Photo blog: Berdichiv prison
In our most recent newsletter, we shared a little about Shelter kid Vadim, who was recently released from prison after over four years, and Dima and Dennis, who are still incarcerated at a prison in Berdichiv, about an hour from Zhytomyr. Andre went to Berdichiv prison and was able to visit Dima a few weeks ago. Here are some pictures from the trip and the outside of the prison and a few more details about the boys’ lives. (Andre was not able to take pictures inside the prison.)
The prison is in the country outside of Berdichiv. Berdichiv is about an hour south of Zhytomyr.
Farm machinery on the drive to Berdichiv.
Lake on the drive to Berdichiv.
Almost there…
At Berdichiv prison. Andre was only given permission to visit one of the two boys, so he tossed a coin and visited Dima. First he had to show his paperwork and care package to the officer, who looked through everything thoroughly. Then the officers went to find Dima and bring him to the gate. Andre waited for two hours while they were going to get Dima.
An Orthodox church inside the prison
Finally the officers brought Dima to the gate. Andre was able to go in and spend an hour visiting with Dima.
Not much happens in prison. Andre asked Dima about the conditions there – for example, how hot it is. It’s pretty hot at times. But Dima didn’t have much to share, so Andre told him everything happening on the outside, all the news about Shelter and everyone.
Part of the prison.
Housing is always complicated for boys when they get out of prison – often they don’t have anywhere to go. But Dima’s mother recently died. She was an alcoholic and had cancer. Up until recently the house she owned in Zhytomyr was mostly empty; Dima’s brother Sasha lived there sometimes. But after her death, Sasha began living there full-time. After Dima is released – if he is released early – he will be able to live in that house with his brother, though the legal rights to his share of the home still need to be registered.
Dima has rights to an apartment in another city, too. But there’s a situation involving his grandmother and that apartment that would make it difficult for him to live in it, so he will just stay in his mother’s house with his brother Sasha. Besides, that house is in Zhytomyr, where he wants to live (and near the Last Bell staff who are like his family).
Dima is working on getting amnesty because of the country having a new president; hopefully he will be able to leave prison soon.
But Dennis was in prison earlier this year and already used his amnesty. Then he went to prison again. So he won’t be able to try for amnesty.
Dennis’s living situation is different from Dima’s. Dennis has the rights to a small house in the village. The house is falling apart. Since it isn’t livable and Dennis doesn’t want to live in the village, he will probably just sell it quickly for easy cash. He may use the money for apartment rent or for other things. But it is always a temptation for these kids, when they have a big sum of cash, to spend it unwisely or get into trouble with it. So the Last Bell staff will do their best to help him be smart and make good decisions with any money he gets.
There is hope for these boys. Without the presence of Last Bell, there would not be much hope. But Dennis and Dima know that when they are released, Andre and the rest of the Last Bell staff will be ready to help them if they are willing to be helped and treat them as family, as sons.