Irina Chepko

All of my best memories are from childhood, and I will be forever grateful for this. I see it as a place where you can always escape in your mind when it’s getting dark.

And this place must be untouchable. Nobody has a right to steal it from those millions of children in my Homeland.

I want them to never lose faith, to never stop believing that anything is possible, and never forget that they are loved and protected. That life always wins over death. And light wins over darkness.

I was crying while taking this photo. When I put my camera down, this kind woman hugged me.

2/26/22 Atlanta, Olympic Park