Изображение: BYSOL
The BYSOL Foundation has launched a charitable fundraiser to support the children of Belarusian political prisoners, both inside Belarus and abroad. The campaign aims to raise €10,000 ahead of the start of the new school year.
The foundation noted that this year’s campaign did not begin from zero. During a viewing of the FIFA World Cup final, BYSOL and its partners organised a charity prize draw, raising €1,177 for the school campaign.
“Every year, BYSOL receives around 200 applications for its annual Back-to-School Campaign. Families apply when one or both parents are imprisoned or have been convicted on politically motivated charges. A grant of €100 per child through this campaign helps cover the most essential expenses, including school supplies and at least part of the cost of school clothing,” the foundation said.
The previous fundraiser for the children of political prisoners was organised ahead of the summer holidays and lasted 42 days. During the campaign, assistance was provided to 166 children from 114 families of political prisoners. The fundraiser was supported by Belarusian organisations in Denmark, Belarusian diaspora groups and communities in Philadelphia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Kraków and Olsztyn, as well as the International Humanitarian Foundation.
Until August 27, BYSOL is accepting applications for assistance from parents living in Belarus or abroad. The programme is intended for families of political prisoners in which one or both parents have been in detention for at least three months (including those serving sentences under so-called “khimiya” restrictions), as well as families of former political prisoners with children who were released after January 1, 2024.