Dear Sponsor,
My name is Oleksandr, and I’m 8. My city isn’t very big, but it is so beautiful and close to me. My mother is Oksana. She teaches confectionery technology, and her students admire her a lot. My father doesn’t live with us and calls me very rarely. My sister Tamara is in love with dancing, and for this reason she attends modern dance classes. My older sister Anastasiia does manicures and earns money to help our mother. I have a best friend, whose name is Nikita. He’s very kind and is fond of animals just like me. We both enjoy playing mobile games and skateboarding. I like how many people gather at our place at Christmas and we have a barbecue. During summer holidays I relax and play outside. I’m in grade 2. All the lessons at my school are currently held online. I’m good at reading and Ukrainian. I like juice “Chudo-Chado”, cookies baked by my mother. She also makes plov (rice and stew), borshch (beetroot soup) and potato soup.
Oleksandr
Caseworker Comments:
Olexandr is a kind-hearted and selfless boy who always brings small gifts to his sisters and sees himself as his mother’s protector. He is a sensitive child who believes that the most important thing in life is to be kind and never hurt others. With his helping hands, he often assists his mother by washing the dishes, taking turns with his sisters, making his bed, and spending quality time with his grandmother. Olexandr has a passion for drawing, football, and crafting. At school, he enjoys reading, math, and Ukrainian studies.
There are five members in his family, with Oksana, his mother, as the head of the household. She has been raising her children alone since their father left for another family. Despite the challenges, Oksana works tirelessly, juggling extra jobs to provide for her children. She teaches baking, at the local Commercial College, and her students adore her. But due to the war, the college is closed, and she now teaches online. Unfortunately, her monthly salary of $60-$100 CAD is barely enough to cover their basic needs. She even bakes for Easter and does whatever she can to make ends meet, including chopping wood herself, as they cannot afford to hire help.
His mother was raised by her grandmother in very difficult circumstances, yet she has become a strong and loving mother. The current hardships don’t intimidate her; instead, they make her stronger. She even finds time to volunteer. Recently, she borrowed money to repair the kitchen and bathroom so that her children can live more comfortably, even during winter.
Olexandr’s older sister, Anastasiia, is a student who has started working in the nail industry to help her mother. His other sister assists with cooking and household chores. Olexandr, the only son, is active and enjoys drawing and watching anime. He is the only male in the household and tries his best to care for and protect his family. He often spends time outside, which worries his mother. The children are currently studying online because their city is under constant attack. Sadly, his father rarely calls and often says hurtful things about his mother, which upsets Olexandr. Despite everything, he remains a caring and compassionate child, even volunteering to help others.
Although the family’s living conditions are modest, with a clean house and access to hot and cold water, their situation is dire due to the ongoing conflict in their region. They need our support now more than ever. They are in desperate need of our help, yet they remain hopeful for a better future. Oksana is a devoted mother who does everything she can to provide for her three children and her grandmother, who raised her. She constantly seeks extra work to support her family while trying to spend quality time with them, ensuring they don’t feel the absence of their father.
