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Transcript/ScriptUKRAINE BUCHA RECONSTRUCTION
HEADLINE: After Atrocities, Bucha Inches Toward Normality
TEASER: At the scene of Ukraine massacre, rebuilding continues, and children return to school.
PUBLISHED AT: 10/05/2022 at 9:45am
BYLINE: Anna Chernikova
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Kyiv
VIDEOGRAPHER: Serhii Smychok
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:55
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
((INTRO)) [[The Ukrainian city of Bucha was the scene of one of the war’s worst massacres, with hundreds of bodies discovered in mass graves back in April. Now, against many expectations, a robust reconstruction effort is making it possible for children to return to school. For VOA, Anna Chernikova reports from Bucha.]]
((NARRATOR))
Images of the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Bucha at the outskirts of Kyiv shocked the world months ago. The city was devastated, and in mass graves, hundreds of bodies were found.
When the city was liberated in April, it was impossible to imagine that life could return to normal here. With classrooms destroyed, a return to school anytime soon was unthinkable.
But six months later, Bucha’s children – and those internally displaced from other parts of Ukraine – are coming to classrooms that have been quickly rebuilt.
This war took away their childhood. Most of them had to evacuate from their home to safer places. Others survived the Russian occupation. Some of their friends – didn't.
Teachers and parents say they are happy children will return after going through so much.
((Viktoria Osadcha, School Headmaster – FEMALE IN UKRAINIAN – VOA))
“When I came here after the occupation, when it was liberated, I came to the school to see what was going on. These broken windows - I didn't think that we would be able to welcome the children by September first. I thought that we would just have a remote studies format.”
((NARRATOR))
But as the war is ongoing, the risks remain very high.
((Alina Pylypenko, Parent of First Grader – FEMALE IN UKRAINIAN – VOA))
“Indeed, I will be worried, but we’ve been told that the basement will be equipped with Wi-Fi, we have already packed an emergency bag for the child, just in case. Still, we hope that everything will be fine.”
((NARRATOR))
Instructors say their teaching approach will never be the same as it was before Russia’s February invasion.
((Lidia Malai, Ukrainian Language Teacher – FEMALE IN UKRAINIAN – VOA))
“I am no longer the teacher I was before February 24. What I saw, what I experienced and what I am witnessing and experiencing now. Of course, it will definitely affect my work, my educational work with children. And the children, the children also saw everything.”
((NARRATOR))
This school, like others in Bucha, was renovated with the help of the US Global Empowerment Mission, an international charity. Its founder, Michael Capponi, believes that this is not just an education investment, it is the restart of country’s economy on various levels.
((Michael Capponi, Global Empowerment Mission Founder – MALE IN ENGLISH))
“All of this is like the ecosystem, like it starts moving in a positive direction again. So that’s why I always say, that’s a multitude of reasons why a minimal investment of a hundred thousand dollars for a school, imagine what it does right, it solves so many different things than just the educational problem.”
((NARRATOR))
The Russian assault drove out many Bucha residents, but they are coming back. Children are back at their studies making this step – despite the dangers - a battle won.
((ANNA CHERNIKOVA, FOR VOA NEWS, BUCHA))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Kyiv
Embargo DateOctober 6, 2022 18:40 EDT
Byline
VOA, Anna Chernikova reports from Bucha.
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
