Zherelo Special School Reopens!

With some help from this blog

Some good news to brighten up the winter murk. Remember Zherelo Special School for children with Down syndrome and other disabilities? In autumn 2023, it was struck by a missile and badly damaged by the ensuing fire and rain damage. Much of the building still looks like this:

L-R: Teachers Oleksandr Zhuk, Irina Konohrai and Irina Rylushko and Director Oleksandr Nyshenko at the damaged school in September 2024

Funds for rebuilding are scarce in Zaporizhzhia city, which is only 25 km from the front line. So when I visited in September 2024, only remote teaching was taking place. Teachers and children were struggling with the challenges of online learning, and it was hard work for parents.

However, after reading this post about the school’s plight, some kind-hearted sponsors got in touch with the school to ask how they could help. Thanks to them, Zherelo has been able to rent two rooms elsewhere in Zaporizhzhia - in a basement, as safe from attack as possible. The new mini-school has been painted, the desks and teaching materials have been moved in, and it’s operating six days a week. There isn’t room for everyone at the same time, but the children attend in groups and are happy to be reunited with their friends.

And thanks, as well, to everyone who shares this blog with their friends, and keeps it visible on Substack by subscribing. Raising awareness really can have concrete results.

Here are the kids in their new classrooms:

Back at work and play, December 2024

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I think I claimed before Christmas that I’d start blogging again in January. That didn’t happen, because I’m juggling work, volunteering, writing and self-maintenance on an ongoing basis. I work the equivalent of full-time hours, as a digital nomad when necessary, which is how I can be 100% self-supporting, financially.

However, I will be going back to Ukraine probably in March, and will commence posting properly again then. I appreciate all subscribers – almost 400 of you now! – especially those who donate via the blog. Hopefully posts made from Ukraine will make up for any silences. I have some interesting plans, in as far as it’s really possible to plan.