Dear Sponsor,
My name is Oksana. I am 8 years old and in the 2nd grade. I live in a small village with my mom, dad, and my little brothers, Artur and Nazar. Our school, some stores, and a church are close to our house, and I like going to school and playing with my friends at recess.
I love drawing and riding my bike. I also go to the daycare at the church. It’s really fun there, we learn about God, eat yummy food, and play lots of games. At Christmas, we decorate our tree, get little presents, and go to church to watch the puppet show. I love that part so much.
We moved to this village when the war started. Last summer, I went to a Christian camp, and that’s how I found out about the daycare. I really hope I can go to camp again this summer.
Thank you so much for helping me. Life is hard here because of the war, but your support means a lot to us. I can’t wait to get a letter from you.
Sincerely,
Oksana and family
Caseworker Comments:
Oksana is a bright, kind, and deeply curious little girl. Now in the second grade, she loves learning, especially math and arts and crafts, and her teachers describe her as friendly, eager, and full of potential. At home, she helps her mother by making her bed, putting away her toys, and caring for her younger brothers. For her age, she carries a remarkable sense of responsibility and gentleness. She is the kind of child who notices the needs around her and tries her best to help.
Oksana lives with her mother, Viktoriia, her stepfather, Stanislav, and her two younger brothers, Nazar and Artur. When the full-scale war began, Viktoriia fled to the village with her two children, hoping to find safety. Later, she married Stanislav, who lovingly adopted both older children as his own and took on the full responsibility of raising them. Their family is close, warm, and deeply committed to one another, but their circumstances are extremely difficult.
Viktoriia is currently on maternity leave, caring for the youngest children around the clock. Her childhood was marked by hardship; she grew up in a dysfunctional home and never had the opportunity to receive a proper education. This limits her ability to find work and makes it impossible for her to help Oksana with school assignments. Still, she pours her heart into caring for her children, keeping the home as clean as she can, and making sure they have food on the table.
Stanislav wants to provide for his family, but steady work simply does not exist in their village. The company he once worked for shut down, leaving him dependent on occasional odd jobs that bring in very little income. Their only consistent support is a small government child allowance of about 3,000 UAH ($100 CAD) per month, far from enough to sustain a family of five. They are living on the edge of poverty, doing everything they can to survive.
Because her mother cannot support her academically, Oksana relies heavily on the church daycare centre, where she receives help with homework, encouragement, and spiritual guidance. She also attends Sunday school, which has been a blessing for her emotional and moral development. On holidays, she joyfully joins her mother and brothers at church, where she feels safe, welcomed, and loved.
Yet despite the family’s strong bond, their living conditions are extremely deplorable and unsafe. Their home has no gas heating or running water. The walls are damp, cold drafts blow through the windows and doors, and most of the house has no proper flooring. The toilet is outside, and the family shares a well with another household for water. They cook on a small electric hotplate, but when the power goes out, which happens often, they rely on a wood stove. In winter, this stove is their only source of heat, and they use it to warm water for washing and laundry. Daily life is a constant struggle.
Even so, the family is trying with all their strength to improve their situation. They have built a concrete apron around the house and begun reinforcing the interior walls to reduce drafts and strengthen the structure. Their determination is admirable, but without outside support, their progress is painfully slow.
Oksana’s opportunities for healthy development, physically, emotionally, and academically, are severely limited by these conditions. She is a child full of promise, but she needs stability, resources, and encouragement to flourish. Sponsorship would provide her with essential school supplies, improved living conditions, and consistent support for her education and well being. Most importantly, it would give her hope.
Oksana’s family is open, grateful, and eager to cooperate. Welcoming them into the sponsorship program would not only stabilize their situation but also open the door to a brighter, safer, and more dignified future for this precious little girl. Your support could be the turning point in her life, a gift that reflects Christ’s love and brings light into a home that desperately needs it.
