The history of the Belarusian Fund of Peace, one of the world's oldest peacemaking organizations, began 43 years ago, when the representatives of the Soviet Peace Protection Commitee, the Union of the Soviet international friendship and cultural relations societies, the Soviet Women's Comitee, the Soviet War Veterans Comitee as well as of other organizations founded in the meeting that took place on the 27 of April 1961, the Soviet Fund of Peace.
The new public organization was entrusted with the misssion of financing anti-war acitivities making use of voluntary payments and donations, supporting the peacekeeping movement financially as well as morally. At that very meeting the board of administration of the Fund was elected. Its first chairman was the famous writer and pasiionate fighter for peace Boris Polevoy.
     From the very first days of existence of the Fund one of its most active departments was the Belarussian section which was headed b the people's artist of the USSR, the outstanding sculptor, the Hero of Socialist Labour, the State prize laureate Z.I.Azgur.
The making of the new republican peacekeeping organization started with the creation of the Soviet Fund of Peace assistance Commission. The members of the Commission with the support of large sections of the public, managed to form in a short period of time a number of region, district and city organizations. By the year of 1986 there were about 14.000 of them uniting more than 100.000 Belarussian citizens.
     The republican, regional, district and city organizations board of administration members took the lead in antiwar and other actions. A number of international conferences and peacemakers' meetings took place in Minsk with the assistance of the Fund of Peace.
     The March of Peace-82 became a bright page in the history of the Belarussian peacekeeping movement. After having taken start in Stockholm, were it gathered the strugglers for peace from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, it passed through Helsinki, Leningrad, Kalinin (Tver), Moscow, Smolensk and was comleted with a mass meeting in the capital of our republic. The people of various political views were united in the March of Peace-82 with clear slogans: "No to the nuclear arms in Europe, in the West and in the East!", "No to the nuclear arms in the world", "For peace and disarmament!".
     The year of 1986, declared to be the International year of peace by the United Nations Organization, was marked by the antiwar actions of unprecedented scale. The members and supporters of the peacekeeping movement of our Republic took part in organizing and holding the antiwar meetings, conferences, manifestations, marches. The mass meetings that were held within the limits of the Week of action against the war, for ssecurity and cooperation in Europe in Minsk, Vitebsk, Gomel, Brest, Grodno and other cities of Belarus, were a great success.
     The intensive activities of the strugglers for peace promoted further strengthening of the Fund's financial position through attracting more voluntary donations. The payments were rpoduced by common citizens - workers, doctors, teachers, students - as well as by the labour collectives. Besides men of science and cultural workers rendered considerable financial support to the Fund. Belarussian writers Kondrat Krapiva, Nil Gilevich, Ales Adamovich, Edi Ognetsvet, Artur Volski and others donated some of their author's emoluments to the Fund. Magazines, editorial collectives of many newspapers gave their whole royalties to support the cause of struggling for peace. Big donations were made by a number of Belarussian scientists. The peacekeeping movement also found support with the religious organizations, including clery-men, especially with the Orthodox church.


     A new page in the history of belorussian active workers of the Fund of Peace started on August 24, 1991. That day an extraordinary conference of Belarus department of the Soviet Fund of Peace took place. Delegates from all regional, city and many primary organizations, representatives of Ministries and departments, public and religious organizations, and also visitors from the Russian and Ukrainian Funds of Peace which have already received the status national by that time took part in its work.
     Being guided by the Declaration of the sovereignty of Belarus accepted by the Supreme Soviet of the Republic on July, 3, 1991, conference by the decree has founded the Belarus fund of the peace as the assignee of the Soviet fund of the peace in territory of the republic. The main problems and streams of activity of the organization in new quality have been determined, the changed Charter was accepted, directing bodies were elected. Marat Fedorovich Egorov, who had been the vice-president of the organization from the day of its foundation, was authorized as the Chairman of the board of the Fund under the offer of its former Chairman Z.I.Azgura resigning from this post in view of his state of health.
