Where to start....maybe with a photo...

...this is the way they get boiling water in the school. Basically, a heating element in a bucket. The water used by the cleaners to try and keep the school clean...no doubt also makes a good cup of tea!! 
And this is their main water supply cylinder into the school. In this same room, the cleaners grow plants from seed for the school.
It gets no better when we look at the student dinner area. Again, damaged and shelled by the Russians.
However, the photo doesn't give the whole story. In the background, the cooks prepare really good quality food for lunch in the most basic of kitchens. Meals are free for both the children and staff. I can vouch for how good the food is. 

The main purpose of going to the school today was to do some teaching and deliver the books that we were able to purchase through kind donations.
The photo below is of a textbook currently used.
And these were some of the books we were able to bring today, with more on their way.
We were able to immediately start using the books which felt really good.
The lesson above took place in the basement as the air raid siren had gone off. It was wonderful being able to spend some time teaching these children. It was a real honour to have had the opportunity to do so. And, all being well, we will do so again.

So, after lunch in the student dinning hall, we set off on an aid run to a somewhat forgotten area - Kyinka, near Chernihiv, some 5 kilometres from the Russian lines, where shelling is still a regular occurrence. I have never seen so many damaged or destroyed houses. There were many helpers who unloaded the van at a community centre, which we were thankful for as we had a lot of aid to unload, supplied by Paczki Dla Ukraini, and also, a lot of food bought through donations given by supporters of trawden4ukraine. Many thanks for all the people involved in making this happen, including Ala, an English teacher/translator who came with us to assist. We were able to share the items with many families. More will be shared out tomorrow.
As usual, the teddies that came from Wales were a massive hit with the children.
So, the day ended, but not before some of the people who had received the aid gave something back to us...fresh cheese, milk and cream. The milk, literally, having been milked from the cow a short time previously. And it really was delicious.
And a photo of some of the people who helped make the aid run happen.
On getting back to the village where we are staying, Fi went for a walk...
A bleak reminder of the reality of living here.





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