The following is an article about the outcome
from a Rotarian newsletter about the computers for Belarus story.
Click here to see the original pdf source.

Computers for the Children of Kobryn, Belarus
By Jay Larson & Peggy Day

In the summer of 2005, two schools in Kobryn, Belarus received 50 computers and auxiliary hardware and software that were purchased with a $42,000 gift from the Egnatuk family, the Marshall, Albion and Hillsdale Rotary Clubs and a one half matching grant from the Rotary International Foundation. Prior to this gift, these schools had a few obsolete computer stations that were being used by the school administrators. Ron Ducheney, Past President of the Marshall Rotary Club, and his wife, Joey, organized this effort. From Sept. 2 nd to Sept. 13 th , seven members including three Marshall Rotarians, Ron, Peggy Day and DGE Jay Larson visited Belarus to actually see the kids using their new technology and complete the paperwork required by the Rotary International Foundation.

The logistics of purchasing these computers was graciously accomplished by the Minsk Rotary Club in District 2230. The MinskRotary Club also took very good care of us while in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. The Egnatuk relatives and the Kobryn School Directors treated us like royalty during our stay in their city. We even had two meetings with the governmental head ofthe Kobryn District, which is one of six in Belarus. Each school treated us to a special day-long visit of their school whichincluded traditional and contemporary dances, music, skits and a banquet.

We also visited the only virgin forest left in Europe(this area was used by the Czars of Russia as their private hunting grounds) as well as several monuments, museums, castlesand other towns. All the people of Belarus that we met were friendly and made us feel at home. It was a great trip to a country that very few Americans have visited. The countryside looks much like Michigan with rollingfarm land, many streams, lakes and marshes. It was truly a treat to see the kids’ fingers already using this equipment and thesincere gratitude from the people of Kobryn for this investment in their future generations.

Read "The Egnatuks meet the Ignatuks"

Go back to the main
Rotary Belarus Project info page


Read more about
how the Albion Michigan History pages
have made ripples in people's lives over the years...

Back to AlbionMich.com