Dear Sponsor,
My name is Mariia, and I am the grandmother and primary caregiver of little Yeva, who is now 1 year and 10 months old. We live in a village.
Yeva does not have a father, and her mother no longer lives with us. She has officially relinquished her parental rights, so I am caring for Yeva on my own and hope to become her legal guardian. Yeva has a cousin in the city of Kalush who is just one month younger, and she loves her dearly. Still, I remain the closest person in Yeva’s life—I care for her, raise her, and play with her every day. At times, she even calls me “mother.”
Yeva enjoys drawing, eating cereals, buns, and boiled potatoes, and she loves drinking milk. This year, Saint Nicholas blessed her with many gifts, and I am truly grateful to God for His kindness.
We are sincerely thankful for your willingness to help families like ours. Your generosity reminds us that there are still many kind and compassionate people in the world. May God watch over you and your family.
Sincerely,
Mariia and Yeva
Caseworker’s comments:
Yeva is a joyful, active little girl whose laughter fills even the smallest corners of her home. She loves playing with cars and a ball, eagerly tries to talk, and surprises everyone with how quickly she learns. She already knows her colors, animals, and birds, and her speech is developing beautifully. At home, she helps her grandmother by putting her toys away and is learning how to sweep the floor. Despite a difficult birth that resulted in a brain hematoma and five days in intensive care, Yeva has recovered remarkably well through God’s grace, medical care, and months of massage therapy. She is bright, curious, and full of life.
To Yeva, her grandmother Mariia is “Mama,” and her great‑grandmother is “Grandma.” These are the women who raise her, comfort her, and love her. Yeva’s mother abandoned her shortly after birth at the age of sixteen, and court proceedings to remove her parental rights and grant Mariia legal guardianship will begin in February 2026.
This family is living in extreme poverty. Mariia is the sole caregiver not only for 1‑year‑old Yeva, but also for her 74‑year‑old mother and her 26‑year‑old son. Her son was demobilized from the military in 2025 after suffering severe injuries and multiple concussions. He has been hospitalized twice in a psychiatric facility and struggles with chronic depression, trauma‑related fears, and alcohol addiction. Despite his condition, he has not been granted disability status and remains unemployed.
Their home in a village, it is an old, deteriorating house where every inch of space is filled with beds and worn‑out furniture. There is no bathroom, no indoor plumbing, and they rely entirely on wood‑burning stoves for heat. This past fall, the chimney caught fire, causing the kitchen ceiling—where the grandmother sleeps—to collapse. The kitchen now has no heating, and cracks have formed along the walls. Water must be carried from outside, and during the winter freeze, they were forced to bring water from neighbors. The floors are rotting, the doors need replacing, and the fence outside is falling apart. Yeva sleeps in a small crib, and her play area is extremely limited.
Financially, the family survives on Mariia’s pension of 3,400 UAH (about $100 CAD) per month. The state child assistance funds meant for Yeva are still being collected by her biological mother, who refuses to pass the money on. Their situation is expected to improve only once Mariia gains legal custody.
Right now, they are simply trying to survive. Yeva’s diet is limited to whatever they can afford or grow in their garden. Most of her clothes and toys come from church donations. This family urgently needs food support, stability, and guidance—both practical and emotional. They need help navigating the legal process, supporting the son’s recovery, and ensuring that Yeva grows up in a safe, nurturing environment.
Through all of this, Mariia remains a woman of faith. She prays daily for strength, for healing, and for God’s protection over her granddaughter. She has raised three children on her own since her husband passed away, and now she is fighting to give Yeva a future filled with hope rather than hardship.
Your support through HART’s Child Sponsorship Program can transform this family’s life. It can provide food, warmth, stability, and the assurance that Yeva is not forgotten. It can help restore dignity to a grandmother who has given everything she has. And it can offer a little girl the chance to grow up healthy, loved, and surrounded by the care she deserves.
