A group of 26 visually impaired children from an orphanage and school in Vasilivichi, near Chernobyl, are currently in Waterford, where they have been "adopted" by the workforce of the Bausch & Lomb contact lens plant.
The children were met on Sunday by members of the Vision for Vasilivichi committee, set up by employees of Bausch & Lomb, who have raised more than £100,000 since 1995.
The workers, through deductions in their pay, have bought an ambulance, provided ophthalmologists to examine the children's eyes and paid for holidays for the children. A major part of the fund has been used to improve physical conditions in the school, including the provision of modern sanitary facilities.
Twenty of the children who arrived are aged from eight to 12 and this is their first holiday, while six are paying return visits to families with whom they stayed last year. "Many of the children have bad eyesight, one is totally blind and another can only see shadows," said Tom Bolger, the chairman of the Vasilivichi committee in Bausch & Lomb. "While the children are in Waterford they will have a full health check, with particular emphasis on their eyes."
"They will then have a full range of holiday activities including camping, surfing, swimming and visits to farms, the John F. Kennedy Arboretum and other attractions."
Waterford-based Minister of State Mr Martin Cullen and the city's mayor, Mr Pat Hayes, were also at the airport to meet the children. Mr Cullen said the visit was a major undertaking and the role played by the Bausch & Lomb workers was extraordinary.
The three-week holiday will cost about £20,000 and the Vision for Vasilivichi committee would welcome donations. It has an account at the Bank of Ireland in Lisduggan, Waterford. Account number 15468204; sort code 90-62-16.