The Sky Above: Stories from Ukraine about Disability and War
Welcome to “The Sky Above: Stories from Ukraine about Disability and War”. This is a physical photo exhibition organised by the Empower project that we showcase in various spaces. Photos, stories, and audio guides available in Ukrainian and English.
You can get a general idea of the exhibition by viewing the album with the exhibition boards, as well as by reading the texts from them, which are presented below.
Here you can also listen to the soundtrack. It is available in English and Ukrainian, and fully describes photos in the exhibition, making it accessible.
We would be happy to present an exhibition at your event, please get in touch with the concept and technical parameters.
This exhibition is organised by the European Disability Forum, the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities, and the League of the Strong in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and Christian Blind Mission (CBM).
PIGEONS OF LVIV by Lina Kostenko
А flat black shape is swiftly falling down, —
The shadow of a white ascending pigeon.
A meeting place for birds, — the overhang
That crowns the sober lines of the cathedral.
A colorful medley of streets and crowds
And ancient roofs with their sloping shoulders.
The doves are prattling high above the town, —
What are they chattering about, I wonder…
About pretty things, or the cathedral,
The sky above, the war, the world, the humans…
Perhaps, a pigeon says to his beloved:
“When I was flying far, tell, did you miss me?”
Background
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues to take a devastating and disproportionate toll on persons with disabilities, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, veterans, older people, single-headed households, adults and children in institutions, and civilians affected by war, as well as prisoners and ex-prisoners.
These individuals are particularly at risk in times of war.
The war has turned Ukraine into a complex humanitarian situation with the UN Migration (IOM) estimating 3,548,000 de facto IDPs and 4,734,000 returnees reside in Ukraine as of April 2024.
The war has affected access to basic services including water, electricity, heating, health care, education, and social services. The government of Ukraine reports billions in damage to infrastructure including homes and health care facilities.
Sadly, in late 2024, there is no sign of an end but instead attacks, losses of life and destruction only increase.
Since March 2022, the European Disability Forum, the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities and the League of the Strong have been working to address the needs of persons with disabilities and other at risk people. We do this through provision of humanitarian aid (food, water, bedding, hygiene products), transport to healthcare, cash vouchers, and other direct aid, but also through advocacy both in Ukraine and at the European level.
All of our work is aligned with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This convention is a vitally important legal document that countries have signed to show their commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.
Thanks, Contacts and Disclaimer
This work has been done with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and Christian Blind Mission (CBM).
With thanks to Thomas Heap at DesignHeap for the graphic design
Disclaimer: The views expressed are not those of the funding partners. If any errors or omissions exist in this work, please bring it to the attention of Phillipa Tucker, Coordinator for Central and Eastern Europe at the European Disability Forum. phillipa.tucker@edf-feph.org