Dear Future Sponsor,
My name is Ivan, and I am 4 years old. I live with my mom, my sister Vika, and my brothers, Maksym and Vitalii. My grandma and uncle also live with us in a beautiful village.
I love putting together construction sets and coloring pictures. My favorite thing to do is play with my brother Maksym. When it comes to food, I really enjoy the pizza my mom makes – it’s the best!
Thank you so much for wanting to help me and my family. Your kindness means a lot to us.
Love,
Ivan
(This letter was written by Ivan’s mother as he can’t write yet.)
Caseworker Comments:
Ivan is a cheerful and happy 4-year-old boy with a heart full of love for his family. He is always full of energy and enjoys playing with his toys, often inviting others to join him. Although he is still young and doesn’t have many responsibilities, Ivan shows a lot of care for those around him. He loves coloring pictures and sharing moments of joy with his siblings. Ivan’s kind and generous nature makes him a special little boy who brightens everyone’s day with his warmth and laughter. He deeply loves his family and enjoys spending time with them.
The family lives in very awful conditions, and they struggle to meet their basic needs. The social support the mother receives is not enough, so she often has to pawn her belongings just to survive until the next payment. The grandmother, who lives with them, attends church and helps when she can, but her small pension doesn’t allow her to provide much financial support. She keeps a small household with a few chickens and a vegetable garden, but the mother primarily cares for the children, with occasional help from the grandmother.
Ivan, being the youngest, is not speaking yet, and his behavior seems different from other children his age. His mother hasn’t taken him to the doctor because she can’t afford treatment, but it’s clear he has health issues. Ivan struggles to focus and follow simple instructions. His sister, a mature 14-year-old, is intelligent but isolated, with no friends and little social interaction. She helps her mother and grandmother with everything and regularly attends church. She also has a strong dislike for men, possibly due to her mother’s lifestyle. Ivan’s older brother, who has autism, can be aggressive, and only the mother can manage his behavior.
The family lives in a house that belongs to Ivan’s grandmother. The house has three rooms, a kitchen, and a hallway. The uncle lives in one room, while the mother, children, and grandmother share the other two. The house is in dilapidated condition, with cracked walls, peeling paint, and worn floors. The hygiene conditions are horrific, and the house lacks proper cleaning. The children share a room with their grandmother, creating overcrowding and a lack of personal space. While the house has running water, there are no proper facilities for bathing or personal hygiene.
This family is in urgent need of help. They require medical treatment, clothing, and food support. They also desperately need a bathroom and shower facilities in the house. The mother, who has four children from different fathers, struggles with alcohol abuse, and the family has suffered from the loss of the grandfather, who also struggled with alcohol and was aggressive. Ivan’s older brother’s autism adds to the challenges they face. The family’s situation is very difficult, and they need support to improve their living conditions and care for the children.
