New opportunities given through sponsorship
My name is Mariya Markiv, 19. I am from Ternopil area, Ukraine. I have been sponsored by Chalice since 2006.
My parents always have been working very hard to earn a living for all of the children. But we are large family, so they could hardly satisfy even our very basic needs. Sponsorship has brought great new opportunities in our lives. From the day I have got sponsored and up to now we have been quarterly receiving food products, school supplies, household goods, etc. That helped the parents to save the money on children’s education and development.
Since that time I have got the possibility to attend music school and was able to focus on my studies, especially English class. During my nine years studying I almost always got the highest marks. I took part and won prize-places in multiple school contests, city and regional Olympiads. At that time I understood that language skills were important for my future. I had extra classes of English with a tutor who inspired me to connect my future with English and teaching. As a result I entered pedagogical college named after Taras Shevchenko in the town of Korsun-Shevchenkivsk. It is located far away from home, but due to this I have become more independent and achieved a lot by myself. I live in a dormitory and owing to the sponsorship I have my bed clothe sets, casseroles and frying pans, towels, bed cover etc. for what I am very grateful to my sponsor. Here in college I have made many friends. I continue to take part in college’s sport competitions in football and volleyball, science Olympiads etc. Apart from English, I study German, Russian and French.
In the summer of 2018 I served apprenticeship in the camp “Suzirya Tavriyi” as a group leader. This camp is located on the Black Sea shore. I worked 2 months in the camp and got valuable experience of working with children. For some of them I was a teacher, for others a friend or even a parent, because children are very different.
Recently I have got an opportunity to study in Slovakia. I had applied to a university and was happy to get a letter which informed me that I could be admitted into their educational establishment for free. Lessons will be taught in Slovakian, but I do not worry, because this language is quite similar to Ukrainian.
My heart is full of gratitude to Chalice, because owing to it my attitude to life, values and aims changed. I am thankful to my sponsor who has been supporting me all this time. I keep all of you in my prayers. May God bless abundantly!
—Mariya Markiv, 19., Ternopil, Ukraine.