Recently, The Day published an article about the blind Kharkiv-based journalist and activist Volodymyr Noskov. The story is back with a fantastic sequel – a foreign reader of this newspaper decided to make the journalist’s work easier and bought him the equipment Noskov could not afford on his own.
“I was awakened by a phone call in the morning of Wednesday, February 20. The call was international and came from the Kharkiv-born businessman Pavlo Pylypenko, currently living and doing business in Jordan. We had known each other, but were not friends. He said he had read an article about me in The Day covering my friends’ and mine hiking and cave trips as well as, and particularly interesting for him, my need for the special Braille printer that would significantly speed up my work as a blind journalist. I could not afford it, since the printer costs 5,000 to 6,000 dollars, depending on the model. It is not a mass-production item but one made only on order. ‘I want to help you!’ Pylypenko said, and promised to provide the necessary funds. It absolutely was not about advertising his company or something like that.” Private charity was necessary because, unfortunately, the average Ukrainian cannot afford to, even dream about buying such a device, and there is no national system for providing people in need with such equipment. Noskov contacted the Kyiv office of a company dealing in blind aids and they chose a printer that, meeting the journalist’s professional needs, worked quietly without disturbing other employees in the office or neighbors and family members at home. “Typical Braille printing involves punching through special thick paper, emitting a loud and unpleasant sound similar to one emitted when nailing something. However, this printer is quiet and can be used without placing it in a soundproof closet.” The company sold both the printer and the software to it at a good discount, Noskov rejoices. The purchase cost was 4,700 dollars, which sum was duly transferred to Ukraine by the businessman whom Noskov characterizes as a kind and patriotic person, despite living abroad with his family now. “Pylypenko told me by phone: ‘I once promised to help you and now, having read the article, I want you to implement your ideas, so I will do it,’” Noskov tells us.
The journalist, who had been piercing letters by hand with a great difficulty and spending hours writing a story, is now printing one in a few minutes. “I am awfully happy,” Noskov says. “It was a dream of my life! When we had the printer set up on February 24, I felt like entering a fairy tale, I really did, even if it sounds like a commonplace thing. It is a great time-saving device for me, since I cover hot political and social topics.”
So, Noskov is grateful to The Day for the article’s publication and to the person who provided effective assistance to him. “I thank you for all what you are! I have a great respect for your newspaper and your editor-in-chief,” he told us.
