More than 290 children from the families of political prisoners received New Year gifts in 2023 through the “Christmas Post” campaign organized by A Country to Live In Foundation. This year, we once again invite everyone with a kind heart to become a magical helper for children left without one or both parents. We encourage you to fulfill a child’s dream, bringing them a bit of joy and happiness for the most magical holiday of the year.
Join the “Christmas Post” campaign.
In 2021, with your help, we delighted 221 children. By 2023, this number grew to 290. This year, our challenge is to set a record for solidarity and bring joy to 300 children!
If you’d like to send Christmas wishes to these children through us, please donate an amount equivalent to the cost of a gift to the foundation’s account.
Why Is This Important? "It's Not Just About Lollipops or Kinder Surprises"
"When one or both parents are imprisoned, it’s an enormous stress for children," explains former political prisoner and mother of two, Volha Takarchuk. "Their familiar world collapses, and everything turns gray because for children, nothing is more important than their parents. In such circumstances, it’s essential to fill the child’s world with bright colors, events, and impressions to soften their pain, even just a little. To help them avoid constantly thinking about their parents and asking where they are and what’s happening to them."
Even we adults love receiving gifts. "And these are children. The Christmas Post campaign is not about lollipops or Kinder Surprises. It’s about gifts that children might have been dreaming of for a long time. When one or both parents are imprisoned, children often stay with grandparents who often cannot afford significant purchases for their grandchildren due to limited finances. All their resources go toward sending parcels to prisons and colonies," explains Volha Takarchuk.
A Sign of Support: "We Haven’t Been Forgotten During These Three Years of Waiting for Dad"
"When our dad was taken away in 2021, we were in shock," recalls Halina Budai, mother of three and wife of political prisoner Andrei Budai. "We couldn’t process what was happening. But when the gifts for the children arrived, for me, it was a sign of support: we hadn’t been forgotten. Over these three years of waiting for dad, this feeling has only grown stronger. People remember us. And every year, it brings warmth, love, and tears of gratitude for the kindness of those who continue to give gifts."
"My children always eagerly awaited these gifts. The first time I learned about them was while I was still in prison. I remember my feelings: I cried. I realized that my family and children weren’t alone. Behind them stood people, foundations, and organizations who, even in my absence, could make my children’s holidays special. Give them something they had been dreaming about. This comforted me because being in prison and unable to see your children is an immense pain and stress," recalls Volha Takarchuk.
A Moment When Children Forget All the Bad Things
"The children don’t know about it; we arrange everything as a surprise," says Halina Budai. "So naturally, it’s pure joy for them. It’s a moment when all the bad things fade away. How do children react to surprises and gifts, especially when they are meaningful and much-needed? These are high-quality gifts. And children, no matter their age—whether they’re three or 17—are still children. They love gifts and are equally happy to receive them. The gifts are chosen based on what the children wanted, so it’s doubly delightful for them because it always hits the heart. It’s always a storm of emotions!"
"The last time, my youngest son received a snow tube as a gift. When his dad was around, they would borrow tubes from friends to go sledding. Now he got his own. He was so happy to have his own tube and enjoyed sledding so much," recalls Halina Budai.
"I don’t know what my children were given while I was in prison because there were so many gifts," says Volha Takarchuk. "But I can tell you about the most recent one that turned out to be very useful. My children had been asking for backpacks. My daughter, about to start first grade, dreamed of a beautiful backpack. It was important for her to feel like a first-grader. My son was entering fifth grade and needed a new backpack too. The gifted backpacks were filled with sweets, toys, and pencils. The children were thrilled and excited as they unwrapped and explored everything. Ironically, when we had to flee Belarus, we left with just these New Year’s backpacks gifted by the foundation. Now Anuta and Matvey, in their new home, go to school with these backpacks and often remember how they received them and how much they came in handy."
"Any help for children is something that words can hardly describe. These are children with broken psyches, who have been traumatized for life. Like adults, they’ve lost everything they loved. They’ve spent years not seeing their parents and growing up without them. They have no one to call 'mom' or hear someone call them 'son' or 'daughter.' Immense gratitude to the foundations and caring people for bringing joy to our children’s lives," sums up Volha Takarchuk.
Who Can Participate in This Year’s "Christmas Post" Campaign?
Children of current or former political prisoners up to the age of 16. We invite children and their relatives to send letters with their wishes and drawings. We will do our best to make these dreams come true.
Submit your requests via this form.
If you are in Belarus, please fill out the form in a way that is safe for you—for example, through relatives or friends abroad. For help, you can contact us via Telegram:
@StranafundPZ
@Dahary_nahami
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