Help Protect and Restore the Lives of Rescued Ukrainian Children

The Story of Lyona Bondarenko

Ten-year-old Lyona Bondarenko lives with his family of four: his father, mother, grandmother, and himself. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the family has remained in Kharkiv, enduring the constant bombardments and the fear that accompanies life in a frontline city. Lyona’s school was destroyed, and their neighborhood has been hit numerous times. These harrowing experiences forced the young boy to grow up quickly.

Lyona’s parents coped with the stress by turning to alcohol, leaving his energetic and devoted grandmother to care for him. She brought Lyona to a day center run by Save Ukraine. Before this, they stood in long lines for humanitarian aid and ready meals—just the two of them, as his parents were often absent. Despite the turmoil, Lyona excelled in his studies, with his grandmother providing unwavering support.

When Lyona first arrived at the center, he was a shy, closed-off boy. His grandmother requested help with his education, as she couldn’t manage everything alone. Over time, significant changes became evident. Lyona began receiving counseling from a psychologist, engaging in numerous interactions with peers, and experiencing acceptance and love. His transformation accelerated when his father went to defend Ukraine. This shift in family dynamics, coupled with the value of life and communication, profoundly impacted them.

Initially, Lyona was always brought to the center by his grandmother. Now, his mother often accompanies him, and they frequently take photos together during outings. Lyona even posts pictures with his mother on TikTok. His mother attended a Christmas event where Lyona performed, and his father’s visit during the holidays brought him immense joy. These changes have been remarkable; Lyona now enthusiastically shares his experiences, enjoying the positive changes in his family and himself.

The biggest challenges the family faces are related to Lyona’s education and socialization. Their greatest need is for Lyona’s father to return from the war safely.

These inspiring transformations are made possible through the support of Save Ukraine sponsors. Your contributions help children like Lyona find hope and stability.

The Story of Damir Aligadzhayev

Eight-year-old Damir Aligadzhayev, an internally displaced child from Bakhmut, found himself in challenging circumstances. Raised in a single-parent family, his initial visits to the day center were marked by disruptive behavior. Damir would scream, fight, and use inappropriate language. If something displeased him, he would lash out, causing disturbances throughout the center.

His negative behavior isolated him from making friends, as other children were wary of his outbursts. He would only calm down when threatened with a call to his grandmother or mother. Despite his parents’ acknowledgment of his behavior, they were unwilling to make any changes, often punishing him by not allowing him to attend the center for a time.

Academically, Damir showed a satisfactory level of knowledge upon his arrival at the center. He was capable of completing tasks and performing various activities appropriate for his age. However, his behavior needed immediate attention. With the parents’ consent, the center’s psychologist assessed Damir’s condition and began working on modifying his behavior.

Over time, Damir learned to control his emotions. Engaging in group activities allowed him to form friendships with two other boys. He now quickly calms down after conversations with the social worker, understanding his mistakes. Although he still occasionally has sharp reactions, his progress is notable.

Currently, Damir has improved his math skills and reading speed. He now eagerly participates in master classes with other children. His mother shared their family story, expressing gratitude for the positive environment of the center. The family, consisting of Damir, his mother, and his grandmother, originally from Donetsk, had to move multiple times due to the ongoing conflict. They lived in various temporary accommodations before settling in a dormitory of a medical college in Khmelnytskyi.

Damir also faces significant health challenges, including a congenital condition affecting his urinary tract that requires urgent surgery. Despite frequent hospital stays to stabilize his condition, causing him to miss some center activities, the support he receives at the center is invaluable.

Stories like Damir’s highlight the transformative impact of the Child Sponsorship program. The changes seen in Damir’s behavior and academic performance are a testament to the dedicated support provided by Save Ukraine. Your contributions help children like Damir find hope and stability in their lives.

The Story of Vladyslav Dzyuba

Eleven-year-old Vladyslav Dzyuba arrived at the Save Ukraine Community Center on September 2023. Initially joining a robotics club, he soon requested to participate in the full-day program. For a while, staff members were unsure about Vlad’s family situation. He mentioned that his father worked nights and slept during the day, and his mother lived far away. In reality, Vlad’s mother has been disabled since childhood and left three years ago to live with her parents in Enerhodar, which is now under occupation. Vlad’s father does indeed work night shifts, leaving Vlad to manage his own schooling and daily tasks. He even prepares his own meals. Vlad also has a 17-year-old brother who works.

The family lives in very poor conditions. Vlad regularly attends the center, actively participating in all activities and working with a psychologist. When he first started attending, Vlad was nearly silent, responding slowly and often arriving at the center two to three hours early. He couldn’t explain his school schedule or how he was progressing in his studies. At home, they have many cats, which provided him company but also contributed to a chaotic living environment.

