**IVAN REQUIRES MEDICAL AND REGULAR SPONSORSHIP**
Dear Sponsor,
Hi, my name’s Ivan, and I’m so excited to be writing to you! Thank you so much for helping me and my family, it means a lot to us, and it’s amazing to know kind people like you exist. I’m 12 years old and live in a small village in the mountains with my mom and my three younger brothers: Oleksandr, Arsen, and Andrii. Life with them is never boring! Oleksandr loves taking things apart to see how they work—once he dismantled mom’s alarm clock and proudly said, “Now I know what’s inside!” Arsen is super creative and always invents fun games; one time, he turned a ball into a “rocket” and launched it right into mom’s soup! Andrii, our youngest, is just two, but he already knows how to get everyone’s attention—he makes us laugh so much. My older brother Pavlo is my best friend. He cheers me up and plays football with me, which I absolutely love. At Christmas, we go caroling around the village, and during summer, I swim in the river, play football, and go on long walks. I’m in grade 7 and walk to school every day, spending about 6 or 7 hours there. My favorite subject is PE because I’m passionate about football. It’s my biggest dream to become a great player someday, so I never give up, even when things are tough. I’d love to know more about you, what do you enjoy doing? Are you into sports like me? I’d be happy if you wrote back. Thanks again for your kindness, and I wish you all the best!
Your friend,
Ivan
Caseworker Comments:
Meet Ivan, a calm, kind-hearted, and funny 12-year-old boy whose warmth and positivity shine through in everything he does. Passionate about football, Ivan dreams of becoming a great player and finds joy on the field, where he feels most alive. At home, he is a devoted son and brother, helping his mother with chores like fetching water from the well and lovingly caring for his baby brother. Ivan shares a special bond with his family, spending time with his mother and siblings in moments filled with laughter and love. Despite his cheerful spirit, Ivan faces significant challenges, as he was born with congenital complete blindness in his left eye, requiring urgent surgery to improve his condition.
Ivan’s family faces overwhelming challenges and is in urgent need of assistance through HART’s Child Sponsorship Program. He lives with his mother and four siblings in an old, deteriorating house with just two rooms and a kitchen. Unfortunately, one of the rooms belongs to Ivan’s aunt, who does not allow the family to use it. This forces all of them to live in one cramped room, making daily life incredibly difficult. The family’s living space is in terrible condition, with holes in the walls, broken doors, and worn-out couches that serve as their beds. They rely on a firewood stove to heat the house, adding to the struggles of their harsh living situation.
On top of these challenges, Ivan’s family deals with additional hardships. His brother suffers from epilepsy, creating further difficulties for the family. Their mother, left to care for the five children alone after their father abandoned them, works tirelessly to provide but struggles to meet even their most basic needs. At times, the children go to school hungry, and the mother takes on this heavy burden with courage and determination. Sponsoring Ivan would significantly ease these hardships, improving his living and nutritional conditions and providing essential resources for his growth and development. Your support could offer him hope for a brighter and more secure future. Ivan’s journey is one of resilience and strength, and your kindness could bring transformative changes to his life and the lives of his family.