     To give further development to the good traditions of the past and to become an authoritative public organization that would be reckoned with not only in the republic and the CIS countries, but in all of the world, it was necessary to solve many legal, organizational and methodical problems. Active work on strengthening the existing and establishing new contacts and partner communications with foreign peace-making, charitable and religious organizations was simultaneously conducted.
     Because of the deep crisis in economy of the republic that has led to sharp decrease in the standard of life quality of the majority of our citizens, and also mass deterioration of health of the population which was the result of the Chernobyl accident, social matters were made the prior sphere of interests of the Fund. The forces of the activists and the finances of the Fund were directed first of all to the target social programs "Chernobyl", "Care" and programs closely connected to them "Memory" and " National diplomacy". They included the organization of actions of charity, other forms of philanthropy on rendering moral and material support to those who suffered from the Chernobyl disaster and to other categories of citizens in desperate need.
     In the course of realization of the target social programs the Belarussian Fund of Peace constantly receives the aid and support of the International association of funds of peace, established in 1992 on the basis of the former Soviet Fund of the Peace. The partners of the republican Fund in the decision of its authorized problems are the International humanitarian organization "Chernobyl-help", republican public association "Children in a trouble", the Fund for charity and health, Association of parents of children-invalids, veteran, religious and other organizations. Peace supporters with satisfaction received the decision of the head of the state to withdraw from territory of Belarus starting nuclear installations and the announcement of our republic a denuclearized zone. The delegation of Fund of the peace took active participation in work of the World congress of peace supporters which was taking place in 1999 in the small city of Vitri on Hay, near Paris under the initiative of French "Movements for the peace". Participants of the congress have hotly accepted the offer of the Belarus delegation on carrying out in Minsk the International conference on problems of expansion of an area, free from the nuclear weapon. Continuation of work of Fund on this extremely important question became business contacts and an exchange of delegations to Association " For the peace and disarmament " Chinese People's Republic. The Belarus and Chinese peace supporters during following meetings in Minsk and Peking planned the wide program of joint actions for full prohibition of nuclear arsenals and reduction of conventional armaments, for a universal peace on the ground.
     The big attention is given to education of rising generation on ideals and principles of humanism and the peace. At many city and rural schools, technical training colleges and other educational institutions are created and actively operate museums of fighting and labour glory. Here different meetings with former front-line soldiers and notable workers of the industry and fields which with the blood and sweat got peace in the world stronger, asserted freedom and independence of a native land took place.
     Annually the first educational day in institutions begins with traditional Lessons of the peace. In 2000 school studies after summer holidays began in frameworks of the week of peace, declared in the republic. Joint efforts of active workers of Fund, workers of departments of education of district executive committees and pedagogical collectives of schools and other educational institutions had been planned the extensive program of interesting actions.
     The first school hours in all classes were devoted to the political information. Their theme became results of Summit of century and performance at this International forum of the President of the republic, problems of preservation of the peace and stability in the country, prevention of threat of war and violence, education of youth in spirit of ideas of peaceful disposition and humanism.
      In the center of attention of active workers during a Week of the peace as in all activity of the organizations of Fund, there were questions of a rapprochement of fraternal people of Russia and Belarus, a course of realization of agreements on creation of the uniform Russian-Belarus allied state. Supporters of the Russian and Belarus funds of the peace try to bring as more as possible powerful contribution in this process on the basis of the coordinated plans of work and joint actions.
     Fund of the peace is open organization in all respects, here render hearty welcome to everyone who will come with kind promptings, he will be given the answer to any question concerning with peace-making movement, sources of its financing, today's and tomorrow's plans of an active.
     The information about receipt and expenditure of means getting from voluntary payments and distribution of the humanitarian help of foreign sponsors (in what visitors are interested more often), and also about actions of Fund and about a course of realization by it of social programs is published in the newspaper " the Bulletin of the world ", which is the periodical of the organization, and in other republican and local press, in radio and telecasts. Especially actively the Fund cooperates with edition of "Republic", its international department which editor M.N.Shimansky is the vice-president of Fund of the peace. Together with the newspaper the Fund has carried out more than twenty charitable actions. Among them are delivery of material aid to inhabitants of some areas of republic, suffered in different years from flooding and destructive hurricane, rendering of address support to father-single A.I.Korbutu and his seven children from Kopial, to the invalids of the first group in purchase of a carriage and another people in need.
