In the summer of 2005, we loaded up our car with toys, rehabilitation equipment, and a pile of other donations from our friends and set off for Ukraine to photograph an orphanage. Or rather, an institution for mentally disabled young people, or perhaps physically disabled. In fact, all of the above.
The situation of caring for children on the margins of society was very difficult in Ukraine at the time, suffering from a lack of money, qualified staff, and outdated legislation. I'd better say right away that since then, an incredible amount has changed, and not only in this area. Which is, in part, the reason for Russian resentment. Even back then, we weren't the only ones trying to make a small move with what we had. Shortly before us, a shipment of rehabilitation equipment arrived from somewhere in Germany, and the reconstruction of buildings began with money from a charity in the US. Our plan was to bring some aid, a physiotherapist friend trained the staff for several weeks, and everything was then topped off with a series of exhibitions with a collection for the benefit of a Czech foundation that regularly sent its trained experts there.
The fact that the photos are of poor quality, blurry, and grainy is not an artistic intention, or at least it wasn't originally. I wasn't very prepared for the lighting conditions there and had to push most of the film. In addition, I bought a few more sensitive films at a market in nearby Chernivtsi, where they had apparently been lying in the sun for about 10 years. But I don't mind, it's a historic document on local material.
