THEIR smiles are as wide as the boating lake and to all the world they look like lifelong friends.

Sisters Grace and Daisy Moore have only known Alina Davidchuk for a couple of days but when they jump into the paddle boat at Millhouses Park none of that matters.

Children have a wonderful ability to knock down social and cultural barriers and today on the park lake, which has been taken over by kids from Chernobyl and their hosts, there's a shining example in every colourful boat.

The Moore family is among a number of Sheffield families hosting a Belarusian child for the next month.

The visit has been arranged by Chernobyl Children's Lifeline, a national charity which formed a Sheffield branch in 2006.

Last year the charity brought its first group of 10 children to Sheffield and this year 16 youngsters are visiting for a month- long break which, according to doctors, could add two years to their lives.

"We had two children last year," explains Robert, 36, a childcare assistant at Sunshine Day Nursery at the Hallamshire Hospital.

"We'd heard about Chernobyl Children's Lifeline a few years before but when the Sheffield branch was set up we decided to join."

Robert, wife Helen and daughters Grace, 11, and eight-year-old Daisy felt they had plenty to offer.

In the run-up to last year's visit the family helped fundraise and like the other hosts and support volunteers they underwent training and statutory checks.

They hosted two girls but this year, after downsizing the family car, they've decided to host just one child.

"We haven't got the space in the car," laughs Robert.

"Our daughters are sharing a room so Alina has got her own room but they don't mind. It's a fantastic opportunity for them to learn about another culture and to learn about what happened at Chernobyl.

"Alina speaks hardly any English but they're managing to play together and they get along great.

"We're not really doing anything too different while Alina's here. We eat the same foods and we just try and give her a normal experience. We appreciate it can be difficult when you're 11 and in a strange country but we've got lots of love to give and we'll try to be as supportive as we can.

"She's already phoned home and we try our best to make sure she's not homesick."

Throughout the month the Moores and Alina, a shy youngster, will regularly meet with the other kids from Belarus and their hosts.

They're also able to call the teachers who have travelled with them and who are also staying with hosts.

During their stay the children will receive free dental treatment and optical checks and will also undertake a number of trips as a group – including a visit to Cleethorpes, an afternoon at Abbeydale Trains and a visit to Whirlow Farm.

The organisers are even hosting a Christmas party with a visit from Santa.

Over the past few months, the family has prepared in different ways.

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