Cretan-homes, Crete property estate agents

A wonderful holiday in Crete with the children from Possadetz !

Between June 14th and July 14 2006, we have had the great joy of hosting a group of twelve children from the school of Possadetz, 60 km. north east of Minsk, Belarus, for a therapeutic holiday. Our guests, who are between 7 and 12 years old, have been a complete pleasure to be with, and their enthusiasm, for the sea, for swimming, playing and all the many activities that we have shared with them, has been contagious for anybody that was involved in the project.

The local community of Ierapetra has warmly welcomed all the children with open arms, with the natural, but uniquely generous hospitality, that makes Crete such a special place.

The first welcome to Greece, was supplied by Aegean Airways, who, in addition to donating all the return flights from Athens to Crete, for the children and their two guardians, have gone out of their way to make both trips as easy and fun as possible.

The transport from and to Heraklion Airport, provided by the Mayor of Ierapetra, took us to our final destination, Avra Beach Apartments in Koutsounari. Throughout the month, the manager, Vassilis Nicolettos, has tirelessly provided the children with everything they could need, including the most delicious food prepared daily by him, endless quantities of ice cream and much love and affection, so that the kids have felt at home from the very first moment of their arrival.

During their therapeutic stay, the children’s health has been carefully checked by the specialists in the hospital of Ierapetra, where all health care,  including various tests, have been provided free of charge. During their stay, the children have benefited enormously from the island’s renowned climate, all the hours spent in the open air and in the sea, and from the celebrated Cretan diet, particularly local fruit, which they never tired of.

We alternated days at Avra, where the children, not having ever seen the sea before in their lives, all learned to swim during their stay, perhaps the single achievement that has made them most proud. During these days, we had several visits from local children and their families, often playing together thanks to the enthusiastic organization of the local Odigos (girl scouts) and Boy Scout clubs which made the lack of a common language seem quite irrelevant.

Concerning communication, we must mention that the children were keen to attend their daily short lesson in Greek language, quickly mastering the necessary vocabulary. In addition to this, the two Belarus guardians, a pediatric ear specialist Hanna Fazdeyeva, and the English University teacher Nataliya Nikalayuk, have been unflagging in their care and support of the children and of the Crete For Life project, especially in providing a bridge of understanding between the children and everyone involved in their stay.

In between swimming, we had organized several day trips and events. One of the most memorable was to Thalassokosmos, the newly opened acquarium near Heraklion, where the children had the opportunity to discover the mysteries of the underwater world. From that day on, many hours were spent looking underwater with their masks, and marveling at fishes of all sizes. We have also been warmly welcomed in Aios Nikolaos, by a group of English friends who have done much to raise money within their community, pledging to help in the future with all Crete For Life’s projects. 

We had several special days in Ierapetra, watching football matches, eating pizza and fresh fish, and following various events organized during the “Nautical Week” festivities. We were invited by the Mayor, who provided everybody with gifts for the school and visited by the His Holiness the Bishop of Ierapetra and Sitia, who blessed the children and gave them images of the Holy Virgin of Ierapetra. Many people from the community of Ierapetra have continuously given the children many generous presents of clothes, toys, toiletries, and so on.

A few days before the departure, we had a farewell party in Ierapetra where Cretan dances and Belarus singing finally joined in a happy celebration. It has been truly amazing the response that these wonderful children have triggered in the community, which has embraced them as its own and shown, and given, much affection which was fully reciprocated by the children. They have all asked to come back next year and we are all waiting for their return.

These therapeutic holidays have had a tangible effect on the children from Possadetz. Not only have their immune systems had a break from radiation and from radioactive food. The seaside climate and healthy food have in fact lowered the radioactivity in their bodies, by between 40% and 80%, boosting their immune system and thus helping them to resist serious illness in the future. During their stay, all those that needed, to  have put on weight and all the children’s spirits have opened up and literally bloomed; they spent a full month carefree and playing, something that does not happen normally in their lives.

The therapeutic holiday we have provided will have left a positive reference point in their mind, acting as a stimulus to break the circle of poverty, ill health and low expectations these children sadly inhabit. We pledge to do all we can to repeat this experience yearly, hopefully adding a few more children every year.

To name all the many people who have helped would take too long here. We would like however  to offer our warmest thank all our friends from Greece, and in particular Crete, Italy, England, France, Germany and the United States. At Crete For Life, the common goal is to help children. This is done by people of good will from many different countries and walk of lives. Your generosity has changed lives.

Olimpia is currently updating the website to highlight this years trip, Once again the children had a fun packed time and all details will be added soon, so keep clicking on the Crete for Life website and why not make a donation too?