Minsk, Belarus. A boy is lying in his bed.
Minsk, Belarus. A boy with Down syndrome sits on a bench in the game room.
Minsk, Belarus. A logopaedin trains correct articulation with a psychophysically handicapped girl. On the left is an obligatory portrait of President Lukashenko.
Minsk, Belarus. Two psychophysically handicapped boys kiss behind the back of a girl.
Minsk, Belarus. A psychophysically handicapped boy plays accordion.
Minsk, Belarus. A psychophysically handicapped girl lies in his bed.
Minsk, Belarus. Some children have to be force-fed if necessary.
Minsk, Belarus. A girl with Down's syndrome is playing with a cassette recorder with an obligatory portrait of President Lukashenko.
Minsk, Belarus. Two children play with a birch tree in the courtyard of a children's home.
Minsk, Belarus. A girl and a boy recovering from gardening in the yard of a kindergarten.
Minsk, Belarus. A boy looks through a fence while gardening in a children's home.
Minsk, Belarus. A psychophysically handicapped girl helps in the kitchen.
Minsk, Belarus. Children play in the staircase of a children's home, where many victims of child trafficking are accommodated.
Minsk, Belarus. Psychophysically handicapped children play accordion.
Minsk, Belarus. A psychophysically handicapped girl is playing in a tent.
Minsk, Belarus. Two children lie in a washbasin in the swimming pool. The swimming pool has no water because the water in this district does not meet medical standards.
Minsk, Belarus. A girl with a doll sits at the edge of a swimming pool. The swimming pool has no water because the water in this district does not meet medical standards.
Minsk, Belarus. A girl is sitting at the edge of a swimming pool. The swimming pool has no water because the water in this district does not meet medical standards.
Minsk, Belarus. A girl and a boy smoke secretly in the backyard of a children's home.
Minsk, Belarus. A boy stands behind a rake.

Because the country was hit hardest by the accident in the Chernobyl nuclear power station in Belarus the number of children with psycho physical problems is extremely high. But that is not the only reason. The abuse of alcohol and drugs also plays a part in contributing to Belarusian children who suffer from genetic and psychological problems.

A few years ago it went pretty much well for Belarusian children’s homes. Not because the state was so generous but because of the help of local and foreign sponsors. Mainly the USA, Italy, Ireland and Germany supported the facilities with money. In 2005 the Belarusian president Lukashenko stopped the foreign contributions to a great extend in order to „motivate” local sponsors.

Unfortunately this is not the biggest concern of Belarusian children’s homes. In the same year the president passed a legislation which forbids families from foreign countries to adopt Belarusian children in order to leave this to Belarusian families. Considering the financial situation of most of the Belarusian families it becomes clear, that not every family is able to “afford” an own child, not to mention to adopt one.