THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 18, 1995 TAG: 9508160162
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Andrei Tchebykine was about three years old in 1986, when Chernobyl zoomed into international news because of a nuclear plant breakdown. His home was in the path of radiation at the time of the disaster.
Now 12 years old, Andrei wants to come to the United States for a year. He is one of the kids sponsored by an organization called Children of Chernobyl, and Face the World Foundation regional director Wayne Potrafka wants to find him a home here.
``We're waiving all fees to help these children,'' Potrafka said.
He said Andrei ``shows no significant health problems'' from his exposure to radiation.
``Nonetheless, doctors have determined that a year of breathing healthy air and eating non-contaminated food will have long-term beneficial impact on his health,'' Potrafka said.
Andrei has been studying English for five years and is an advanced student.
Potrafka is looking for a home for Andrei.
``A home with a child his age would be wonderful but certainly not necessary,'' Potrafka said. ``More important is the skill and a willingness to care for Andrei as if he were their own son.''
Potrafka, a local artist and art gallery owner, has been placing foreign students for some years now.
But this year has been particularly stressful, he said.
``We are dealing with life and death issues,'' he said. ``Many of the high school students are from Bosnia and Croatia and many are in serious situations due to the escalation of the war in their homeland.''
Some even have trouble getting out of their country to come to the United States, he said, but many are finding their way here. Some from the war-torn countries have come as high school students and returned for college studies, he said.
Although he has placed most of those seeking homes for the school year, in addition to the boy from Chernobyl, Potrafka still needs homes for four high school students, including a Croatian and a Russian.
Potrafka said he believes involvement with exchange students benefits both host families and the community. Families learn about other cultures and to establish what often turns out to be lifetime relationships. The schools benefit, he said, with ``students exposed to peers from whom they learn things about other countries they seldom would read in a book.''
``As these are carefully chosen students, many will go back to their homelands to assume positions of leadership,'' he said. ``Hosting these students is a wonderful opportunity for America to spread its concept of democracy throughout the world.''
Over the years, I've done stories on a lot of students from other countries ranging in age from young teenagers to graduate students at North Carolina State University, where many came from other countries to study engineering and agriculture.
Last year I talked to a teenager from Croatia and another from Russia, who spent the year here. My friends, Jim and Shirley Jiral, have from time to time introduced me to some wonderful young people brought here by the American Field Service student exchange program.
Never have I happened upon one of these young people who wasn't smart and eager to share ideas as well as information.
As Potrafka said, most of the high school students who come here to study are exceptionally bright. They generally are very willing to talk to civic organizations about their countries and will go out of their way to answer questions.
Interestingly, most of them are quite mature and able to relate to people of all ages.
Of course, there are a rare few who don't have all these wonderful traits, but the odds are slim that a host family will have problems.
Potrafka needs some homes if the Chernobyl lad and the teens from the torn countries of the former Yugoslavia are going to come here.
If you feel you might have room in your heart and your home for one of them, call Potrafka at 488-4013 or at the Potrafka Gallery, 465-2133.
Jim Jiral said Tuesday that the local AFS organization has placed most of its students for the year, but that one or two more homes might be needed. To connect with the AFS group, call the Jirals at 484-1312. by CNB