It should be noted that the average age is low, and the population growth
rate is -0.41%. The birthrate is low as well with 9.5 births per 1,000 people.
Women bore on average 1.22 children, meaning Belarussian families are
quite small. Of these births, there are 6.63 infant deaths per 1,000 births.
The total death rate is 13.98 deaths per 1,000 people.

Belarus's populace consists of 81.2% that are Belarsian, 11.4% that are
Russian, and the remaining 7.4% are Polish, Ukrainian, and other.
Most residents are Eastern Orthodox, which represent 80% of the population.
The primary languages spoken are Belarusian and Russian.
The total percentage of literate people aged 15 and older is 99.6%.

The following are the capitals and provinces in Belarus:
1. Minsk (Capital of Belarus) 2. Brest, Brest Province 3. Gomel, Homyel Privince 4. Hrodna, Hrodna Province 5. Mahilyow, Mahilyow Province 6. Minsk, Minsk Province 7. Vitsebsk, Vitsesbk Province

Ever since the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant incident in 1986, the Belarusian
environment has been gravely affected. About 70% of the radiation had
fallen on the lands of Belarus. This is a significant percentage of harmful
material that has left a drastic impression on its people. There is scientific
evidence stating the affected areas could be left in this state for 25,000 years!
The Chernobyl Children’s Project International claims there are over 5 million
people, and about a million children, who live in these affected lands.
Unfortunately, these people are left to fend for themselves. They still farm and
consume crops which may be contaminated. Many people became ill from the
continuous use of this land. According to medical experts, approximately 40%
of the children living in these areas may develop thyroid cancer within 30 years.
Even so, many of the children who are born into this area suffer from disabilities
or debilitating illnesses.

THE NEED
           
There is a strong need to help orphans in Belarus. Regulations on adoption ended around March 2005 affecting many children who would have been given homes. According to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, within the
past few years nearly 40,000 cases in Belarus dealt with reducing or expelling
parental rights. Even so, around 5,000 children are deserted by their parents. Currently, there are approximately 30-50,000 children institutionalized in
orphanages, with a yearly increase of 5,000. Around 85% of these orphans are
classified as “social orphans” because their parents are still alive and either
refuse to care for them or unable to do so.
            According to Phil Sharitz of Bridge of Hope for the Belarus Orphans, an
organization that helps orphans prepare for life,there are nearly 600 orphanages
in Belarus. Several of these homes are extremely poor and dirty. Some are even
falling apart! Although they are government supported, some “have no hot water,
no toilet paper, no soap. They receive food and staff salaries-that's ALL.”
Considering these circumstances, on average a Belarusian orphan is only expected
to live until age 29. They are also at a disadvantage in finding work once they leave
the orphanages, as they only receive a basic education. Of those that leave, 90% of
males end up in jail with the main offence of stealing. As for women, there is only
one prison for them.  As a result of these conditions, orphans are considered the
lowest class of citizen in the country.
            One orphanage, Smorgon Orphanage, exists in very undesirable
circumstances. There are over 200 children living and learning in dire conditions. There is no heating system! This is especially a problem because Belarus is so cold
in the wintertime. They are“living in bleak conditions - rotting windows, crumbling bricks, an archaic heating system, inefficient lighting, broken floorboards, grimy mattresses, and threadbare covers.” What makes this situation worse is that the orphanage has been in existence for 46 years without any updating.