Dear Sponsor,
My name is Maryna, and I’m 12 years old. I live in a village. My dad’s name is Ihor, and he works as a laborer. My mom’s name is Tania, and she works as a laborer too, at an experimental farm. We have 7 kids in our family! My oldest sister, Yuliia, has three kids already. My other sister, Ivanna, has one child. Sofiia isn’t married yet, and Natalia is in the tenth grade at school. My twin brother, Myhailo, and I are in the fourth grade. My younger brother, Viktor, is in the second grade.
My best friend is Veronika, and we love playing together. I enjoy singing praises to God, and I help my mom with chores at home. I also love embroidering as a hobby.
I’m now in the 6th grade, and I get to school by the school bus or public transport. I spend half the day at school. My favorite foods are perogies that my mom makes, pasta, and borscht. On holidays, we get some sweets, which I love! In my free time, I like to take care of plants. I’m not sure yet what I want to be when I grow up.
I’m so thankful that you want to help me and my family!
Sincerely,
Maryna
Caseworker’s comments:
Meet Maryna, a cheerful and independent young girl known for her calm nature and obedience. Despite her age, she is very mature and has become a strong support for her mother. Maryna helps her mother in many ways, from babysitting her younger siblings to cleaning, cooking, and gardening. In her spare time, she enjoys expressing her creativity through drawing and writing poetry. Maryna is a happy child with a big heart for her family and others.
The family lives in a village, where they raise chickens and goats. Their mother teaches the children how to handle household chores, like baking bread together, chopping wood, and carrying it for the fire. The children love their pets—they have two cats and two dogs. They enjoy meeting together as a family to pray, read the Bible, and do their homework. They are also excited about attending summer camps. The family hopes to share the Gospel with their sponsor.
Although Maryna’s parents aren’t married, her mother is raising the children alone. The father’s whereabouts are unknown, and when I visit the family, he is never home. The children are officially registered under their mother’s care. In the past, the parents struggled with alcohol, but God brought healing through their illnesses. The father has been facing serious health issues, including bladder papilloma and heart problems such as aortic cardio sclerosis and mitral valve insufficiency. He underwent surgery on May 12, 2023.
The family dynamics are stable, but we’ve been talking with the parents about marriage, as it would set a good example for the children and allow the father to take on his role as head of the household. The family works together in their garden, doing their best to survive. The children are good-natured and deserve all the support we can provide. However, their financial situation is critical. Both parents unable to work due to health issues, they occasionally take part-time jobs, but there is no stable income, and they don’t receive financial assistance from the state. Under new laws, the parents would need to work officially for six months to qualify for state aid.
This family of seven lives in a small house with two rooms in a remote village with no nearby school, shop, or pharmacy. Despite their circumstances, they keep their home clean and warm, heating it with wood. However, the house lacks running water, a bathroom, and proper heating. The toilet is outside, and there are no showers or sanitation facilities. The house is in need of major repairs, including a new floor, ceiling, bathrooms, a water and heating system, and a new stove. They also need new doors, a kitchen, a fridge, and an electric oven, but financial struggles make these improvements impossible. The family is very close-knit and supportive of one another. They need both financial and emotional support to improve their living conditions and get back on their feet. Through the Child Sponsorship Program, we have an opportunity to show this family how much God cares for them. We will also help Maryna, and her siblings grow in their faith by studying God’s Word and built community with them. With this support, we can help them adapt to society and provide essential food, as they are living below the poverty line.
