Dear Sponsor,
Hi! My name is Artem and I’m 8 years old. I live with my mom, dad, my sister, and my two brothers. We have fun together at home. I am in the 3rd grade and my favorite school subjects are Math (because I like numbers) and Art (because I love drawing). My mom makes yummy borsch and it’s my favorite food! I also really like building stuff with LEGO and doing puzzles, it’s fun to figure things out.
I’m super excited for summer break because that’s when we get to visit my grandma. She is really nice, and we always go fishing together. It’s the best part of summer. I hope it comes soon!
Thank you for helping me and my family!
Your friend,
Artem
Caseworker’s comments:
Artem is a bright and sensitive 8-year-old boy with sparkling eyes and a kind smile, known for his natural ability to lift others’ spirits through his gentle words and heartfelt drawings. A third-grade student, he excels in Math and Art, subjects that give him confidence and a way to express emotions he keeps quietly tucked away. In the stillness of his evenings, Artem often sketches nature and family moments, finding solace in pencil and paper. His compassion and sociability shine in every interaction, and despite his young age, he shows remarkable leadership and stands firmly for what he believes in. Whether helping in the garden with his mother, caring for his younger brother, or diligently finishing schoolwork, Artem is always thoughtful and dependable. Though he’s prone to seasonal respiratory infections, he remains hopeful and full of quiet strength. Yet beneath this courage lies a story of hardship: a family doing everything they can to survive against overwhelming odds.
Artem lives with his loving parents, sister, and two brothers in a small, aging house with only two cramped rooms. His father, once the family’s provider, can no longer work he’s battling cancer and undergoing exhausting treatments. The disease has taken away not only his health, but the family’s primary income. Artem’s mother works tirelessly as a nursing assistant in a regional hospital. She leaves home before dawn and often returns after dark, taking on every extra shift she can find. Her days are long and physically demanding, and yet she never stops trying. She pours every bit of strength into her children, doing her best to shield them from the harsh reality around them.
But her income is painfully low, and no matter how hard she works, it’s not enough. The family is barely surviving. There is no plumbing in their house, they wash with basins and do laundry by hand. The toilet is outside, exposed to the cold. In winter, oilcloths cover the windows to keep out icy drafts, casting the rooms into near darkness. The furniture is worn out, the mattresses are old, and the blankets threadbare. There is no space, no comfort, just the relentless effort to make do with less than they need.
With support from the Child Sponsorship Program, Artem could finally experience a childhood without constant hardship. He could have school supplies that help him learn, clothes that keep him warm, and the emotional security every child deserves. Your kindness could bring light into a family’s life that’s been living in shadow for far too long. Please help Artem. He may be just one child, but your support could mean the world to him and to a family fighting with all their heart to hold onto hope.
