Sitting on a bench

This is Galya, she is 54 years old and is waiting in front of the municipality in the Krasno Selo neighborhood, hidden behind the trees. She visits the municipality every few days. When she goes there, the security guard tells her that she should have access to a room and an assistant, but she cannot access such services. On this day, she went to talk to them about her housing conditions.

The situation is complicated and many people are concerned about her. Galya is under guardianship, which means she cannot freely exercise her rights. For example, she cannot issue her own ID card or register at a temporary accommodation center or a home for people with disabilities, as she has wanted to do for years, let alone go to the doctor. There are also obstacles with her disability pension, to which she has no access. Her mother used to take care of her, but today she relies mainly on friends and people around her.

Galya has worked as a stenographer and in kindergarten. She graduated from a religious school and plays the mandolin. It is very important for her to respect others and not get in anyone’s way. Nasko emphasizes the way she sits. As a person, she is gentle, polite, and modest. As part of Kukuryak, she is the most regular and punctual—she never misses a day.

According to Kukuryak, this photo accurately depicts Galya’s feelings and her reality. She appears to be pensive, asking herself, «Where to?» while seemingly going nowhere. The autumn and the leaves emphasize the atmosphere and the feeling of finality and aimlessness.