Anna and her daughter Oleksandra

“It is somehow more pleasant to live in a society that does not hide its children from my child." - The story of Anna and her daughter Oleksandra
When war engulfed Ukraine, Anna faced an unthinkable challenge: fleeing with her daughter Oleksandra, a child with special needs. In Kharkiv, they had battled daily against a world of barriers - stairs without elevators, rehabilitation centers without ramps, and a society that often shunned difference. With bombs falling, Anna and Oleksandra embarked on a grueling journey to safety, navigating packed trains and endless waits.
Their path led them to Germany, where Anna discovered a new world of accessibility and acceptance. For the first time, Oleksandra attends school, returning home with a face that "simply says 'I have everything, I feel good'." Yet, the transition hasn't been without its struggles. Anna grapples with the pain of leaving her beloved Kharkiv and the guilt of finding a better life abroad.
Watch the video to see how Anna and Oleksandra are building a new life in a country that embraces their needs. Their story illuminates the often-overlooked challenges faced by families with special needs children during times of crisis and the transformative power of an inclusive society.
This video was produced within the project “Barrier-free Safety for People with Disabilities”, which is the part of INKuLtur-Programme implemented by Austausch e.V. together with Eastern Partnership countries funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Credits
Concept and Direction - Carina Spreitzer
Production - Austausch e.V. | dim filmhouse | Daria Lkuashenko
Lead production dimfilmhouse - Eric Holland
Lead production Austausch e.V. - Nataliia Zviagintseva
Camera and Sound Germany - Andrej Matalyha
Camera and Sound Ukraine - Tetiana Dorodnitsyna
Postproduction Coordination - Carina Spreitzer
Cut - Anastasiia Lukova
Colour Correction and Grading - Oleksandr Shuklin
Sounddesign and Master - Marcos Leiro
Music - Marcos Leiro
Subtitles - Nataliia Zviagintseva | Carina Spreitzer
Sign language - Iryna Ternova
Dubbing to Ukrainian - Natalka Sopit and Kyrylo Bondarenko
Set-Runner Germany - Nikita Znak
Set-Runner Ukraine - Borys Viktiuk
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