In September 1919 Zhenya's father Konstantin Ivanovich died of emaciation and tropical fever. In 1921 the crisis economical situation all over the country was aggravated by severe drought. The Volga Region was an epicenter of widespread famine. Trying to avoid sufferings, the Zavoiskys' family went to Slobodskoy City to their relatives, where they lived for about five years.
In 1921-1925 Zhenya studied at second-rank School No 1, which was established after joining up girl's gymnasia and non-classical secondary school. As the teachers were stricter there he had to go to the 5th form again.
There was a well-equipped Physics Laboratory and Circle of Physics and Mathematics at School No 1, where children studied electricity and descriptive astronomy. They learned physics from the textbook by K.D.Krayevich for secondary schools.
Their teacher of physics organized a radio-circle, which was attended not only by pupils, but some adults also. They constructed detector receiver, studied Morse code and subscribed for the magazine "Radiolyubitel" (Radio Amateur).
The radio station for receiving and sending telegrams to Vyatka was being built in Slobodskoy City at that time, and Zhenya together with other members of the circle used to come there.
After returning to Kazan in 1925 Zhenya entered the 9th form of secondary school and continued his radio-amateur studies in Radio Section of the cotton-mill club, situated not far from his school. He came to know about more complicated amateur constructions, got the first radio valve, built a valve receiver for home use, and set the aerial on the roof of his and neighbor's houses.
In spring 1926 Zhenya Zavoisky finished school with the following recommendation:
"The bearer of the letter, Yevgeny Zavoisky, finished the complete nine-year course of School No 10 in 1926, having good progress in general and excellent results in Mathematics and Physics, maximum efficiency, business-like character, seriousness and great interest in natural science and mathematics. He took active part in social work and was responsible for cultural and educational work at school".