Feature Story

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, swings in the playground at the City of Goodness in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, June 19, 2024. Sonya lives mostly in isolation with...

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, swings in the playground at the City of Goodness in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, June 19, 2024. Sonya lives mostly in isolation with her mother due to her weakened immune system from metastasis of Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 6-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, floats in an inflatable poor with her mother, Natalia, 26, for one of the last times a few days after doctors have...

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, floats in an inflatable poor with her mother, Natalia, 26, for one of the last times a few days after doctors have transitioned her treatment to a Fentanyl patch in addition to morphine and other medications as she lives out her final weeks due to metastasis from Retinoblastoma cancer at the Misto Dobra Palliative care center in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, June 27, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 6-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, sits in a small chapel with her sister, Valeria Kryvolapchuk, 6, as Sonya, who lives mostly in isolation due to her weakened...

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, sits in a small chapel with her sister, Valeria Kryvolapchuk, 6, as Sonya, who lives mostly in isolation due to her weakened immune system from the metastasis of Retinoblastoma cancer at the Misto Dobra, the City of Goodness, palliative care center and shelter in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, June 19, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 6-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, lies semi-conscious next to her mother, Natalia, 27, as she administers paracetamol with a syringe through a port as cancer has metastasized...

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, lies semi-conscious next to her mother, Natalia, 27, as she administers paracetamol with a syringe through a port as cancer has metastasized throughout her body from Retinoblastoma cancer at the Misto Dobra Palliative care center in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, July 28. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 7-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, rests as her mother cleans her prosthetic eyes a few days after doctors have transitioned her treatment to a Fentanyl patch in...

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, rests as her mother cleans her prosthetic eyes a few days after doctors have transitioned her treatment to a Fentanyl patch in addition to morphine and other medications as she lives out her final months due to metastasis from Retinoblastoma cancer at the Misto Dobra, City of Goodness, Palliative care center in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, June 27, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. She has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 6-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, walks with her mother, Natalia Kryvolapchuk, 26, and her sister, Valeria Liakh, 6 years old, as Sonya lives out her final months...

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, walks with her mother, Natalia Kryvolapchuk, 26, and her sister, Valeria Liakh, 6 years old, as Sonya lives out her final months of life due to metastasis of Retinoblastoma in the City of Goodness in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, June 4, 2024. Sonya lives mostly in isolation with her mother due to her weakened immune system from metastasis of Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 6-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Oleksandr ‘Sasha’ Kryvolapchuk, 4, peeks through the window of his sister, Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, as she lies in the arms of her mother, Natalia, 26,...

Oleksandr ‘Sasha’ Kryvolapchuk, 4, peeks through the window of his sister, Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, as she lies in the arms of her mother, Natalia, 26, and awaits additional pain killers after her regular dose of morphine in her room where she lives in semi-isolation during Sonya’s final months of life due to metastasis from Retinoblastoma cancer at the Misto Dobra Palliative care center in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, June 24, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 6-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Misto Dobra, “City of Goodness,” founder, Marta Levchenko, comforts Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, as Sonya's mother, Natalia Kryvolapchuk, 27, looks on moments before doctors increased Sonya's...

Misto Dobra, “City of Goodness,” founder, Marta Levchenko, comforts Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, as Sonya's mother, Natalia Kryvolapchuk, 27, looks on moments before doctors increased Sonya's pain medication to phenobarbital and diazepam in addition to the cocktail of medication she had been receiving throughout the day to manage her pain: a low-dose fentanyl patch, combined with more frequent and increased doses of morphine, acetaminophen and a cocktail of other muscle relaxers and anti-anxiety pills, as Sonya's condition deteriorates as she lives out her final days of life in the City of Goodness hospice for critical patients in Chernivtsi, western Ukraine, July 30, 2024. Following the administration of the additional drugs, Sonya fell into a deep sleep, only three days after returning from the intensive care unit, where she had been rushed to the hospital with low vitals and paradoxical breathing before receiving an IV and a blood transfusion as cancer has metastasized throughout her body from Retinoblastoma cancer. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. She has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 7-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illness

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, lies semi-conscious and writhing in pain as her mother, Natalia Kryvolapchuk, 27, kisses her legs as she quietly sheds a few tears...

Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, lies semi-conscious and writhing in pain as her mother, Natalia Kryvolapchuk, 27, kisses her legs as she quietly sheds a few tears as cancer has metastasized throughout her daughter's body from Retinoblastoma cancer at the Misto Dobra Palliative care center in Chernivtsi, Western Ukraine, July 29, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 7-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

A pediatrician checks Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, for fresh tumors which appeared over the previous few days due to metastasis from Retinoblastoma cancer deteriorates in the...

