Dear Sponsor,
My name is Viktor. I am 11 months old, and I live in a village. I can already walk, and everyone at home is very happy about it. I love eating pasta, fruits, and meat. At home, I have a cat and two dogs, and I like playing with them. My favorite toys are my plush bear and my little goose. I am slowly learning to talk, and I can already say “mama,” “papa,” “baba,” and “where is papa.”
Thank you so much for helping our family. Your kindness means more than you know. We are very excited to receive your letter.
With love,
Viktor and his family
Caseworker Comments:
Viktor is a joyful, lively 10‑month‑old boy growing up in a large and loving family, surrounded by two older siblings—a brother and a sister—who attend vocational school and still live at home with their parents. Even at such a young age, Viktor is full of life: he crawls quickly, is learning to walk while holding his mother’s hands, giggles constantly, and babbles happily throughout the day. He adores playing with his siblings, exploring new toys, and dancing whenever he hears music. His cheerful personality brings light into a home that is facing very difficult circumstances.
The family lives in an inherited wooden house that, from the outside, appears stable but is actually in urgent need of major repairs. The entrance area, the small veranda is in the worst condition: the roof leaks, several windows are missing glass and have been boarded up, and the space is cold and drafty. Inside, the conditions improve slightly, but the challenges remain significant. The kitchen has water and a gas stove, and the family also uses water from a well. Beyond that, the house has two small rooms and one non‑residential room that is too damaged to live in and is used only for storage. The floors in some areas are rotten, the walls and ceilings are old and worn, and most of the furniture is outdated. The toilet is outside, and there is no bathroom, so the family bathes using basins. Clothing and toys for Viktor are mostly donated by acquaintances or provided through their local church. In this small home, Viktor sleeps in his crib in the room he shares with his mother and father, while his older siblings share the second room. Despite the difficult conditions, the family works hard to keep the home tidy and create as much comfort as possible for their children.
Their financial situation is extremely difficult. Viktor’s mother, Ella, is on maternity leave and cannot work. His father, Oleh, was mobilized at the beginning of the full‑scale war and suffered injuries and a concussion. As a result, he now struggles with serious health and psycho‑emotional challenges. He rarely leaves the house and is unable to work consistently. When he does manage to earn a small amount, it is only enough to cover the bare essentials. The family relies heavily on government assistance for children, which is not nearly enough to meet their needs for food, heating, medicine, and basic household necessities.
Despite everything they face, Viktor’s parents are doing their best to care for their children, keep the family together, and provide a sense of stability. The older siblings help with their baby brother, and Viktor continues to grow, learn, and bring joy to everyone around him. His health is currently stable, but the family’s living conditions and financial hardship make it difficult to fully support his development, nutrition, and safety. Given all of these challenges, Viktor’s family is in genuine need of support through HART’s Child Sponsorship Program. Sponsorship would help improve Viktor’s nutrition and necessities, support his early development, and bring much‑needed stability and hope into this home. For Viktor, sponsorship would mean the chance to grow up healthy, safe, and loved—and for his family, it would be a lifeline during an incredibly difficult season of life.
