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Special gratitude to Irene Kalada-Smirnov in Mother’s Day.
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I would like to introduce you Belarusian woman who lives in America and every year
receives thousands of letters from Belarusian children. I would like to introduce
you the artist, the singer, "the star" and the magician … Her name is Iren. « The
star, kind soul and heart » - she was so called by fourteen-year Tanya.
A lot of Chernobyl children know her. Children who became useless for the state,
children who know more about a real life than adults, children who have already
been grown up… However these children are necessary for Iren, she remembers their
problems and burdens and helps as she can … And it is considerable help, with her
participation more than 5000 children from the polluted areas, have left for recreation
in sanatorium of Bulgaria, Moldova, Turkey, and Slovenia. Now a little about Iren...Her
genealogy totals more than 1000 years. The largest representatives of her sort endowed
lives for the sake of the native land. Iren was born in village Podkosovje, near
Novogrudok. Father has died early, and the grandmother helped to nurse pace children,
Iren has learned the Belarusian language with her help. Mother owned manufacture
of cheese, however when Bolsheviks came, all this was confiscated. Neighbours rescued
her from Siberia. Iren was 4 years old when the war began. She remembers two events
which have affected her further life. Somehow during the next bombardment when all
ran in a refuge, she saw fine flowers which were so attractive. She began to collect
them, when she looked round there were nobody, she began to call mother from whom
she was beat off. The God was merciful. Someone picked up Iren and brought back
to her mother. Iren remembers the hands of mother and eyes full of tears… Then there
were German working camps. There was a moment when the crowd of people simply pushed
her mother into a train, and Iren with grandmother and brothers remained on platform,
all the night long they were waiting while mother simply returned on foot. During
liberation of Germany Iren's family found themselves in the territory controlled
by Americans so they got to the USA, Cleveland. Now about one million of Belarusian
emigrants lives in the USA, most of them are from a military wave, the main group
is concentrated in New York. Iren's mother is one of the main leaders in Cleveland.
She was one of those who had organized Belarusian female society in Cleveland (1952).
Iren had an example, when she finished the higher school, business - college, she
became one of the leaders of Belarusian Diaspora.
Her husband Jury Smirnov, completely shares interests of the wife. In 1992 Iren
has arrived in Belarus, she was pleased very much with opening of Belarusian schools,
and Belarusian language sounds in official bodies. However the economic situation
in the country shocked her greatly, there were done so little conditions for Chernobyl
children, when she returned in America she created charitable organization «The
Ethnic voice of America ». Every year Iren receives thousands of letters from children
she has helped. If collect them together it would be enough to create a small book,
she has received many awards both in the USA and in Belarus.
The woman lives in America, but she is closer to Belarus, than many of us. During
that moment as Belarusians become spiritual emigrants in their homeland, she remains
the patriot across the ocean. We feel lack of kindness, but we can get rid of it
by multiplying kindness. Irene Kalada-Smirnov from Cleveland is the best example
for us.
A lot of Chernobyl children know her. Children who became useless for the state,
children who know more about a real life than adults, children who have already
been grown up… However these children are necessary for Iren, she remembers their
problems and burdens and helps as she can … And it is considerable help, with her
participation more than 5000 children from the polluted areas, have left for recreation
in sanatorium of Bulgaria, Moldova, Turkey, and Slovenia. Now a little about Iren...Her
genealogy totals more than 1000 years. The largest representatives of her sort endowed
lives for the sake of the native land. Iren was born in village Podkosovje, near
Novogrudok. Father has died early, and the grandmother helped to nurse pace children,
Iren has learned the Belarusian language with her help. Mother owned manufacture
of cheese, however when Bolsheviks came, all this was confiscated. Neighbours rescued
her from Siberia. Iren was 4 years old when the war began. She remembers two events
which have affected her further life. Somehow during the next bombardment when all
ran in a refuge, she saw fine flowers which were so attractive. She began to collect
them, when she looked round there were nobody, she began to call mother from whom
she was beat off. The God was merciful. Someone picked up Iren and brought back
to her mother. Iren remembers the hands of mother and eyes full of tears… Then there
were German working camps. There was a moment when the crowd of people simply pushed
her mother into a train, and Iren with grandmother and brothers remained on platform,
all the night long they were waiting while mother simply returned on foot. During
liberation of Germany Iren's family found themselves in the territory controlled
by Americans so they got to the USA, Cleveland. Now about one million of Belarusian
emigrants lives in the USA, most of them are from a military wave, the main group
is concentrated in New York. Iren's mother is one of the main leaders in Cleveland.
She was one of those who had organized Belarusian female society in Cleveland (1952).
Iren had an example, when she finished the higher school, business - college, she
became one of the leaders of Belarusian Diaspora.
Her husband Jury Smirnov, completely shares interests of the wife. In 1992 Iren
has arrived in Belarus, she was pleased very much with opening of Belarusian schools,
and Belarusian language sounds in official bodies. However the economic situation
in the country shocked her greatly, there were done so little conditions for Chernobyl
children, when she returned in America she created charitable organization «The
Ethnic voice of America ». Every year Iren receives thousands of letters from children
she has helped. If collect them together it would be enough to create a small book,
she has received many awards both in the USA and in Belarus.
