Alice lives in a spine. She dreams of becoming an architect and restoring Kharkov. Cactus with buds: the story of a 13-year-old girl who dreams of restoring Kharkov Culture and education Thirteen -year -old Alice, living with the spine tumor, wants to become an architect and take part in the restoration of Ukraine. When the psychologist once asked the girl to draw a flower, she got a spiky cactus with several delicate buds. ~ 60 > Anna, mother Alice, was not surprised-her daughter lives with the tumor of the spine at the height of the war, but in spite of everything, she is determined to succeed. 60 > “such she is,” says 34-year-old Anna. “Strong, beautiful and cheerful. She meets all difficulties and pain with a smile, and also supports me. She appreciates every day. “Alice’s tumor was diagnosed shortly before the start of the war. Soon it became difficult for her to walk. “Now I need operations,” says the girl living with her parents in Kharkov. “We go to different cities, because in Kharkov there is no way to do the operation – the doctors left. In total, I have already done six operations. “I am very grateful” ~ 60 > next surgical intervention is planned for this summer in Ivano-Frankivsk. Alice tries to see positive moments in everything. ~ 60 > “on the one hand, war is shelling and destruction, but, on the other hand, if it weren’t for the war, I would not visit almost all the regions of Ukraine in such a short time, I would not have met so many people, I would not find new new people Friends “. However, despite his inexhaustible optimism, like all children of Ukraine, Alice feels the consequences of the war. Due to the destructive shelling of Kharkov, she had to change schools five times and move. The war deprived her of the opportunity to receive education and medical care in normal mode. But the worst thing is that the conflict took the life of one of its loved ones. Alice with her mother. “My brother, Uncle Alice, died in the war,” says Anna. “She recalls him. Recently I even wrote an essay about him. After that, she quickly matured. It was hard for her to realize that he was always there, and suddenly he was not. And he was always so positive. Perhaps Alice adopted this positive from him. “~ 60 > Alice the psychologist helped in the educational center” Gifted “of the Kharkov Lyceum, open with the support of the unisef. The center, located in a well -equipped shelter, is one of the few places in the area where children can feel safe. ~ 60 > “I am very grateful to the programs in the lyceum,” Anna says. “I see that they really helped.” Psychologists worked here with Alice. Indeed, because of parental love, emotions, we sometimes cannot explain everything as a professional would do. And I am glad that she feels not only my support, but also the support that she is given here. ”~ 60 >“ I liked it so much that I can’t choose ” tens of other students and dozens of other students spent scientific scientific Experiments. “Today I liked so much that I can’t choose one thing,” Alice says enthusiastically. – We talked about electricity, took pictures, and I really liked how we made candles. Everything was interesting. ” like many Kharkov schoolchildren, Alice cannot attend school due to safety situation. Therefore, when in September 2023 additional classes opened at the Kharkov Lyceum, Anna was one of the first to write her daughter there. Twice a week in children of different age groups-from the third to 10th grade-there is an opportunity to attend lessons, in particular mathematics and Ukrainian. 62 ~ Alice in a lesson in the educational center. In these classes, Alice was able to gain new knowledge in the exact sciences. She hopes to someday become an architect and restore Kharkov after the war. “Kharkov is a city city, a city of love,” says the girl. -Of course, something flies away every day, but we are always hiding. And at any moment we can come to the Lyceum, asylum, and wait out the danger. Here I am at home. And the architecture here is very beautiful. Unfortunately, there are many destroyed buildings. But when I become an architect, I will restore all of them. ”“ Looking at it, I want to live ” 60 > each operation is done under general anesthesia, and after each she has to undergo a period Rehabilitation. 60 > “I really dream that this is my last operation,” she says. ~ 60 > “Looking at it, I want to live,” Anna adds proudly. “And you think that even during the war everything is not so scary.” despite all the difficulties, Alice, like many teenagers throughout Ukraine, continues to hope for the best. UNICEF collaborates with the government of the country, helping children receive education. ~ 60 >*article prepared according to the materials of the UN country team in Ukraine. 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 ~ 62