD, Health of the State Service of Forensic Expertise in Belarus. They returned to Minsk committed to expanding and enhancing curriculum and courses currently available at the Academy of Postgraduate Studies – a strategy which will reach university students as well as professionals involved with child protection services. They plan to adapt the Winona State University “Children’s Advocacy Studies Training” and replicate the curriculum in collaboration with the NCPTC. Makhanko’s next focus is to create additional “clinical components” for the system in Belarus. Together we will explore ways to obtain best practice models for adaptation in his country, and hope to inspire others in this quest. We applaud Makhanko for his passion, commitment and dedication to improving the lives of children in a culture challenged by social, political and economic conditions.