Food parcels for the self-settlers of Illintsi and Kupuvate.

That day we were driving into the Zone on our own business. But there were food parcels in the trunk, so on the way we turned off to visit the self-settlers of Illintsi and Kupuvate.

A food parcel is just a reason to come. These people live in isolation, and a visitor means as much to them as cereal or cooking oil. So we lingered in every house: sat down, listened, asked questions. And we wrote down in a notebook what each of them would need next time.

Next time came just a few weeks later: we returned to Illintsi, to the only resident of the village. And so one trip made "on the way" turned into a habit.