Child Profile, 4. Vitaly Sigaev, aged 13
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© UNICEF 2006 |
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Vitaly, Belarus: Levan |
By John Varoli
The 20th century has been especially cruel to Russia's Bryansk region. Its grim legacy is felt strongly by Vitaly Sigaev, age 13, whose mother, Galina, is a local tour guide in the city of Klintsi. She knows the grim history of a fertile agricultural region that once had enormous potential.
During the First World War, German and Austrian troops devastated the area. The Russian Civil War brought the Red Terror, and a decade later Stalin brutally collectivized the peasantry. In 1941, the Nazis invaded.
This gruesome history helps locals cope with the Chernobyl disaster, many seeing it as yet another tragedy to be endured. With Vitaly by her side, Galina recalls the first days after the explosion at Chernobyl.
“We heard there had been an accident at the Chernobyl plant but no one told us the extent of it,'” says Galina. “We thought it was just a small mishap and so, as usual, everyone went to the May 1 parade. Many people who went out that day later went bald.”
Even though he was born seven years after the Chernobyl meltdown, Vitaly suffers from poor health – a compromised immune system, frequent headaches and, like many other children, brittle bones. His arm has been broken four times in the same place in the past four years. In 2001, Vitaly's grandfather died of leukemia at the age of 60.
“Vitaly's generation is already suffering, but those who are born even now will also suffer from radiation poisoning,” says Galina. “Scientists believe that gene mutation will continue to afflict future generations.”
UNICEF's photo master class in Minsk in early March gave Vitaly and other children a rare chance to see the extent of the Chernobyl disaster; that it goes far beyond their towns and villages, and into the neighboring countries of Ukraine and Belarus. The most jarring moment came when Vitaly and his group visited a children's cancer hospital in Minsk.
“I felt sorry for these children, and realized we have to help them,” says Vitaly, who despite his own illnesses, realized that he is more fortunate than others. “I was really taken by one boy, Dima, who though very sick, continued to be happy, friendly and was fighting to keep the cancer from crushing him.”
Vitaly's photos show very well how the experience touched him – many of his images have a subtle but strong dose of hope and faith. Take the photos of the Russian Orthodox novices from a nearby seminary, who take care of the young patients at the hospital.
“These girls stand for goodness,” muses Vitaly, who then shows the image of a Russian icon depicting Jesus Christ and an angel. “These children have lost everything, and the doctors can do little. Only faith remains.”
Others have also noticed a dramatic change in Vitaly's behaviour since the UNICEF master class.
“Even the teachers at school have noticed the difference, and asked what happened to him,” says Galina. “Before he was rather grim but he came back from Minsk inspired, and now smiles more.”
