**MAKSYM REQUIRES BOTH REGULAR AND MEDICAL SPONSORSHIP**
Dear sponsor,
My name is Maksym. I am 7 years old. I live in a village. This year I will go to school for the first time. I will be in grade one! I feel a little scared, but also very happy because I want to learn new things.
I have a brother. His name is Serhii. He is my best friend. We play together all the time and laugh a lot. I like toy cars the most. I don’t have many, but I make garages and roads for them. I pretend they drive in a big city. I also like building with blocks. You can make anything! Sometimes Serhii and I make a big car with pillows. We call it “Ford.” It is so funny, and we pretend we drive it everywhere.
I have a big family. I have two brothers and two sisters. I love when we all sit together and talk.
My favorite holiday is Christmas. My whole family eats together. There is so much yummy food. I like salads and potatoes the best.
When I grow up, I want to be a musician. I love music. I like when people play the piano. I hope I can learn to play it one day.
Thank you very much for helping me and my mom. I want to know more about you too.
Love,
Maksym
Caseworker Comments:
Meet Maksym, Maksym is a gentle, kind, and wonderfully curious 7‑year‑old boy. He has a calm and a joyful heart that shines through in everything he does. One of his favorite things in the world is playing with his Lego blocks, he loves building little cities and cars, often alongside his siblings. He also enjoys spending time with his mother, who is his greatest source of comfort and love. Even at his young age, Maksym helps by carefully putting his toys away, showing his thoughtful and caring nature.
Maksym was born with a congenital condition—cerebral palsy (CP). This condition is a big part of his life and requires constant care, attention, and regular rehabilitation. Sadly, his family’s financial situation makes it impossible for them to provide the specialized support he needs. Because of his illness, Maksym cannot move independently and requires special conditions that his family cannot afford. As a result, he is deprived of opportunities that most children take for granted—proper development, social interaction, adequate nutrition, and consistent medical supervision.
And yet, despite these challenges, Maksym remains a happy child. He is deeply loved by his family, and his joyful spirit is contagious. His laughter fills their home, and his resilience is a reminder of the strength and beauty found in even the smallest hearts.
Maksym’s mother is raising four children alone. The father lives abroad, does not participate in their lives, and provides no financial support. All responsibility for the children’s upbringing and well-being rests entirely on their mother, who has no stable income. The only financial help she receives is a small state allowance of about $100 per month for caring for a child with a disability—an amount far too little to cover even the most basic needs.
The family’s living conditions are extremely difficult. Their home is old and in urgent need of repair. Ceilings are cracked and damp, with stains from roof leaks. Wooden floors are badly damaged, and the windows and doors are worn, letting in cold air that makes the house freezing in winter. Heating is weak, and warmth never lasts. Inside, the furniture is outdated and broken, bed linens are torn, and blankets are worn thin. The rooms are cramped, cluttered, and lack proper storage. Household appliances are old and barely functional. The hallway and kitchen are untidy, with clothes and shoes kept directly on the floor. Kitchen furniture and the stove are worn out, making food preparation difficult. The sanitary conditions are poor, with no centralized water supply or sewage system—the children and their mother must wash using a basin. Mold and damp stains mark the walls and ceilings, showing just how dire the situation is.
This family urgently needs long-term support, material, emotional, and spiritual. Sponsoring Maksym means giving him the chance to grow, to learn, and to experience life more fully. With your help, he could receive the rehabilitation, nutrition, and medical care that are vital for his future. Your sponsorship would not only change Maksym’s life—it would bring hope to his entire family. It would remind them that they are not alone, that someone cares, and that brighter days are possible.
Maksym’s story is one of courage, love, and possibility. With your support, his world can open up to opportunities he has never had before. Together, we can help him build a future filled with joy, growth, and the chance to thrive.
