Dear Sponsor,
My name is Ivan-Andrii, and I am four years old. I live in a village. My father works as a driver and loader at a large store, and my mother is currently on maternity leave. I have a little brother named Oleksandr who is two years old. When he was born, my mom didn’t make it to the hospital in time, so the police drove her there with flashing lights! I also have an older brother, Denys, who loves fishing. My best friend is Sofiia, she lives in the house next door. We love playing in the sandbox, tossing a ball, or riding our bikes together.
At Christmas, my father’s sister visits us. She’s my godmother, and she always brings me something sweet. I don’t have school holidays yet because I still go to kindergarten. In the summer, I spend a lot of time running outside. My kindergarten is right across from our house, so I’m always on time in the morning. I like being there because there are lots of toys and I get to see my friends but I don’t like the fact that we have to take naps! We draw a lot and make fun shapes from plasticine.
I love eating potatoes, dumplings, and cereal. At home, we usually eat soup or pasta. On holidays, my mother always bakes delicious pies. When I have free time, I love being with my dad. He’s teaching me how to use a hammer and a shovel! When I grow up, I dream of becoming a doctor.
Dear Sponsor, thank you so much for your kind heart and your desire to help me and my family. I’m really looking forward to your letter.
(This letter was written by my mother, as I’m still too little to write it myself.)
Caseworker Comments:
Meet Ivan-Andrii, a bright spark of joy who brings energy, curiosity, and kindness everywhere he goes. He’s the kind of child who shares without being asked, his generous spirit shining through every playful moment with his friends. Whether he’s cycling through the yard or laughing under the sun, his love for the outdoors is infectious. At home, he’s already learning responsibility, proudly feeding the baby goats and putting away his toys with care. Kindergarten is a place of wonder for him full of fun, new friendships, and the excitement of learning. Though his cheerful nature might suggest all is well, Ivan-Andrii has yet to find his voice, and a consultation with a speech therapist could be the first step in helping him express the vibrant thoughts and dreams we know live inside his heart.
The family was brought to our attention by their neighbors, faithful members of our church who live next door and share a fence with them. Witnessing their daily struggles, they warmly invited the family to attend church and step into a community of care.
Olha, the mother of little Ivan-Andrii, carries a life story marked by hardship and deep resilience. Though her parents were alive, she grew up essentially as an orphan in Transcarpathia. Her mother, battling alcohol addiction, abandoned her children, and her father showed no interest in their well-being. At just 15 years old, Olha was taken by her father to live in another village with his new wife, where she endured harsh conditions and emotional neglect. She has lived with severe myopia since childhood (+7.5), relying entirely on glasses to see. Her school years were marked by teasing and isolation. In her father’s new home, she was pushed while still underage into a relationship with a young man. Though two children were born from that union, he later forced her out, leaving her alone, homeless, and with no family support. Eventually, she found shelter in an abandoned house without electricity or water, doing her best to build a life for her children.
It was during this time of vulnerability that she met Viktor, now her husband. He, too, had known struggles having lost his mother young and grown-up caring for a sick father and older sister. From the age of 18, Viktor worked abroad in construction to provide for his family. When he met Olha and saw her situation, he didn’t hesitate to help. He took her and the children in, eventually marrying her and officially adopting her two children. Committed to being fully present, he left his overseas job and found local work so he could be close to his family. Together, they are now raising four children.
They live in the modest house Viktor inherited from his parents over 100 years old and showing its age. Built from simple, traditional materials, the home has wooden beams and outdated wiring. The couple has begun bricking the exterior walls, though the roof remains in dire need of replacement. The interior walls are uneven and whitewashed with lime, the most affordable option available. A small concrete-block extension with a plastic window offers hope: one day, it will become a bathroom. Most of the windows are small, wooden, and worn, casting the rooms in dim light. In the kitchen, a boiler and bathtub share space with no partitions, so the children wash themselves there. Water is drawn from a well outside, but Viktor has installed a pump connected to a boiler and washing machine, creating some basic comforts. The toilet is outdoors, and heat comes from burning wood. They tend a garden to grow food and keep a goat for milk.
Despite these humble circumstances, Viktor leaves a lasting impression he is kind, principled, and hardworking. He has rebuilt the old stoves and continues improving the home with whatever means he can. He avoids bad habits, holds strong moral values, and keeps close ties with his sister. Above all, he is a devoted father. But as the sole provider, his modest income falls short of meeting the family’s essential needs: food, medicine, school supplies, clothing, and hygiene products. Illness is common among younger children, and Ivan-Andrii, the youngest, shows signs of delayed speech development. He needs the care of a speech therapist.
Yet within these walls, love abounds. The home is full of laughter, faith, and a desire for a better future. Olha and the children regularly attend church, while Viktor remains deeply grateful that others have seen their need. He humbly credits everything they have to God’s grace.
Given their financial hardship, unsafe housing conditions, and the limited opportunities for the children’s growth, especially for Ivan, we believe the family would greatly benefit from being included in the HART, Child Sponsorship Program. This support would help provide vital nourishment and stability, nurturing not just the children’s bodies, but their sense of hope. It would be an investment in a family doing their very best with hearts full of love and hands eager to build something better.
