Janina Kulak, Coventry

© Paulina Patrykowska

She is over 80 years old. Her journey from Poland to England started in 1940 when Russian soldiers took her and her family to Siberia and ended seven years later in 1947.

The story of her childhood is very emotional, she spent a few years in cold Russia, travelled through the Far East, lived and studied for four years in Palestine to finally come to England with Anders’ Army in 1947. This portrait shows all her wrinkles, her past troubles, but at the same time she’s drinking her tea with closed eyes, finally calm and safe.

“You can never buy freedom, you have to fight for it,” she says.