A pediatrician checks Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 5, for fresh tumors which appeared over the previous few days due to metastasis from Retinoblastoma cancer deteriorates in the Misto Dobra, City of Goodness, shelter and hospice for critical patients in Chernivtsi, western Ukraine, June 25, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. Since her initial diagnosis, she has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 7-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Natalya Kryvolapchuk, 27, crouches over the coffin of her daughter Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, the day Sonya passed away from metastasis of Retinoblastoma cancer in the...

Natalya Kryvolapchuk, 27, crouches over the coffin of her daughter Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, the day Sonya passed away from metastasis of Retinoblastoma cancer in the Pediatric Hospital in Chernivtsi, western Ukraine, August 21, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. She has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 7-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Natalya Kryvolapchuk, 27, places a cross into the hands of her daughter, Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, as Sonya’s lies in her coffin surrounded by flowers and...

Natalya Kryvolapchuk, 27, places a cross into the hands of her daughter, Sonya Kryvolapchuk, 6, as Sonya’s lies in her coffin surrounded by flowers and her favorite stuffed unicorn the evening after Sonya passed away from metastasis of Retinoblastoma cancer in the Pediatric Hospital in Chernivtsi, western Ukraine, August 21, 2024. Sonya was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in 2020; she was 2 years old. Over the next 16 months, Sonya completed more than a dozen courses of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiation. She was scheduled to have another round of chemotherapy in Kyiv at the Ohmatdyt Hospital on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine when she and her mother, Natalia, were diverted instead to Poland, where Sonya received many diagnostic tests, but no additional treatment. By the time her mother decided to return to Ukraine for another attempt at chemo, her cancer had spread throughout her body. She has lost both eyes and is totally blind, and in mid-May 2024, doctors gave her only days to live. She is also accompanied by her 7-year-old sister, Valeria Liakh, and her brother, Sasha, 4. Two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, families with children suffering from severe illnesses have struggled to navigate the complexities of care in the throes of a war. (Credit: Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Shuishan(b.2013) and Xintian(b.2020) were born and lived in Beijing, China. In May, 2022, my whole family emigrated to New York, USA from Beijing. This is...

Shuishan(b.2013) and Xintian(b.2020) were born and lived in Beijing, China. In May, 2022, my whole family emigrated to New York, USA from Beijing. This is the first time we choose to live in another country. Brand new challenges awaits us. We overcome obstacles one after another in a positive spirit and explore the community around us. In Antigua, Guatemala, The family is on a summer vacation. Xintian delights in jumping on the bouncy castle, while her mother joins in, laughing as she happily falls down.

Shuishan lies on the sofa with an ice pack on his forehead, trying to cool his fever, while Xintian dances with her favorite doll to...

Shuishan lies on the sofa with an ice pack on his forehead, trying to cool his fever, while Xintian dances with her favorite doll to music. Their mother rests on the floor after undergoing surgery earlier that month.

March 29, 2024, On the first day of Easter holiday, the family sailed on the ferry to Staten Island for the first time. As the...

March 29, 2024, On the first day of Easter holiday, the family sailed on the ferry to Staten Island for the first time. As the sunset poured through the windows, they gazed at the Statue of Liberty, bathed in golden light.

In the Lower East Side of New York, the owner of a vintage car invited Shuishan and his mother to try it, while Xintian gazed...

In the Lower East Side of New York, the owner of a vintage car invited Shuishan and his mother to try it, while Xintian gazed at the sky through her sunglasses from her stroller.

April 27, 2024, Shuishan, Xintian and their mother are taking a rest on a net at the Governor Island, New York City.Governor's Island is a...

April 27, 2024, Shuishan, Xintian and their mother are taking a rest on a net at the Governor Island, New York City.Governor's Island is a historic, car-free island in New York Harbor, offering scenic views, outdoor activities, and cultural events for families, just a short ferry ride from Lower Manhattan. It’s the family’s favorite place.

April 8, 2024, Shuishan and his friends are watching sun eclipse in a playground in Manhattan, New York City, where observers saw nearly 90 percent...

April 8, 2024, Shuishan and his friends are watching sun eclipse in a playground in Manhattan, New York City, where observers saw nearly 90 percent of the moon’s shadow cover the sun.The solar eclipse in New York City this April was significant as it offered a rare, near-total view of the sun, the first of its kind since 1979, and a reminder of the city's connection to astronomical events.

Shuishan, Xintian and their mother watching airplanes pass overhead in Flushing, New York City, as they approach or depart from the nearby LaGuardia Airport.

Shuishan, Xintian and their mother watching airplanes pass overhead in Flushing, New York City, as they approach or depart from the nearby LaGuardia Airport.

