Digital aid for Ukraine: Dima’s story

Laptops can be a life saver for Ukrainians. This is the story of how one man, Dima Sabanov, used a laptop donated by HP as part of GBC-Education’s Digital Equity for Ukraine program to help him cope with his severe disability and to source 10 devices for his son’s school in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city.

Dima’s extraordinary journey since the full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 embodies the hardships and struggles faced by the whole country, but particularly by its most vulnerable. It shows how important the ability to learn and communicate online have been to maintaining mental health and a sense of hope.

“When Russian forces entered Kharkiv, it was very frightening. I have a serious spinal condition which made it difficult for me to move around the city independently.

In April 2022 I was evacuated with my mother by the Red Cross to Poland. After going to a couple of different cities I was taken to a special centre for people with disabilities in the town of Przeworsk.

Neither of us had a working electronic device. I just had a broken Xiaomi phone. Communicating with home, relatives and friends who had remained in Ukraine was a big challenge.

I learned about Fundacja Q [GBC-Education’s partner in Poland] and applied for an HP laptop. I also helped older people apply and taught them how to use the devices. I used the laptop to take various craft courses, including embroidery and origami, to learn new manual skills – I have always studied independently, striving to learn new things in the areas that interest me. I could keep up to date with the latest news. It became an indispensable tool.

After a few months I was offered treatment in Warsaw – in one of the best clinics in Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, after various tests and analyses, they said that the condition was inoperable. After that, we decided to return home to Kharkiv.

My son Maxim is 10 years old and had stayed in Kharkiv living with his mother – we are separated. This was also a big factor for me, and I was very worried about him.

In Kharkiv I contacted Mrs Svitlana, the director of my son’s school, and told her about the Fundacja Q. The school applied for and received 10 laptops for the children’s education.

Pupils at in Kharkiv Secondary School, I-II levels №79 with laptops donated as part of the HP Digital Equity for Ukraine initiative; photographed with head teacher Svitlana Kolmykova and volunteers from the Kharkiv Volunteer Union, which helped transport the laptops from Poland to Kharkiv. Photography credits: Fundacja Q

What is scary is that we are in the 21st century, yet we are afraid that at any moment a rocket could come and destroy us because a neighboring country has decided to attack us. It’s very hard to live with that.

Our children cannot get an education. Their carefree and happy childhood has been stolen from them. But children are our future. If children are not educated, what future can the country have? We must ensure that all children have access to education.

The quality of education our children receive will determine the kind of doctors, teachers, engineers, and other professionals who will shape the future of our country. If children are not educated, it will be a great misfortune for us.”

In the autumn of 2023, Dima travelled to Germany for specialist treatment. He hopes to return to Ukraine soon.