School for the Blind – Alluring Kharkiv

The history of the Kharkiv School for Blind Children dates back to 1881, when ophthalmologist O. Skrebitsky and social activist K. Grot established the Empress Maria’s Fund for the Blind.

^{The building’s current address is Sumska Street, 55. Photo from the early 20th century.}

The Kharkiv branch was established in 1886, and in 1887 the school opened at Nemetska Street, 41 (now Hryhoriia Skovorody Street) in the private residence of the Benediktov family. The school was designed to accommodate 15 children, whilst the actual number of blind children was much greater. The first chair of the Kharkiv branch of the Welfare Council was the renowned ophthalmologist L. Hirschman.

The school was funded by charitable donations from trustees and ordinary citizens, as well as by a ‘collection’ held in churches on ‘Sunday for the Blind’ (the fifth Sunday after Easter).

In 1890, the school moved to the more spacious Kvitka building on Osnova, but the board realised that the education of blind children would be best organised in a purpose-built building, adapted for children with special needs.

It was built at the junction of Sumskaya Street and what is now Danilevskogo Street in 1891–1892 to a design by architect S. Zagoskin (with the participation of F. Shuster; according to other sources, he was the architect). The building is a listed architectural landmark.

In 1902–1903, the Church of Christ the Saviour was added to the building, designed by V. Nemkin, and in 1909–1913 the school was significantly expanded with the addition of a new wing on the side facing Danylevskoho Street (designed by Viktor Velychko).

^{This extension housed a church, which differs stylistically from the other buildings. Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2016}

The school had a large Braille library. The children were taught not only general subjects – there was a craft class with workshops where children, teenagers and even blind adults could learn practical skills that would help them in adult life.

^{Photo: Oleg Ilyin, Wikimedia Commons, 2020}

Unfortunately, in 1941, the children could not be evacuated in time (and those of Jewish origin perished). One wing of the building housed a German command post.

The School for the Blind (V. G. Korolenko Special Educational Complex) was damaged by a Russian missile strike on 2 March 2022.

^{Video: Maidan Monitoring Information Centre, 2022}

^{Video: Suspilne, 2022}