Oleg Bitner

Lullabies for Alyona

In Karaganda city, Kazakhstan there is a center for K9therapy. I wanted to talk about how training with trained dogs helps children, patients with cerebral palsy. Having started shooting, in one of the classes I met a four-year-old girl Alyona. She was brought to school by her mother - Svetlana.

During my life as a photo reporter, I had many meetings with patients with cerebral palsy. Regardless of their age, I feel sympathy, nevertheless, always felt an invisible border, for which I would not like to step over. Meeting with Alyona and Svetlana allowed me to forget about that border.

This is a story about a mother who has not lowered her hands and is struggling for the health of her daughter. They try to attend courses of physiotherapy and massage, take pool lessons and also have lessons with specially trained dogs and horses to work with kids who have similar diagnosis. This is a story about a girl who smiles at specialists who a minute ago caused her unbearable pain during the procedures. Their life and their relationship are in this story.

All in all the story is about hope...

Oleg Bitner

Oleg Bitner is a freelance photographer, cameraman, currently based in Kazakhstan, Karaganda with experience in Central Asia and Western Europe. He focuses on the issues of social problems, identity and human rights violations.