Dear Sponsor,
My name is Iryna, and I am 10 years old. I live with my mom, my sister, and my two brothers. My mom works as a dishwasher, and she is very hardworking. My older sister’s name is Maryna, and I love her very much. My brothers usually do the hardest housework, and my sister and I help our mom with the things we can.
My best friend’s name is Adelina. We like to draw together, play with a ball, and in the summer, we swim in the river. Those are my favorite days.
At Christmas, my family makes special food. We prepare salads, potatoes, sausage, and other festive dishes. In the summer holidays, I spend a lot of time outside playing with my friends.
My school is far from my home, so I take the bus to get there. My favorite subject is English, and I am also trying to learn German by myself.
I really like broccoli and lemonade, but I usually only have them on holidays. Most of the time, I eat buckwheat, pasta, and semolina porridge.
When I grow up, I want to be a dentist, because I want to help people and make them smile.
I am very thankful that you want to help me and my family. Your support means a lot to us.
With love,
Iryna
Caseworker’s comments:
Meet Iryna, a gentle and shy 10‑year‑old girl who loves spending time with her siblings and her mother. She is a bright child who enjoys learning languages — English at school and German on her own and she practices gymnastics at home. Iryna is always ready to help her mother, whether it’s making her bed, washing dishes, or mopping the floors. She is known for her friendliness, obedience, and cheerful spirit, qualities that shine even in the face of hardship.
The family lives in very difficult circumstances and is in genuine need of support through the HART Children Sponsorship Program. Iryna’s mother, Liudmyla, raises her children alone. She has been married twice. From her first marriage, she has two adult children — a son who is a student and a daughter — who now live independently in another city. From her second marriage, she has four children, including Iryna. At first, the family lived well, but over time the father began abusing alcohol, spending most of his time with friends, and neglecting his family. In 2020, the couple divorced. Since then, the father has refused to pay child support, hides from authorities, and there is an ongoing criminal case against him.
Iryna’s mother works tirelessly as a dishwasher in a café, sometimes bringing home leftovers from work to feed her children. Her salary is far too small to cover basic needs such as school supplies, clothing, and utility bills. She often works weekends, yet the family receives no social assistance. Though she has been awarded the title “Mother‑Heroine,” she receives no financial support from the state.
The family’s material situation is extremely difficult. Nutrition is a major challenge: the children rarely receive the vitamins and nutrients they need. Their meals are simple, and the only fruit they have comes from frozen berries grown in their small garden. Clothing is worn out, often passed down from older siblings to younger ones. Even laundry detergent is sometimes unaffordable, forcing Liudmyla to wash clothes with household soap.
The family lives in a house inherited from Liudmyla’s grandmother. The house is old and in need of major repairs. There is no running water, so the family relies on a well in the yard. The toilet is outside and unsafe, and during heavy rains the roof leaks. Inside, the house has three rooms and a kitchen. Each child has a place to sleep, and school‑aged children have a space to study, but the furniture is very old, dating back to the grandmother’s time. With only one wardrobe, belongings are scattered throughout the house. There is no shower; instead, the family washes in a large basin kept in the kitchen.
Despite these hardships, the family remains grateful for what little they have. The yard is brightened by flowers and a few fruit trees, adding a touch of warmth to their home. The children are kind, polite, and well‑behaved. Iryna, in particular, is shy but cheerful, diligent, and friendly. She studies well, loves learning, and continues to help her mother with household chores.
The Olefirenko family urgently needs both material and moral support. Sponsorship through the HART Children Sponsorship Program would allow them to improve their living conditions, provide nutritious food, and give the children the resources they need to grow and develop.
