Chernobyl volunteers aid recovery 20 years on
By Lisa Saremel

United Nations Volunteer (UNV) programs and the hard work of local and international volunteers are helping restore services to Chernobyl-affected areas, where Russians are still absorbing the impact of the devastating nuclear disaster that occurred there in April 1986.

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster website details how the world's worst nuclear power accident occurred: "... whilst testing reactor number 4, numerous safety procedures were disregarded. At 1:23am the chain reaction in the reactor became out of control creating explosions and a fireball which blew off the reactor's heavy steel and concrete lid. The Chernobyl accident killed more than 30 people immediately and, as a result of the high radiation levels in the surrounding 20 mile radius, 135,000 people had to be evacuated."

Since 1986 more than 200 community organisations have been established in the 139 villages surrounding Chernobyl. The Chernobyl Recovery and Development Program (CRDP) has involved Ukrainian and international UN volunteers in community capacity building to enable locals to form partnerships and develop their own projects to achieve better outcomes.

In 2005 alone, about 4,000 people, including representatives from local government, received training in planning, communications, leadership and fundraising.

According to one UN volunteer involved in overseeing the CRDP, this has resulted in less reliance on government assistance and more initiative in planning and project development.

In the Ukraine, the growth in volunteering has had positive effects on people's capacity to create change themselves, moving beyond notions of volunteering under the Soviet regime.

Addressing youth issues is also a significant part of the Chernobyl development project and has involved partnership with schools. During 2004–05, youth centres were opened in 19 villages, providing social and educational resources.

More information
Visit World Volunteer Web
Visit United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Visit www.chernobyl.info, the international communications platform on the long-term consequences of the disaster.

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