     To serve people, to bear them kindly, to help them - was, is and always will be determining in work of active workers of Fund of the peace. Therefore it enjoys trust of hundreds thousand supporters. Noble activity of Fund is in its concrete affairs, in the help, which is felt by more and more people. Feel, see, if not by the example of the family, but by the example of family of the neighbors, the fellow worker, the familiar, close or distant relative. These visible affairs are in freshened up, with unusual inflow of energy child, coming back from the health resort, or in scarce medicine for the patient, in a grocery set to the needy old man, in the extremely necessary thing in a facilities.
     Use of means - is strict to destination, on target social programs. For example, in 1995 the Fund of the peace together with the Belarus union of officers and the Savings Bank of the republic lead the action of mercy on fund raising in the help to participants of Great Patriotic war. On the special account were receipted over 300 million roubles. This entire sum had been spent for purchase of medical products and the medical equipment which were transferred to hospitals for invalids of the war in Minsk and Vitebsk areas. Annually from means getting from voluntary payments to the organizations of Fund over 70 percent from a total sum of receipts goes on programs of help.
     The big attention is given to education of rising generation on ideals and principles of humanism and the peace. At many city and rural schools, technical training colleges and other educational institutions are created and actively operate museums of fighting and labour glory. Here different meetings with former front-line soldiers and notable workers of the industry and fields which with the blood and sweat got peace in the world stronger, asserted freedom and independence of a native land took place.
     Annually the first educational day in institutions begins with traditional Lessons of the peace. In 2000 school studies after summer holidays began in frameworks of the week of peace, declared in the republic. Joint efforts of active workers of Fund, workers of departments of education of district executive committees and pedagogical collectives of schools and other educational institutions had been planned the extensive program of interesting actions.
     The first school hours in all classes have been devoted to the political information. Their theme became results of Summit of century and performance at this International forum of the President of the republic, problems of preservation of the peace and stability in the country, prevention of threat of war and violence, education of youth in spirit of ideas of peaceful disposition and humanism.
      In the center of attention of active workers during a Week of the peace as in all activity of the organizations of Fund, there were questions of a rapprochement of fraternal people of Russia and Belarus, a course of realization of agreements on creation of the uniform Russian-Belarus allied state. Supporters of the Russian and Belarus funds of the peace try to bring as more as possible powerful contribution in this process on the basis of the coordinated plans of work and joint actions.
     Fund of the peace is open organization in all respects, here render hearty welcome to everyone who will come with kind promptings, will be given the answer to any question concerning peace-making movement, sources of its financing, today's and tomorrow's plans of an active.
     The information about receipt and expenditure of means getting from voluntary payments and distribution of the humanitarian help of foreign sponsors (in what visitors are interested more often), and also about actions of Fund and about a course of realization by it of social programs is published in the newspaper " the Bulletin of the world ", which is the periodical of the organization, in other republican and local press, in radio and telecasts. Especially actively the Fund cooperates with edition of "Republic", its international department which editor M.N.Shimansky is the vice-president of Fund of the peace. Together with the newspaper the Fund has carried out more than twenty charitable actions. Among them are delivery of material aid to inhabitants of some areas of republic, suffered in different years from flooding and destructive hurricane, rendering of address support to father-single A.I.Korbutu and his seven children from Kopial, to the invalids of the first group in purchase of a carriage and another people in need.
     To serve people, to bear them kindly, to help them - was, is and always will be determining in work of active workers of Fund of the peace. Therefore it enjoys trust of hundreds thousand supporters. Noble activity of Fund is in its concrete affairs, in the help which is felt by more and more people. Feel, see, if not by the example of the family, but by the example of family of the neighbors, the fellow worker, the familiar, close or distant relative. These visible affairs are in freshened up, with unusual inflow of energy child, coming back from the health resort, or in scarce medicine for the patient, in a grocery set to the needy old man, in the extremely necessary thing in a facilities.
