**DENYS REQUIRES BOTH REGULAR + MEDICAL SPONSORSHIP**
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Denys, and I am 7 years old. I live in a small city in western Ukraine. I live with my mom, my sisters, my brother, and my great‑grandmother. We all live together in one home, and even though it is crowded, we try to help each other. My dad left us, and he doesn’t visit or help anymore. My mom is looking for a job now, and before she worked in a shop and in a restaurant kitchen. She tries very hard to take care of all of us.
I have five sisters and one older brother. My sister Sasha plays with me the most, and she is very fun. My best friend is my neighbor Platon. He is kind and cheerful, and we play football together almost every day when the weather is good. I love Christmas because our home feels happy and warm, and my mom cooks something tasty for us. But my favorite time is the school holidays, especially summer, because they are long and I can play outside with my friends all day.
I am in the 2nd grade, and I walk to school because it is very close to my house. My classes finish at 1:00 PM, and then I can go home and play. My favorite subject is PE because it is the most fun, and I also like math. My favorite food is pasta, and I also love candies and sweet wafer rolls. In my free time, I like playing games on the phone, but my mom doesn’t let me play too long.
I don’t know yet what I want to be when I grow up. Right now, I only know that I really like football. I would be very happy to get a letter from you and learn more about you. Thank you so much for helping me and my family. It means a lot to us.
With love,
Denys
Caseworker’s comments:
Meet Denys. When we first met him, he was shy and hesitant to speak with a stranger, so his mother gently helped him share his thoughts. But as soon as he is with his siblings or friends, he becomes a completely different boy — cheerful, energetic, and full of life. At home, he helps his mother by making his bed and putting away his toys. At school, he loves math and physical education, where he can move, play, and learn in ways that make him feel confident and happy.
Denys also has a cyst on his spleen. For now, it does not require treatment, but he must remain under medical supervision and attend regular checkups. His health conditions add another layer of stress to a family already carrying more than most could bear.
Behind Denys’ bright smile is a very difficult family situation. His mother, Liudmyla, is raising all the children completely on her own. Their father left the family and no longer visits or provides any support. For a short time, he paid for child support, but eventually he disappeared from their lives entirely. Liudmyla is doing everything she can to care for her children, but the burden is overwhelming. She used to work as a shop assistant, but after losing her job she registered with the Employment Center and is still searching for work. The family receives no social assistance, leaving them in a severe financial crisis.
Their meals are simple and limited. When asked about their favorite treats, the children mention only buckwheat and pasta — the foods they can afford. All the children wear second‑hand clothing, passed down from the older siblings to the younger ones.
Yet despite these hardships, their home is filled with love. The children adore their mother, and she gives them everything she can. They smile, they laugh, and they find joy even in the most difficult circumstances. Their resilience is remarkable.
The family lives in an apartment owned by Liudmyla’s relatives, so they do not have a home of their own. The apartment is in very deplorable condition and urgently needs renovation. The wallpaper is peeling, the floors and walls are worn, and the furniture is old. Although there are three rooms, the space is still too small for so many people — especially because their elderly great‑grandmother, who can barely walk, also lives with them and requires constant care.
There is an indoor toilet and bathroom, but both are in neglected condition and need repairs. Each child does have their own bed, which is a blessing, but there is no proper study area. The children do their homework at the kitchen table — the same place where the entire family eats. The apartment is cluttered simply because there is not enough storage space for nine people. Even the windows are old and drafty, making the home cold during the winter months.
This family urgently needs material, emotional, and spiritual support. Liudmyla attends church services, and the children participate in the church’s Day Center, which has been a positive influence on their development, values, and sense of belonging. But the challenges they face are overwhelming, and they cannot overcome them alone.
Sponsoring Denys through HART’s Child Sponsorship Program would make a life‑changing difference. Your support would help provide food and improved living conditions. It would give Denys stability, hope, and the chance to grow up in a safer, healthier environment. And it would ease the enormous burden on his mother, who is doing everything she can to keep her family together.
Denys is a gentle, curious, and kind‑hearted little boy with so much potential. With the help of a sponsor, he can have the childhood he deserves — one filled with opportunity, security, and hope for a brighter future.