Over time, conversations with Vlad’s father revealed that he sometimes struggles with alcohol. However, the father has since adjusted his work schedule to spend more time at home. Vlad now comes to the center in the mornings and attends online classes, with the ability to seek help from teachers. He has become more curious, engaged in learning, and eager to stay at the center, always finding reasons to help out.

Vlad’s work with the psychologist has shown remarkable progress. He has become open, active, and inquisitive, diligently completing all assignments. He created a folder for his notes and reviews them throughout the week. Initially, Vlad struggled to understand his feelings and the emotions of those around him. But the dedicated work with the psychologist has yielded significant results. Vlad now smiles more often, expresses his emotions, and talks about them. He has made friends and they often go home together. He has developed a keen interest in robotics and excels at it.

Vlad lives in Vysokyi, a suburb of Kharkiv. Throughout the war, the family has remained there, enduring numerous bombardments. There were seven direct hits near their home, within two kilometers. Despite the challenges, Vlad’s transformation is evident and inspiring.

These heartwarming changes are made possible through the support of Save Ukraine sponsors. Your contributions help children like Vlad find hope and stability in their lives, enabling them to thrive despite the hardships they face.

The Story of Olenka

Seven-year-old Olenka from Kharkiv has endured the most harrowing experiences since the full-scale war began. Together with her mother and older brother, she survived a direct hit near their home. Fortunately, the family escaped with only shattered windows and a scare. However, it wasn’t long before a Russian missile struck the “Barabashovo” market, destroying all the goods Olenka’s mother had stored for sale and leaving her without an income. This event plunged the Kots family into a struggle for survival.

Despite the constant danger of shelling, the family couldn’t leave their home because Olenka’s brother has psychophysiological challenges and cannot handle long trips. The children and their mother spent their days hiding within four walls. Olenka missed social interaction and the company of peers. Due to the war, her schooling was irregularly conducted online, and the family couldn’t afford private classes.

This situation persisted until one day Olenka’s mother came to a local church for humanitarian aid. This church was one of Save Ukraine’s partner hubs, hosting a day center for children. Olenka’s mother eagerly enrolled her daughter in the center.

When Olenka first arrived at our center, she didn’t speak to anyone for a long time. She found it difficult to communicate with her peers and was shy about showing her abilities during activities, despite having learned letters, numbers, and colors with her mother. Olenka often cried when separated from her mother, fearing she might be abandoned.

Today, the changes in Olenka are remarkable. She has become more open, communicates more readily, and expresses her emotions. She has made friends and enjoys playing board games and learning on her favorite interactive floor. There are even days when Olenka doesn’t want to go home.

Our center’s team has also provided Olenka with speech therapy sessions and continues to support the Kots family with weekly humanitarian aid. Seeing such wonderful transformations in the lives of our young charges is our greatest joy. We are convinced that together we can do even more for these children and their parents.

Such inspiring transformations are achievable through the generous support of Save Ukraine sponsors. Your donations provide children like Olenka with the hope and stability they need to flourish, even amidst the challenges they endure.

The Story of Anya

Anya’s school was destroyed in the bombing, shattering the carefree and dream-filled life of this 16-year-old girl from a suburb of Kharkiv. In the early days of the full-scale war, Anya and her mother hid from intense shelling wherever they could. All of Anya’s friends had fled, and schools were not operating, even online. The assignments given by teachers were confusing and difficult to complete without guidance. This left Anya almost entirely isolated, with only her mother for company. Her phone became her sole connection to the outside world, offering some solace amid the chaos. Financial difficulties compounded the family’s struggles.

When Anya first arrived at our day center in Kharkiv, she was withdrawn, shy, and hesitant to express her emotions. However, the educators quickly noticed her curiosity and talent. With each new activity, Anya began to open up more. Despite the trauma she had experienced and her low self-esteem due to the lack of opportunities, stability, and financial resources, the staff at Save Ukraine embraced her with attention and care.

Anya eventually moved in with her grandmother in Kharkiv, making it easier to attend the center. After a year of dedicated psychological, social, and educational support, Anya’s life transformed in remarkable ways. She found true friends and together they formed a music band where Anya plays the drums. She returned to her studies with renewed vigor, rapidly catching up on missed lessons in preparation for university entrance exams. Anya also began creating videos and now manages the TikTok account for our day center in Kharkiv.

We believe this is just the beginning of many wonderful events and opportunities in Anya’s life. Our team will continue to support her and other young Ukrainians as they overcome the impacts of war and move towards a brighter future.

These stories are made possible thanks to the support of Save Ukraine sponsors. Your contributions help children like Anya find hope and stability, enabling them to thrive despite the hardships they face.