BUSSEDE, UGANDA - Ruth Araba (45) sits with her son Emma on her lap, who is severely malnourished, on the bed in the living room....

BUSSEDE, UGANDA - Ruth Araba (45) sits with her son Emma on her lap, who is severely malnourished, on the bed in the living room. A year ago Emma was put on nutrition at a local hospital, but after a while he was sent home, to die. Ruth:” I do not have money to pay for the hospital bills, because therefor I need to go to work and I can't leave my child alone." Ruth lives with her two sons in Bussede village in Uganda. Both of her sons suffer from Celebral Palsy due to a lack of oxygen during birth. While discrimination on the basis of disability is outlawed in Uganda, there are still many cases of prejudice and misunderstanding within communities. Ruth’s husband, family and friends abandoned her because of her sons disabilities. People with physical or intellectual disabilities are often considered a burden. Stigma is fuelled by beliefs that people with disabilities are cursed or possessed. "Nobody comes to visit our house. I love my sons more than anything, but sometimes I have suicidal thoughts, because it is hard to take care of them without anyone supporting me."

ABIM, UGANDA - Given (6) watches her siblings playing with friends while she sits near her home in Abim, Uganda. As she grew up her...

ABIM, UGANDA - Given (6) watches her siblings playing with friends while she sits near her home in Abim, Uganda. As she grew up her parents noticed she was handicapped. At about 6 months, she didn't sit and crawl like other children. Given is now permanently paralyzed in 1 arm and 1 leg. Samuël Otim, Given’s father (40 jaar): “When I found out that Given had a disability, I thought it was because someone casted a bad spell on her. I don't feel good about her disability. She doesn't go to school now because she can't talk. I can't always help her and she can't help herself all by herself. There are so many others who need to help her. And we have no support.”

GOTAPWOU, UGANDA - Martin (12) puts water in a tub before he washes himself. When martin was 4 years old, a cyclist hit him. His...

GOTAPWOU, UGANDA - Martin (12) puts water in a tub before he washes himself. When martin was 4 years old, a cyclist hit him. His leg was broken so badly that the doctors decided to amputate it. In northern Uganda, in the Abim district, a long-running program has been implemented by the government and various NGOs for greater acceptance of people with disabilities. Northern Uganda is one of the poorest areas of the country, but the region is an example of disability inclusion. People with disabilities are fully integrated into society, are allowed to go to school and have job opportunities.

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Christine teaches at Mulago school for the Deaf. The teacher is deaf herself and knows how important it is for students to...

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Christine teaches at Mulago school for the Deaf. The teacher is deaf herself and knows how important it is for students to be included in society: "All the children want is to feel like they have a place in society and to be able to communicate, like we all want." Mulago School for the Deaf has around 160 students. Most of them have multiple disabilities. Teophista Babirye, Director: “The biggest struggle are the school fees. Only 50 students are able to pay. Sometimes we get funding from the local church.”

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Shakul (9, with the phone) plays snake on his brothers' phone while his friends from school are watching. "Even though it is...

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Shakul (9, with the phone) plays snake on his brothers' phone while his friends from school are watching. "Even though it is sad that friends don't always understand me because I'm deaf, I think it's fantastic that they are always there for me. It makes me happy." Shortly after Shakul was born, his parents decided it would be better if he lived with his grandmother. When he was three years old, grandma learned that he was different from other children. It turned out Shakul was born with a rare genetic condition called Waardenburg Syndrome, affecting pigmentation and hearing. Although Shakul's grandma didn’t have a reliable income, she quickly fell in love with her grandson and committed to raising him, whatever it took. In Namatovu’s care, she would do anything to keep him enrolled in school. Namatovu: "Shakul makes friends very quickly. It doesn't matter if they are deaf or not, he makes contact very easily. Shakul is a beloved part of his community. That's why I'm not very worried about his future. He will always deserve a place in society."

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Students of Kampala School for Physically Handicaped return to class after lunch break. Kampala School for Physically Handicapped started in 1969. The...

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Students of Kampala School for Physically Handicaped return to class after lunch break. Kampala School for Physically Handicapped started in 1969. The founder s had children with Cerebral Palsy. Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped is the only one of its kind in Uganda, combining Education, Rehabilitation and Vocational skill training to children with various disabilities aging from 6 – 21 years. The school has 186 pupils. While 12.5% of the population in Uganda has disabilities, only 5 percent of children with disabilities can access education through Inclusive Schools and 10% through special schools (UNICEF, 2014). For the parents of children with disabilities, especially the blind and deaf who need specialized boarding schools that are not free, the obstacles can be tremendous.

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Jessy (6) plays outside with his nephew Roman and some neighbors near his grandparents' home in Kampala. On February 17, 2020 Jessy...

