A SYMPHONY OF SPONSORSHIP BRINGS HOPE IN UKRAINE
Follow the strains of sweet music through the community of Kozova, Ukraine, and you will find Oleksandr, Olena and Nazar. This trio of siblings are natural performers, and love to soothe the souls of their Ukrainian sponsorship family. But life has not always been as sweet as the sounds of their instruments.
Their father, Volodymyr, suffered a lay-off in 2016. His wife, Iryna, could not support her family alone on her wages as a kindergarten caregiver. Their neighbors, knowing that he was the family’s sole breadwinner, wanted to help. They approached the Ternopil sponsor site and let them know that three bright children were suddenly quite vulnerable. The site staff agreed readily, and soon the children were enrolled in the sponsorship program.
Olena was the first to be sponsored, followed a few months later by Oleksandr. The family started to see changes immediately. Even though Volodymyr had fortunately found another job, they were both working for minimum wage. “Barely enough to pay for utilities and some food,” the Ternopil site staff say. But “sponsorship and the sponsor’s extra support has helped the family to better provide for the children’s needs.”
And for this family, music is a need. Thanks to their sponsors, Oleksandr and Olena were able to participate in a program at the local music school. Oleksandr plays clarinet, and Olena plays the bandura, a traditional stringed instrument. Music has been Olena’s passion since she was seven years old. Thanks to sponsorship, and a bandura from Chalice’s gift catalogue, she’s been able to chase that passion to the college of music. With her very own bandura, she can not only practice, but she can compose when the muse strikes her.
Nazar, the youngest, is a clarinetist like his older brother. Nazar was "incredibly happy when he found out through correspondence that his sponsor, like himself, is fond of playing the clarinet.”
Letters like these are always a celebrated occasion in their family. “Whenever a letter comes in, the children share it with excitement and joy” the site staff can attest. “They believe it is a great honor and gift of God to them to have correspondence with people who committed to support them despite the huge distance.” Oleksandr had been wrestling with what to do after graduation, and his sponsor replied, "Ask the Lord to guide you in which field to study. It seems that you are a very caring person, you have a good heart, and no matter what you choose, it will be the best choice for you." In the end, the Lord guided him to social work!
“The family feels grateful and blessed to be a part of the Chalice sponsorship program,” the staff say in conclusion, “and for all the support they have been receiving.”