A COLLEGE lecturer will fly out to an Eastern European orphanage to help children still suffering the effects of the Chernobyl disaster.

Ian Halstead, health and social care lecturer at Burnley College, is preparing to volunteer at the Small Children’s Rehabilitation Centre in Moldova to research childcare in the former Soviet Union country.

The rehabilitation centre is home to 200 children, from babies to five-year-olds, many of whom are handi-capped because of the aftermath of the nuclear accident in 1986.

The orphanage also cares for victims of child trafficking.

Ian said: “I am nervous about the prospect of spending time at the orphanage because I think it will be a real culture shock but I am looking forward to spending time with the children and hopefully improving their quality of life.

“Due to a lack of staff at the orphanage, the children often don’t have any playtime or personal attention other than being fed, dressed or washed.

“In the time that I am there, I aim to give them as much positive attention as possible and help them to develop.”

Ian will choose a group to work with during the fortnight he is at the centre and plans to play games with the children on a daily basis and help with feeding and dressing the orphans.

He is has also planning a return trip to the country’s capital city, Chisinau, next summer to help more children.

Ian said: “Some of the college’s health and social care students have already shown an interest in spending time at the orphanage next summer, so hopefully we can make it part of our annual extra curricular activities and make a real difference to the lives of these under-privileged children.”

Ian leaves for Moldova on July 16.