Activists bought the school building, in which Vasil Bykov went to the first class, and make it social and cultural center.

The school where the future writer graduated from the first class – this is the usual village hut. Described in the book "The Long Way Home" in many years:

"School was organized in the village on the border of the 30s, at first it was a little school starting in a peasant hut. Cabin and that still stands, after the war there lived my brother Nicholas. And then the owners just moved to an annex, and the large room was given to the school. They set up two long tables i have collected fifteen rustic small fry.

The teacher was Anton Vasilyevich Avlasenko from the village Daroškavičy... It so happened that all my friends were older than me i went to school before, and I was only six years old. I sit alone at home and at school something interesting going on, and I also want to go there. Then one day my father took me by the hand and led her to the teacher. Talk to him, and Anton V. says: let him walk. He gave me a notebook, pen, and Vladimir Golovach, with whom I went to the lake, took on a frozen swamp, neatly cut with a knife reed, put to pen. I started, I learn."

In Byčki School Vasil Bykov I learned not just one year. In the second class I went to another, which was located in the village of Dvor-Słabodka. And then went to school in Kubličy – now that the so-called agro-town, and then, in the pre-1930 – an ordinary village in Ušačy district. But with an interesting past, which the Byčki also mentions in his autobiography:

"Once upon a time it was a nice old town, marked on maps of the XVI century, (the former Uniate) with the Orthodox Church, in which I was baptized and where I learned first communion. In Kubličy born Verigo Darevskii – known writer, a member of insurrection Kalinouski. There was also a synagogue, a school and even a fire next to the church, a pharmacy, a smithy."

Now the school in Kubličy, as they say, a "typical" – the standard Soviet-built. The one where the Byčki went, gone ... And as to go "for science" had to walk, the way to Kubličy Vasil Bykov, knew to the last pothole. But the potholes on the road – no joy for the villager in summer dust, winter snow and dirt after each significant rainfall ...

Vasil Bykov, who was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the BSSR, and since 1989 – deputy of the USSR, made for fellow really useful thing – got to this piece of paved road. So now go on to the Byčki “Bykov’s asphalt”.

Mostly it updated, and in some places it has remained since Soviet times, has already cracked, worn wheels.

Today, no one left in the Byčki who have studied in the same school, under which the owners had once given the best room. In the village – just under two dozen people, almost all pensioners. Junior – 57-year-old Nikolai Horyak, son of Mrs. Antonina and younger brother of Vasil Bykov, Nicholai. Nikolai works superintendent in the memorial museum of Vasil Bykov.

Estate Museum is located in a modern building, the type of which is recreated by architects and craftsmen: the original house, where he spent his childhood Vasil Bykov, has not been preserved.

More precisely, it was destroyed in 2004 – after he was found unfit to create the museum. They say, it cannot be saved, because for a long time not residential building began turning to dust. Now on the very spot of modern materials built copy Bykovs home.

But the school, which Vasil Bykov started school, still has a chance to avoid the destruction. It changed hands several times. The last local inhabitants had a family of his wife Antonina brother, sister-in Vasil Bykov.

Mrs. Antonina, sister-Vasil Bykov, said: "I remember we bought this house, and Vasil just arrived. There before us was a family, however, do live behind the wall, and the school in the next room. Later, they moved – here in gobies, but elsewhere in the house built. We moved here 10 February 1969. So then he came, and all that is walking, looking out, and then he says: Here I sat in the first class went. I learned! I remember this place by nails in the floor, – says Ms. Antonina. – Vasil same study went and had such a nerd that is first class and it was nothing to do in six years – knew everything. A child was then a lot, not like today. Now only come, particularly with a lot of sightseeing."

For a long time Mrs. Antonina – the first assistant in the museum Bykovsky. On a voluntary basis. "Two million pay" only son, Nicholas, she says.

"Nick is my – and the watchman and the superintendent, and all that you want – and mow the grass in the yard of the museum, and excursion meet. And I can even hold a tour, though to sweep the floor! To only our museum is not closed! Times are now in some…"

Every year on June 19 when the museum attracts admirers of Vasil Bykov on his next anniversary, held a friendly meal around the former school. Uncomplicated meal "in the field", meeting old friends, music and sometimes songs. And in the house could take refuge from the heat or the rain, to talk, to get away from the festive noise. Hospitable hostess Mrs. Antonina always been pleased and writers, and artists, and all who come to honor the memory of a relative.

And yet the old school in the status of the house of Mrs. Antonina repeatedly took the artists – participants of the "Bykov" plein air. Standing their organizer Ada Raychenok, tireless chairwoman Sharkovshchina public Yazep Drozdovich behalf of the Centre, has posted on the wall of a symbol banner, and boils around creativity.

"Mrs. Antonina invited us into the house, when it was cold or rain. Senior artists are there and settled. And now we want to thank for the hospitality and Byčki and steers – this year we will give a picture that will be the beginning of a new gallery in a former school. Maybe sometime in the gallery will Kubličy. The main thing is that each participant plein who ever worked in the Byčki making such a gift – leaves his work to "Bykov’s" exposure" – says Svetlana Barankovskaya, participant plein, chairman of the Viciebsk regional organization of NGO "Belarusian Union of Artists".

Now the school is already non-residential – Mrs. Antonina and her son moved to another house – across the street from the museum. Newer, higher ceiling, with freshly painted in blue and yellow walls, floors with more durable. About nail into a board at the place where once stood a table grader Vasil Bykov, a relative of the writer tells the volunteers who have come to Byčki to turn the former school in the socio-cultural center:

"These are the nails. And the room, where the school has always been warm. That's how good the stove! That house, which is now live, colder. And this ... I used to go up and I regret it. I say: "My house you, I have lived here 50 years, and now abandoned, forgive me!" Well, but I manage for a while – and you manage for a while! "

An ambitious idea – about the social and cultural center in Byčki – belongs to Viciebsk activists.

"We bought the old school, and we want to make it the center for various activities. For artists it easier to come to the open air, or youth in some of his affairs. To make it in the Viciebsk region is a place where you can come to study, for recreation, for work – and not by accident, but with the history, consecrated person Vasil Bykov", – shares his plans for the coordinator of the movement "For Freedom" in Viciebsk Christopher Zhelyapau.

This year, young people have flocked to the old school, but not on vacation, but for work. Movement "For Freedom" organized a special volunteer camp, responded to an ad several dozen boys and girls.

Together with young people working Vasily Kazyanin, Ušačy activist – the only volunteer elderly. But it is not so much controlled as prompts and assists.

"From morning until afternoon we work in small groups, – says Alina from Minsk Sermon. – The girls cleaned the house, guys sawing, mowing. In the afternoon, we work a little more, and then rest. Volleyball, board games, "Rebels", "Language", meetings with interesting people – all we have. We are ready to organize workshops for friends. Who knows how that – that and teaches others: someone, for example, juggle, some photographs. Yesterday Dmitry Korenko taught us to shoot the video: I'm doing an interview with a man, it should look like in the picture, how to ask questions. Everyone stayed and videographer, and a "hero". Another artist Ales Pushkin arrived, talked about his perfomansf [about what happened after each of them. This is very interesting, we all know what is the situation in the country. Interesting!"

Ales Pushkin brought their works for the exhibition, which traditionally organize the artists near the manor-museum on the day of birth of Vasil Bykov. In general, this manor house for several years is the "central area" to steer. Here, at any time of the year come the tour, here there villagers-pensioners to talk about life.

Radio Liberty