My Dear Sponsor,
Hello! My name is Dmytro. I am 10 years old and in the 3rd grade. After summer, I will be going into the 4th grade. I am very happy to meet you and to write my first letter.
I live in a village with my grandmother. She is already elderly, so I try to help her as much as I can — in the garden, in the yard, raking hay, and doing different chores. My mom works and cooks for the military, so she is home only sometimes.
I have three brothers and one sister. We get along well and always help each other. We play games together and have fun. We also have a cat and a dog, and I love taking care of them.
I study at a boarding school. I go there by bus and spend time in the dormitory. On weekends, I return home to my grandmother. I enjoy school and have many friends. We learn to read, write, and discover many new things.
My favorite subject is physical education. I love running, playing football, and doing sports. In my free time, my best friend Yaryk and I often play football. He lives next door and always supports me. I dream of becoming an athlete one day.
In the summer, I like swimming in the river and spending time outside. I also enjoy Christmas very much. Sometimes I attend Sunday school, where I like listening to Bible stories and learning about God. My favorite food is sorrel borscht, I’m always happy when someone cooks it.
Thank you for your support, care, and kindness. It means a lot to me. I am glad to have a friend like you now. I will wait for your letter and will happily tell you more about my life.
Sincerely,
Dmytro
Caseworker’s Comments:
Meet Dmytro, a gentle and cheerful 10‑year‑old boy whose kindness and calm spirit shine through even in the most difficult circumstances. He loves swimming, walking outdoors, and enjoying the simple beauty of God’s creation. At home, he faithfully helps his grandmother by cleaning the house, tending the garden, and caring for the yard. He is a healthy, bright child with a promising future ahead of him, but despite his joyful nature, life has not been easy for him.
Dmytro’s family is living in extremely difficult circumstances and requires ongoing social, material, and emotional support. Five children are being raised with almost no parental involvement. There is no information about the children’s biological father. Dmytro’s mother has remarried and now cooks for the military. She rarely visits, sometimes only once a year and provides no support. The full responsibility for raising the children has fallen on their grandmother, an elderly woman with significant health and speech challenges. Despite her age and limitations, she carries this burden alone with remarkable love and perseverance, doing everything she can to care for the children God has entrusted to her.
The grandmother struggles to make ends meet. When speaking with her, it was clear how overwhelmed she is, her stuttering worsened from worry and stress. She cooks, cleans, manages the household, and cares for all the children entirely on her own. Her strength is admirable, but the weight she carries is far too heavy for one person.
The family lives in an old wooden house that is in deplorable, unsafe, and unsanitary condition. The home consists of two small living rooms, a kitchen, and a narrow corridor, leaving very limited space for a large family. The wooden structures are worn and deteriorating, and the roof is neglected and in need of repair. The house is dark even during the day due to insufficient lighting. There is no insulation, making the home cold and uncomfortable. The floors are old and damaged, the furniture is outdated and partially broken, and the bedding, curtains, and textiles are worn and in awful condition. The sanitary state of the home is troubling, with dirt, dust, and clutter accumulating due to the lack of proper storage. The kitchen is in terrible condition, with old appliances and no running water, forcing the family to carry water in buckets for cooking, cleaning, and basic hygiene. These conditions do not provide the safety, comfort, or dignity that children need to grow and thrive.
Despite these hardships, Dmytro remains a hopeful and hardworking boy. He studies at a boarding school, traveling by bus each day and staying in the dormitory during the week. His favorite subject is physical education, he loves running, playing football, and dreams of becoming an athlete. He is friendly, helpful, and deeply devoted to his grandmother. On weekends, he returns home to help her with chores and support the family in any way he can.
This family urgently needs help with food, hygiene products, clothing, school supplies, and improved living conditions, as well as spiritual and emotional support. For Dmytro, participation in the HART Child Sponsorship Program is not simply helpful—it is life‑changing.