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Jessy (6) plays outside with his nephew Roman and some neighbors near his grandparents' home in Kampala. On February 17, 2020 Jessy was lured by a man he knew as uncle. The man attacked the boy and cut off his arm to use for a ritual to get, what he believes, wealth and fortune. The man also slashed Jessy's face and neck, hoping the boy would die. He dumped the heavily bleeding boy in a barrel. A neighbor heard the boy crying and alerted his father, who took him to the hospital shortly afterwards. Since then, Jessy lives without right forearm. Jessy’s dad, Godfrey: “Sometimes I see him pretending to cut off his other arm. Whether he remembers exactly what happened to him when he was 3.5, I don't know. He doesn't want to talk about it.” This practice, called child sarcrifice, kills hundreds of children each year. The first reported child sacrifice in Uganda took place in 1998. Since then, child sacrifice has become more common. According to a report by the Ugandan Police, 729 children nationwide were registered abducted in 2013 for ritual sarcrifice or child trafficking. The number is most likely higher.

JINJA, UGANDA - Musa Wandawa (33) collects water from the well next to his house in Jinja, Uganda. When Musa was 10 years old he...

JINJA, UGANDA - Musa Wandawa (33) collects water from the well next to his house in Jinja, Uganda. When Musa was 10 years old he contracted polio. That left him permanently disabled. Musa is a valued and respected member of the village. Musa: "Over the years, the society around me changed. When I was growing up, children were sometimes afraid of me. I believe, this perception has changed over the years and continues to change. Of course I sometimes get strange comments or looks, but overall people respect and appreciate me."

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Husnah Kukundakwe (15) during an early swim training at the Elite Swim and Gym pool in Kampala, Uganda. Husnah was born with...

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Husnah Kukundakwe (15) during an early swim training at the Elite Swim and Gym pool in Kampala, Uganda. Husnah was born with a congenital limb impairment that left her with no right lower arm. Husnah is a Ugandan swimmer who is currently the country's only classified paralympic swimmer. Her first appearance at the World Championships in London was mentioned among the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC’s) Top 10 Moments of 2019. Husnah: “Swimming was for me an escape from being really shy. I was always hiding my disability, because people look at me weirdly when they see my arm. So I’d always wear a sweater the whole day, even when it was hot, so people couldn’t see my hand. But when I started swimming, I learned to be more confident about myself.”

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Rogers Nkajja (40) moves near the compound at his home in Kampala, Uganda. His youngest children help him carrying his matrass. On...

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Rogers Nkajja (40) moves near the compound at his home in Kampala, Uganda. His youngest children help him carrying his matrass. On the 23rd of March in 2010, Rogers went to a bar to drink something with his friends. The only thing he remembers next is that he woke up to realize he was left on the rail lines without his limbs. Rogers doesn’t know why his friends did this to him, but he suspects it could have been a sacrificial ritual because at the hospital strange lake stones with ancient coins were found in his pocket. Rogers stayed for more than 7 months at the hospital before he could go home. Rogers: “When people see me, they assume me that I am not able to do anything. But I learned how to live with my situation. When my wife goes to work, I take care of the youngest children. In total, I have 7 girls. I can do almost everything regular people can do with their kids. I cook for them food, dress them and help them with homework.” Rogers laughs: “But I don't have legs to run after them."

Story Description: Despite sorrowful, solemn and sometimes tragic circumstances, Black funerals are often marked by a spirit of celebration. A homegoing, as the Black Christian...

Story Description: Despite sorrowful, solemn and sometimes tragic circumstances, Black funerals are often marked by a spirit of celebration. A homegoing, as the Black Christian tradition is called, commemorates the return of the deceased to the Lord. I spent three months behind the scenes at Willie Watkins’ Funeral Home, attending services, following employees on their daily duties and talking to bereaved families, to capture some of the artistry and soul that goes into a homegoing. Caption: Carroll Brown (second from right), mother-in-law of Marcus Johnson, 50, walks away after viewing Johnson’s casket in Lithonia on Friday, November 10, 2023.

Funeral attendants Justin Mayes and Preston Hall watch the service of Julian Reeder at Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Riverdale on Jan. 5,...

Funeral attendants Justin Mayes and Preston Hall watch the service of Julian Reeder at Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Riverdale on Jan. 5, 2024.

Friends and family of Tommie Lee Dixon Sr., 86, congregate on the front porch of Willie Watkins Funeral Home in Atlanta after a viewing for...

Friends and family of Tommie Lee Dixon Sr., 86, congregate on the front porch of Willie Watkins Funeral Home in Atlanta after a viewing for Dixon on Nov. 7, 2023.