     Use of means - is strict to destination, on target social programs. For example, in 1995 the Fund of the peace together with the Belarus union of officers and the Savings Bank of the republic have lead the action of mercy on fund raising in the help to participants of Great Patriotic war. On the special account were receipted over 300 million roubles. This entire sum had been spent for purchase of medical products and the medical equipment which were transferred to hospitals for invalids of the war in Minsk and Vitebsk areas. Annually from means getting from voluntary payments to the organizations of Fund over 70 percent from a total sum of receipts goes on programs of the help.
     Collateral deductions are provided only for administrative and household needs - rent fees, charges for consumed electricity and heat, as well as for telephone, postal and typographical services, motor transport maintenance, and also expenses on receiving foreign delegations. Salaries of the Fund's workers are paid from its own means as well. There are only a few workers of this kind. According to the established schedule, paid posts exist only within the staff of the administration of the Republic's Fund and it's regional and City of Minsk departments. In all the other organizations the work is performed by the active members on a voluntary basis. Everything that makes up the Fund's rich history has been created by disinterested labour, mutual efforts of quite a few generations of activists. Numerous squad of the veterans of peacemaking movement makes up in the true sense of the word the Fund's priceless treasury, its golden core. Many years and even decades they devoted to the noble pursuit of fight for peace. Among them are twice Hero of Socialist Labour V.L. Bedulja; Heros of the Soviet Union N.I. Obednjak, N.T. Kataev, A.I. Bardanov, M.B. Osipova; Heros of Socialist Labour F.I. Fiodorov, I.P. Shamjakin, Z.D. Gorjachko, M.A. Dmitriev; former front-line soldiers G.K. Bodunov, M.I. Bazyleva, N.V. Golub, E.V. Vinogradov, G.N. Devojno, V.K. Emeljanov, M.G. Izmajlov, V.V. Levchenko, M.S. Prusakov, E.I. Pushkareva, P.I. Cheremisov; leaders, members of organization's management boards at present time R.I. Bobrovich, G.I. Klesova, L.D. Polenova, L.N. Romanjuk, L.A. Ermalovich, Ch.S. Kashkur, M.F. Pavlovetz, T.E. Penina and many, many more.
     Belarusian fund of peace is in many respects obliged to its leader Marat Fiodorovich Egorov for its glorious achievements in the field of peacemaking and enjoying huge international authority. An active participant of the Great Patriotic War, marked off with high front-line rewards, he's been in the front row of peace warriors for 40 years already, being one of the most respected organizers and leaders of peacemaking movement in the Republic. Brilliant orator and publicist, M.F. Egorov tirelessly advocates the ideas of peace, kindness, mercy. His voice in defense of peace, with appeal to the world community for effectual aid to Belarus in overcoming Chernobyl disaster sounded from the rostrum of the UNO and UNESCO Congress, in the USA Senate, FRG Bundestag and Knesset of the Israel State, during personal meetings with the leaders of the All-China Assembly of people's representatives of the People's Republic of China, American presidents George Bush Sn and Bill Klinton, President of the Irish Republic Mary Robinson and other statesmen, political and religious figures of other foreign countries. Marat Fiodorovich is a participant of large-scale international forums in Japan, Germany, Holland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the USA. For his many-sided peacemaking activity M.F. Egorov is honoured with the UNO high title 'International envoy of peace'. He is an honorary citizen of three Irish towns, and in the end of 2000 American bibliographical institute rewarded M.F. Egorov with a 'Medal of Honour' and introduced his name into the international reference book 'Outstanding leaders of the 20th century'. Information about the leaders of Belarusian fund of peace can also be found in the encyclopedia '2000 prominent intellectuals of the world'. Publicistic qualities of M.F. Egorov obtained the recognition of the scientific council of the International academy of information processes and technologies. He was given the scientific degree of the candidate of sciences and academic status of professor.
     Like in the past four decades activists of the former Belarusian department of the SFP, and now national Fund of peace have been and are doing all they can to close forces of defenders of peace in the Republic; to join to this movement new participators irrespective of their social status, profession, nationality, parties membership, political or religious views; to promote the development and putting into life peaceable initiatives of security, bringing goodness to people.