OSELYATA
Robin Alysha Clemens, Lisa Weeda
Newspaper
385 × 265 mm / rotation print
2018
Newspaper for the project of photographer Robin Alysha Clemens and writer Lisa Weeda about ex-homeless community Oselya in Vynnyky, Ukraine:Fifteen years ago, a group of men and women built a house on Ivana Franka street in the Ukrainian town of Vynnyky. The house was created in order to help the homeless, and people with a history of substance abuse. There is room to sleep, to eat, to bathe and to work. The community calls itself ‘Oselya’, meaning home. The residents of this place call themselves the ‘Oselyata’. Right now, around twenty men, three women and two children – one born on the premises – live in the home of Oselya. They live together in harmony, share bedrooms, have breakfast, lunch and dinner together. They are not allowed to drink or have sex. They work, they follow the daily schedule, and they have a weekly meeting every Monday morning. Oselya is part of the international Emmaus network, a solidarity based movement that consists of residential communes and second hand stores all over the world.
Robin and Lisa followed, lived, observed, learned from and about the community for a period of time. The publication focusses mainly the positive spirit there is, and the group that they became.
Robin and Lisa followed, lived, observed, learned from and about the community for a period of time. The publication focusses mainly the positive spirit there is, and the group that they became.