Beacon of Hope

© Alina Kisina, May 2021. From Children of Vision

Since I was 19 I tried to support the Kyiv Special School for Children with Impaired Vision - to me it has always been a beacon of hope and a powerful illustration of what's possible even in the hardest of circumstances, and it's still the case.

While the children and most teachers got evacuated, the principal Iryna with another young teacher and the school's handy man remained as custodians of what is now a bomb shelter for the local residents at the school basement.

Iryna refuses to accept any financial aid, her and the team are living on home-made preserves of fruit and vegetables from last summer and send their salaries directly to fund shoes and bulletproof vests for the soldiers. With the electricity, heating and internet still on, their spirits are up. "We even finally have the time to put up a proper photo wall of all the images you took of the children!", Iryna told me joyfully.

I share Iryna's optimism yet I can't help but wonder: Will the children ever be back and will I see them again?