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Maryna

Name:
Maryna
ID #:
SZ01680
Age:
9
Birth:
June 10, 2015
Country:
Ukraine

Dear Sponsor,

Hi! My name is Maryna, and I’m 9 years old. My mom is on maternity leave, so she’s always home with us, which is really nice! I have 6 little sisters and 3 brothers. The youngest one is Mark. He’s so cheerful and makes me laugh all the time, especially when he plays and grabs my hair! I have a super fun friend named Bohdana. We love playing together! At her house, we playhouse or Uno. I really love Uno; it’s my favorite game! We also play with dolls and hide-and-seek, which is so much fun! At Christmas, I help decorate the tree with my sister Ira and help Mom make yummy salads and stuff.  I’m in 4th grade and walk to school every day. I love it when we all get to go outside for a break after our third lesson! But I don’t like having math every day. My favorite subject is Ukrainian language because it’s fun! In the summer, my mom and I go to Korets. We go swimming in floaties, and we go to the village pond, which is so cool! When I grow up, I want to be a chef and make delicious food! Thank you so much to my sponsor for helping me and other kids during tough times! You’re amazing!

Your friend,

Maryna

Caseworker Comments:

Maryna is a responsible, kind, and friendly child. She loves to help her mother around the house, whether it’s cleaning, cooking, or putting dishes away. Even though she’s still young, she always tries her best to lend a hand.

Maryna is passionate about running, jogging, arts and crafts, Play-dough, and drawing. She has a wonderful talent for art and expresses herself creatively. Every Sunday, she enjoys attending Sunday school, and she is grateful that her village provides this opportunity. Her caring nature and enthusiasm for life make her a truly special child!

The family had to leave the Donetsk region because of the war. The mother’s first husband left her long ago and has no contact with the children. He doesn’t help them in any way. She had a second partner, and some of the children are his, but they never got officially married. He was a good man and an artist, but when he couldn’t find work, he started drinking. They separated, and now he visits the children only when he’s sober, offering no support. The mother doesn’t have a job because she is busy raising her children, especially the youngest, who is still very small.

Despite these challenges, the mother has a strong bond with her children. She works hard to take care of them, and they all get along well. The older kids help babysit the younger ones, showing how close they are as a family. Since 2014, they have been internally displaced, moving from place to place to find shelter. They lived in a house for a while, but when they had to leave, they found a small, rented house in another village. That’s where we met them.

Although the mother has no bad habits and tries her best for her children, their living conditions are deplorable. The house is in bad shape, and the children often wear dirty clothes. Social services acknowledge that she is doing her best to provide for them. She has recently applied for the status of internally displaced persons to get help from the government.

The eldest son is an adult now and supports himself, but the mother relies on her older children to help manage the household. The home they live in is in disrepair, and they need new housing urgently. The oldest daughter, Diana, needs medical attention for her constant headaches, which often cause her to miss school. The mother cannot afford the medical care she needs.

Their current house is old and cramped. It has only one room, with the kitchen and bedroom divided, and there is no running water or gas. They heat the house with wood and cook on a small electric stove. The furniture is old and mostly given to them by kind-hearted people. Multiple children share one bed with their mother, and the overall hygiene is poor.

The family needs a proper home with enough space, furniture, and utilities like water, gas, and a bathroom. They require support in many forms, including clothing, shoes, school supplies, and medical assistance. The eldest daughter, who suffered from meningitis, needs proper medical attention, but the family’s finances don’t allow for that.

Maryna and her family are in urgent need of help. Thank you for considering supporting them during this difficult time. Your kindness can bring light into their lives.