Veznova, Belarus
Natasha Popova (12) and Vadim Kuleshov (8). Natasha was born with microcephaly, Vadim has a bone disease and a mental disorder. Since the nuclear accident in Chernobyl there is an increase of children with physical or mental handicaps, especially in Belarus, which was more heavily contaminated. Socially and economically isolated, in Belarus many parents are unable to take care of their children. The children are often taken in by state institutions. This institution in Veznova, in the contaminated region of Mogilov, is supported by the Irish Chernobyl Children's Project.