Hello, Dear Sponsor!
My name is Oleksandra. I am five years old, and I live in a village. My daddy is in the military, and my mommy works in a store.
I have a little brother, and I love him very much. He has a sick heart, so I help my mommy take care of him. My best friend is my brother Tymofii. We play tag and hide‑and‑seek together.
At Christmas I stay with my family. I like sweets and porridge, and on holidays I eat the cake my grandma makes.
I like to draw and play with my brothers. When I grow up, I want to work in a store that sells sweets.
Thank you, dear Sponsor, for loving me and wanting to take care of me. I can’t wait to hear from you.
With love,
Oleksandra
Caseworker’s comments:
Meet Oleksandra, a sweet and loving five‑year‑old whose gentle nature shines even in the hardest circumstances. Though shy at first, she quickly becomes a warm, social little butterfly, especially with her siblings, whom she adores. She helps her mother by making her bed and doing small chores, and she loves using her imagination through drawing and crafts. Oleksandra lives in very difficult conditions and a vulnerable social situation, sharing an old relative‑owned house with her mother, two brothers, grandmother, and bedridden grandfather. She is not yet in school, but if life allows, she hopes to begin first grade this coming fall.
Oleksandra’s parents are divorced, and although her father serves in the military, he does not take part in raising the children or provide any financial support. The full responsibility for caring for three young children rests entirely on their mother, Halyna, who works as a shop assistant. Her salary is critically insufficient to cover even the most basic needs, adequate food, seasonal clothing, shoes, medicine, and preparation for school. There are three children in the family: Oleksandra, her older brother Tymofii, and her baby brother Artem, who requires constant care. The financial burden on Halyna is overwhelming because all the children are very young and completely dependent on her. The family also lives with the grandmother and grandfather, but they cannot offer financial help. The grandfather is bedridden, seriously ill, and often hospitalized, adding both emotional strain and additional expenses to an already fragile situation.
Their living conditions are extremely difficult and unsuitable for healthy children’s development. The family lives in an old, unrenovated house with no running water, no bathroom, and an outdoor toilet. The children bathe in a basin. The house has only two small rooms, but in winter only one can be heated because it contains a wood stove. As a result, six people—the mother, three children, grandmother, and bedridden grandfather—must live together in a single room. The walls inside and outside are crumbling, the house is damp and cold, and the overcrowding affects the children’s health.
Because of these harsh conditions, Oleksandra often suffers from infectious illnesses and colds. Even in such difficult circumstances, she is growing into an obedient and caring child but she urgently needs stability, support, and a sense of security.
